Optimization of Medium Components for the Production of Antagonistic Lytic Enzymes Against Phytopathogenic Fungi and Their Biocontrol Potential

In this paper, fractional factorial screening design (FFSD) and central composition design (CCD) were used to optimize the medium components for producing chitinase and gelatinase by Lysobacter capsici YS1215. Crab shell powder, nutrient broth and gelatin were proved to have significant effects on chitinase and gelatinase activity by FFSD first. An optimal medium was obtained by using a three factor CCD, which consisted of nutrient broth of $2.0gL^{-1}$, crab shell powder of $2.0gL^{-1}$ and gelatin of $1.0gL^{-1}$, respectively with the highest chitinase activity ($3.34UmL^{-1}$) and gelatinase activity ($14.15UmL^{-1}$). This value was 3.76 and 1.11 fold of the chitinase and gelatinase activity, respectively, compared to the lowest productive medium in the design matrix. In investigating potential of these enzymes partially purified from L. capsici YS1215 for biotechnological use, the crude enzymes was found to be inhibition against pathogenic fungal mycelia: Colletotrichum gleosporioides, Phytophthora capsici, and Rhizoctonia solani. In this study, we demonstrated the optimal medium for producing the chitinolytic and gelatinolytic enzymes by the strain YS1215 and the role of their enzymes that may be useful for further development of a biotechnological use and agricultural use for biological control of phytopathogenic fungi.