Screening of Trichoderma Isolates for Chitinolytic Activity Using Glycol Chitin Plate Assay

Thirty three isolates of Trichoderma belonging to different species which were previously screened against Sclerotium rolfsii, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizactonia solani were used for checking chitinolytic activity using agarose plate containing glycol chitin. Differences were observed among species and isolates of the same species with respect to chitinase production after induction with colloidal chitin and chitin degradation. Among all the isolates, T. virens IABT 1010, T. koningii IABT1016, T. polysporum IABT1018 were found to be more efficient chitinase producers. In all the isolates, chitinase production started within 24 hours of induction, but maximum production reached in 48 hours. Therefore, culture filtrates taken after 48 hours of induction can be used for routine screening of the Trichoderma isolates.