Identification and characterization of a chitinase-produced bacillus showing significant antifungal activity.

Strain MY75 is a gram-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming bacterium that can secrete high levels of extracellular chitinase (4.645 U/ml) when chitin powder exists as an inducer. This strain was identified as Bacillus licheniformis using the Biolog MicroLog microbial identification system and sequence analysis of 16S rDNA, gyrA and rpoB genes. Strain MY75 has the ability to inhibit the growth of Gibberella saubinetii and Aspergillus niger, two major pathogenic fungi in agriculture, and to restrain their spore germination completely. The chitinase was proved to play an important role in the strain's antifungal activity.