Application of modified shrimp chitosan solution as an antimicrobial agent and growth stimulator on orchid culture

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity and growth stimulating property of chitosan were investigated in this study. Orchid plant was selected as the object to perform the growth stimulating property of the modified chitosan solution. The modified Chitosan solution were made at differently diluted concentrations of 100 ppm, 150 ppm and 200 ppm, in aerosol form, applied to orchid plant can significantly stimulate the development of stem, leaf length, leaf diameter and numerous sprouting of rootlets that was quire higher than the control in 7 weeks of culture. Among the selected concentrations of chitosan solution, the concentration of 100 ppm was the most effective one on the orchid growth. Two bateria species Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were screened and selected as the targets of chitosan solutions for testing its antimicrobial activity. Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) of chitosan solution on Bacillus subtilis was 0.1 mg/ml. Minimum Inhibition Concentration of chitosan solution on Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 4 mg/ml.

Keywords: Modified Shrimp Chitosan, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, plant growth stimulator, orchid.