Phytopathology (2004) 94, 82-87

Kenneth G. Moore, Michael S. Price, Rebecca S. Boston, Arthur K. Weissinger and Gary A. Payne (2004)
A chitinase from Tex6 maize kernels inhibits growth of Aspergillus flavus
Phytopathology 94 (1), 82-87
Abstract: The maize inbred Tex6 has resistance to colonization and aflatoxin accumulation by Aspergillus flavus. A protein inhibitory to growth of A. flavus has been identified from aqueous extracts of mature Tex6 seeds. This study reports the purification of a chitinase associated with this inhibitory activity to electrophoretic homogeneity and the further characterization of its properties. The inhibitory protein, which has an M(r) of 29,000, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, is an endochitinase that is also capable of exochitinase activity. The enzyme has an optimal pH of 5.5 and a temperature optimum of 45°C. Chitinase activity in maize kernels peaked approximately 36 days after pollination. The Tex6 chitinase purified in this study is capable of inhibiting the growth of A. flavus by 50% at a concentration of 20 micrograms/ml. Our data indicate that chitinase activity in Tex6 kernels makes a major contribution to the antifungal activity in this maize genotype. Partial peptide sequence of the chitinase showed it to differ from previously reported chitinases.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aspergillus flavus (plant/storage disease)	Stored grain