Ovicidal effect of chitinase and protease enzymes produced by soil fungi on the camel tick eggs (Acari:Ixodidae).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chitinase and protease enzymes produced by environmentally safe soil Fungi; sp. NRC 4/5H; sp. NRC 5; sp. NRC 4/56; ; ; on embryo development of the camel tick eggs. The experiment was carried out on the 7 day aged eggs. Concentrations of the chitinase and protease crude enzymes [1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5 (v/v)] were prepared from six stock solutions whose concentrations were 5 units/ml each. The prepared chitinase and protease enzymes produced by soil fungi were tested in vitro study for eradication of ticks. Ovicidal effect of the chitin concentrations of extracellular lytic enzymes (chitinase) produced by sp NRC 4/5H, sp. NRC 5, sp. NRC 4/56 were tested on eggs. The results showed that the ovicidal effect increased with increasing the chitin concentration in case of sp. NRC 5. The maximum inhibitory effect which ranged from 95.3 to 100 % was at concentrations ranging from 1:3 to 1:5 ml/ml, respectively. The results of protease enzymes produced by , and revealed that, it is highly effective in all concentrations on . eggs. It is indicated that the chitinase and protease enzymes produced by fungal species could be used for biological control of the camel tick infestation to avoid the use of carcinogenic chemical.