Abstract

Crop cultivation is crucial for the existence of human beings, as it fulfills our nutritional requirements. Crops and other plants are always at a high risk of being attacked by phytopathogens, especially pathogenic fungi. Although plants have a well-developed defense system, it can be compromised during pathogen attack. Chitinases can enhance the plant's defense system as they act on chitin, a major component of the cell wall of pathogenic fungi, and render the fungi inactive without any negative impact on the plants. Along with strengthening plant defense mechanisms, chitinases also improve plant growth and yield. Chitinases in combination with recombinant technology can be a promising tool for improving plant resistance to fungal diseases. The applicability of chitinase-derived oligomeric products of chitin further augment chitinase prospecting to enhance plant defense and growth.

Keywords

chitinases; phytopathogenesis; fungi; plant defense

Published in

Agriculture
2018, Volume: 8, number: 7, article number: 88

SLU Authors

• Chawade, Aakash

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network
AMR: Fungus


UKÄ Subject classification

Microbiology
Plant Biotechnology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture8070088

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/98657