Chitinases—Potential Candidates for Enhanced Plant Resistance towards Fungal Pathogens

Manish Kumar, Amandeep Brar, Monika Yadav, Aakash Chawade, V. Vivekanand and Nidhi Pareek
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Manish Kumar: Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan 305801, India
Amandeep Brar: Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan 305801, India
Monika Yadav: Centre for Energy and Environment, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302017, India
Aakash Chawade: Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 101, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden
V. Vivekanand: Centre for Energy and Environment, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302017, India
Nidhi Pareek: Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan 305801, India

Agriculture, 2018, vol. 8, issue 7, 1-12

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 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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