Production, partial purification and optimization of a chitinase produced from Trichoderma viride, an isolate of maize cob

Abstract

Trichoderma viride obtained from maize cob was investigated for chitinase production. Effects of temperature, pH and some metal ions on the chitinase produced were determined. The enzyme was then purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography and sephadex G-100 gel filtration. There was progressive increase in the chitinolytic activity of T. viride from zero hour to the 50th hour. The optimum temperature and pH for chitinolytic activity of T. viride was 50°C and 5 respectively. There was reduction in the relative activity of chitinase produced by T. viride when EDTA and MnCl2 were used as metal ions. Trichoderma viride was most sensitive to EDTA followed by MnCl2. The activity was maximum when CaCl2 was used. The chitinase produced by T. viride was stable at temperatures of 40 and 50°C.The chitinase produced was also stable at pH 6 and 7.