CHITINASES FROM Trichoderma spp. AND THEIR ANTAGONISM AGAINST PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGI

Some Trichoderma strains are promising biocontrol agents (BCAs) of plant disease. It is observed that chitinolytic enzymes of Trichoderma play an important role in mycoparasitism which is considered as one of the mechanisms involved in the antagonism of Trichoderma against plant fungal pathogens. The induced production, the physical and chemical characteristics of chitinases from Trichoderma strains and their antagonism against plant fungal pathogens are reviewed in the present article, and the potential use of the chitinases and chitinase genes from Trichoderma for biological control is also discussed.