Cloned chitinases in fungal plant-pathogen control strategies

Chemical pesticides have been the object of substantial criticism in recent years, mainly due to the adverse effects their use in the environment can have on the health of humans and other non-target organisms. Effective alternative methods of pest control are therefore required, and a major research effort is being directed towards developing diverse safer types of control measures which will cause minimal damage to the food chain and the environment. Among the control methods based on biological systems which are being investigated is the use of chitinases for the control of soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi.