Chitinolytic actinomycetes from a Brazilian tropical soil active against phytopathogenic fungi

Five Streptomyces spp. isolated from a Brazilian forest soil showed endochitinase activity in the alkaline range with optima between 40 and 50 degrees C. Three were highly active against three phytopathogenic fungi by in vitro experiments. Preliminary experiments suggested that the isolates may belong to a new taxon.