Soil and seed-borne phytopathogenic fungi are the main factors limiting crop yield in India’s agricultural sector. They attack the root of the seed before germination or seedling after germination resulting in huge deprivation in crop yield. In this scenario, it is crucial to control phytopathogenic fungi to ensure sustainable food production to the ever-increasing world population. The antifungal property of purified chitinase of Kurthia gibsonii Mb 126 was investigated by isolating fungi infected with seeds of various rice samples and then studying the effect of purified chitinase of K. gibsonii Mb 126 on these isolated fungi. The effect of K. gibsonii Mb 126 purified chitinase on the germination of rice seed infested with these isolated fungi was also investigated. Eight fungi (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium moniliforme, Rhizopus oryzae, Trichoderma harzianum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Fusarium subglutinans) were isolated and identified from the different rice varieties of Kerala, India, viz Aswathy (PTB 37), Jaya, Sabari (PTB 40), Ahalya, Onam, Makam, Triveni (PTB 38), Swarnaprabha, Kairali, Pavizham, and Ponni, The frequency of isolated fungi ranged from 46% to 100% (present in all the 20 samples). The isolated fungi C. lunata, A. flavus, R. solani, and A. niger were predominated. Seeds treated with the K. gibsonii Mb 126 chitinase enzyme had a strong germination response. K. gibsonii Mb 126 chitinase proved beneficial in eliminating seed-borne fungus, boosting seed germination percentage, and seedling vigor. Farmers of our country should be aware of soil and seed-borne fungi, and they should do seed treatment with chitinase before sowing in the agricultural field, and through this strategy, they will be more benefited.
Key words: Key words- Kurthia gibsonii Mb126 chitinase, antifungal, rice seed germination, seedling vigour
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