Induced Chitinase and Chitosanase Activities in Turmeric Plants by Application of β-D-Glucan Nanoparticles

The chitinase and chitosanase activities after β-D-glucan nanoparticle (GNP) application turmeric plants (leaves and rhizomes) were measured. Foliar spray of GNP (0.1%, w/v) elicited marked an increase in the activity levels of chitinases and chitosanases. Such a growth of enzyme activities was enhanced by subsequent spraying GNP on turmeric leaves at regular intervals. Application of β-D-glucan nanoparticles enhanced the level of defense related enzymes in leaves and rhizomes, which correlated well with new isoforms of the enzymes. Qualitative differences in isoforms of these defense enzymes were investigated during the hereby time-course study. In general, the expression of chitinase activity was comparatively lower in rhizomes than in leaves. Chitinase and chitosanase activity reached maximum values during the 7th month. Exploiting the nanoparticle (derived from natural polysaccharide) potential may refer to induce defense enzymes that may diminish the use of toxic chemicals for disease control. Thus the use of nanoparticles could be proposed as an alternative, non-conventional and ecologically friendly approach for plant protection and hence for sustainable agriculture.