Chitinase genes from for the control of whitefly in cotton.

Entomopathogenic fungi produces endochitianses, involved in the degradation of insect chitin to facilitate the infection process. Endochitinases () gene of family 18 glycosyl hydrolyses were amplified, cloned and characterized from genomic DNA of two isolates of Catalytic motif of family 18 glycosyl hydrolyses was found in of , while no signal peptide was found in any isolate, whereas substrate-binding motif was found in of both isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the evolutionary relationship among the fungal chitinases of . The amplified were closely related to the family 18 glycosyl hydrolyses. Transient expressions of in cotton plants using Geminivirus-mediated gene silencing vector of (CLCrV) revealed the chitinase activity of genes amplified from both of the isolates of when compared with the control. Transformed cotton plants were virulent against fourth instar nymphal and adult stages of which resulted in the mortality of both fourth instar nymphal and adult Thus, the fungal chitinases expressed in cotton plants played a vital role in plant defence against . However, further studies are required to explore the comparative effectiveness of chitinases from different fungal strains against economically important insect pests.