Novel chitinolytic enzymes with biological activity against herbivorous insects

The soil bacteria, Streptomyces albidoflavus, secretes endochitinases and chitobiosidases that are active over a broad range of pH (4-10). Ingestion of this mixture of chitinolytic enzymes significantly reduced the growth and development of Trichoplusia ni and significantly reduced survival of Myzus persicae, Bemisia argentifolii, and Hypothenemus hampei. Perfusion chromatography was used to separate endochitinases from chitobiosidases. The endochitinases had significantly greater biological activity against Bemisia argentifolii than the chitobiosidases. The utility of chitinolytic enzymes as regulators of populations of herbivorous insects is discussed.