Induction of chitinases and β-1, 3 glucanase in the seedlings of Cucumis sativus and capsicum annuum

All elicitors used viz. salicylic acid, copper sulphate, mercuric chloride, U. V. light and fungal cell wall induced activity of Chitinases and β-1, 3 glucanase to a significantly high-level. Initially, the response was low which gradually increased and reached the peak only after 50h of elicitation. However, induction of these enzymes was dependent on various factors like elicitor, seedling part and plant species.