Studies on the Antimicrobial Activity of Chitooligosaccharides from Housefly Larvae, Musca domestica vicina Macquart(Diptera: Muscidae)

The inhibition effect of chitooligosaccharides from housefly larvae on pathogens ofcrops seeds, fruits or vegetables was studied and the main factors influencing theantimicrobial activity of chitooligosaccharides were also investigated. It was foundthat chitooligosaccharides from housefly larvae had wide spectrum fungistasis. It canstrongly inhibit the development of 31 kinds of plant pathogenic fungi such as corticiumrolfsii Saccardo. The results indicated that the degree of deacelylation (DD) or theaverage molecular weight(MW)of chitooligosaccharides were related to the antimicrobialactivity. The antimicrobial activity increased with the rising of DD or the declining ofMW. Pot culture results showed that chitooligosaccharide could enhance the rate ofgermination and emergence of the seeds of maize, wheat and cotton. Chitooligosaccharidehad certain effect on corn southern leaf blight caused by Helminthosporium maydis.