b-n-acetylglucosaminidase production by Lecanicillium (Verticillium) lecanii ATCC 26854 by solid-state fermentation utilizing shrimp shell

Lecanicillium (Verticillium) lecanii produced chitinases using shrimp shell as inducer. Maximum production of b-N-acetylglucosaminidase was measured at 80h. Enzyme stability was obtained at temperatures ranging from 30 to 40°C and maximum activity at 50°C, pH 6.0. Enzyme activity increased with Ba2+, Co2+, Fe3+ and Zn2+. Bioassays against the phytopathogenic fungus Oidium spp. showed mycelial and germination inhibition. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis of the partially purified extract revealed four bands of 70, 58, 45 and 31kDa and this extract showed activity of b-N-acetylglucosaminidase through zymogram analysis. Chitinases produced by L. lecanii are potentially useful against phytopathogenic fungi, insects and chitosan bioconversions.