Effect of Carboxymethyl Chitin-Glucan on the Activity of Some Hydrolytic Enzymes in Maize Plants

Activity of some hydrolytic enzymes (acid and basic phosphatase, nonspecific esterase, leucine aminopeptidase, β-glucosidase, chitinase) and peroxidase was investigated in the roots and leaves extracts isolated from maize plants sprayed with carboxymethyl chitin-glucan (CM-CG) solution. Application of CM-CG, prepared from the mycelium of the industrially used filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger resulted in the decrease of the activity of acid and alkaline (basic) phosphatase in the roots and leaves extracts. Activity of β-glucosidase significantly decreased in extracts isolated from leaves but was unaffected in roots extracts. On the other hand, activity of nonspecific esterase, and leucine aminopeptidase was significantly stimulated in extracts from leaves while inhibited in roots extracts. Significant increase was also detected in the activity of chitinase isolated from leaves. Activity of peroxidase remained unchanged both in roots and leaves extracts. Effect of applied fungal polysaccharide on the enzymatic activities of some enzymes involved in the plant protection mechanisms may imply possible utilization of such polysaccharides.