Characterization of Chitinase in Oak Tissues and Changes in Its Activity Related to Water Stress and Inoculation with Hypoxylon atropunctatum

Chitinase activities from Shumard oak tissues were determined to study changes in chitinase activities related to water stress. The enzyme extracted in sodium acetate buffer (0.1M, pH 4.5) was assayed by a colorimetric method. In addition, the fungal hyphae of Hypoxylon atropunctatum in xylem tissues of oak were observed through scanning electron microscopy. The enzyme in oak tissues was mainly endochitinase, and optimum pH for enzyme activity was 5. Specific chitinase activities from both of stems held under high relative humidity (ranges of 0.63-1.11 pKatal/$\mu\textrm{g}$ of protein) and stems held under low relative humidity (ranges of 0.41-0.99 pKatal/$\mu\textrm{g}$ of protein) were significantly increased following fungal inoculation with H. atropunctatum. However, there was no significant difference in chitinase activities between tissues held under high and low humidities, which might be due to fungal chitinase. Scanning electron microscopy showed holes in fungal hyphae in the xylem tissues of stems held under high humidity but not in the stems held under ow humidity, suggesting that hyphae might be hydrolyzed by plant hydolases such as chitinase.