*Corresponding author email: anita@gbpihed.nic.in Symbiosis Group Symbiosis Group Symbiosis ISSN Online: 2475-4714 www.symbiosisonlinepublishing.com Chitinase and Glucanase Activities of Antagonistic Streptomyces Spp Isolated From Fired Plots under Shifting Cultivation In Northeast India Mukesh K Malviya 1 , Pankaj Trivedi 2 and Anita Pandey 3* 1 Crop Genetics Improvement and Biotechnology Lab, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, 530007, China 2 Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colarado State University, C034 Plant Sciences, Fort Collins - CO - 80523-1177 *3 Biotechnological Applications, G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, 263 643 Uttarakhand, India Journal of Advanced Research in Biotechnology Open Access Research Article Introduction Actinobacteria are most widely distributed and distinct group of microorganisms in nature. Actinobacteria, Streptomyces species in particular, has been a broadly exploited group of microorganisms for the production of important secondary metabolites and enzymes in the field of medicine and agriculture Abstract Antagonistic Streptomyces spp (Streptomyces sp NEA55 and Streptomyces cavourensis NEA5), isolated from fired plots under shifting cultivation in northeast India, are studied for their chitinase and glucanase activities. The species showed strong antagonism against test fungi (Rhizoctonia solani and Cladosporium sp.) in plate assays. Maximum % inhibition was observed due to the effect of diffusible compounds produced by these species. Streptomyces sp. NEA55 showed 54.83 % inhibition against R. solani while S. cavourensis NEA5 showed up to 50.00 % inhibition against Cladosporium sp. The inhibitory effect of volatile compounds by Streptomyces sp NEA55 was recorded up to 50.7 % against R. solani and 37.50 % against Cladosporium sp. While S. cavourensis NEA5 showed 49.23 % inhibition against R. solani and 34.37 % inhibition against Cladosporium sp. S. cavourensis NEA5 and Streptomyces sp. NEA55 produced 0.138±0.006 µg/ml and 0.15±0.004 µg/ml chitinase, 0.22±0.001 µg/ml and 0.25±0.002 µg/ml β 1,3 glucanase, respectively. Both the species showed maximum chitinase activity at pH 6 and temperature 50 ºC, while minimum enzyme activity was observed at pH 10 and temperature 20 ºC. Both the species showed glucanase activity maximum at pH 7 and temperature 40 ºC and minimum activity at pH 10 and temperature 20 ºC. Both the species hydrolyzed glycol–chitin as a substrate in denaturing conditions showing variable amount of different isoforms. This study demonstrates that the antagonistic species of Streptomyces survive the fire operations under shifting cultivation. Keywords: Streptomyces; Antagonism; Chitinase; Glucanase; Shifting cultivation Received: 10 November, 2017; Accepted: 19 January, 2018; Published: 31 May 2018 *Corresponding author: Anita Pandey, Biotechnological Applications, G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Develop- ment, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, 263 643 Uttarakhand, India; E-mail: anita@gbpihed.nic.in [1, 2]. Streptomyces are well known as antifungal biocontrol agents that inhibit several plant pathogenic fungi [3]. The antagonistic activity of Streptomyces to fungal pathogens is usually related to the production of antifungal compounds and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes [4, 5]. Many species of Streptomyces are well known as antifungal biocontrol agents that inhibit several plant pathogenic fungi e.g., Phytophthora capsici Sclerotinia rolfsii, Fusarium sporotrichiodes, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii, Alternaria alternata and Phomopsis archeri [6-9]. Furthermore, Streptomyces produce bioactive compounds such as antimicrobial, antiparasitic and immune-suppressing compounds via secondary metabolism. Streptomycetes have been found in beneficial associations with plants where they improve plant growth and protect against pests; this has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide [10]. Chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase are considered to be important hydrolytic enzymes in the lysis of fungal cell walls [11]. Chitinolytic enzymes have been identified in several Streptomyces spp. including Streptomyces sp. M-20, S. venezuelae P10, and S. anulatus CS242 [12-14]. Glucanase has been known to be produced by several microorganisms and playing important role in biocontrol [15]. Several Streptomyces have been studied for antifungal properties along with the production of glucanase, some of the examples are Streptomyces sp. S27 and Streptomyces sp. Mo [16, 17]. Shifting cultivation, refers to ‘slash and burn’, is a predominant form of agricultural practice in hills of northeast India. The microbiological aspects, basically survival of bacterial, fungal and actinobacterial communities after fire events have been studied in recent times [18-20]. The focus of present study is on the antagonistic potential of two Streptomyces species that were isolated after the fire events. These species have been studied with respect to production of diffusible and volatile compounds