Properties of Chitinase-Producing Bacterium, Janthinobacterium agaricidamnosum AS-1 Isolated from Cryptotympana atrata

In this study, we report on the properties and potential of Janthinobacterium agaricidamnosum AS-1, chitinase-producing bacterium isolated from Cryptotympana atrata cicada exuviae. J. agaricidamnosum AS-1 exhibited high chitinase activity, with values of 2.5 U/mL at 3 days in chitin medium. J. agaricidamnosum AS-1 exhibited major chitinase bands at 106, 82, 67, and 44 kDa. The degradation patterns of chitinase from AS-1 strain, analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC), confirmed that bacterium produced endo-chitinase. AS-1 strain exhibited plant growth promotion properties such as nitrogen fixation, IAA production, and ammonia production. Notably, for IAA content, the experimental results by tryptophan concentration showed the highest value of 18 μg/mL at 6 days in a tryptophan concentration of 0.25%. Our study provides foundational information on the chitin-degrading abilities of J. agaricidamnosum AS-1, highlighting the commercial availability of AS- strain, especially its potential to promote plant growth.