The effects of diflubenzuron on the growth characteristics of chitinase producing bacteria

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Authors
Glossenger, Daniel H.
Advisor
Warnes, Carl E.
Issue Date
1990
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.S.)
Department
Department of Biology
Other Identifiers
Abstract

The effects of the insecticide diflubenzuron (DFB) on the growth characteristics of two gram negative soil bacterial isolates were examined. The bacterial isolates were grown in the presences of varying amounts of DFB and showed no apparent change in cell numbers, over time, when compared to control cultures. However, one of the two isolates tested showed a delayed response in chitinase production, over the same time period, as determined by radioisotopic methodology. Chitinase fractions obtained from cell free culture supernatants, concentrated by ultrafiltration and purified by affinity chromatography, were examined for activity in the presence of DFB. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques were utilized in the identification and quantification of products from control and experimental samples. Due to the loss of overall chitinase activity in the supernatants, this technique proved ineffective in determining chitinase response to DFB.

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