Author : Harjono

Summary : Ganoderma philippii (Bres& P. Henn) Bres. is a potential root rot disease agent causing serious damage in many types of tree plantation. Of the methods developed to control the disease, none gives successful result. Trichoderma known as to having mycoparasitic action against fungal plant pathogens has been applied as biocontrol agents against Ganoderma root-rot disease in some estate plantations. However, the mycoparasitic mechanism of Trichoderma against fungal plant pathogen is not fully described. The present experiment aimed to determine the endochitinase activity of Trichoderma against root-rot pathogen, G. philippii. The results show that the enzyme has molecular weight of 32 kDa and optimum activity at the pH of 5,5 and temperature of 30-35 °C. Bioassay to test antifungal activity of endochitinase against the mycelia of G. philippii, indicated that the degree of inhibition was proportional to the level of enzyme concentration applied. Inhibition zone occurred macroscopically at the outer line of the colony of G. philippii at concentration of enzyme 80 µ ml and above.