Isolation and antagonism of chitinolytic bacteria from Ipomea pes caprae against Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae

Chitin is the main component of fungal cell walls. The growth of fungi can be inhibited by chitinolytic bacteria because they can produce chitinase enzymes which play a role in degrading cell walls. The purpose of this study was to test the activity of bacteria isolated from the roots of Ipomea pes caprae in inhibiting the growth of the fungus Lasiodiplodia pseudothebromae. The research method was carried out by isolating as much as 5 g of I. pes caprae roots using specific media and testing for bacterial antagonism using a dual culture method. The results showed that there were four isolate codes obtained namely IPaR1, IPaR4, IPpA2, and IPpA3 and could inhibit the growth of Lasiodiplodia pseudtheobromae.