Isolation and screening of culturable endophytic bacteria from leaf of rubber plant that produces of chitinase

Endophyte bacteria have several beneficial including growth hormone, biofertilizer and biocontrol. The sample of rubber plant leaf was successfully isolated nine endophyte bacteria with direct method. This study aims to screening endophyte bacteria that can chitinase activity. The result of the research showed that strain D5 and D35 can produce chitinase which was accomplished by forming clear zone on medium chitin 2% (w/v) after 5 days incubation with Congo red stain. Bacteria strains D5 and D35 produce chitinolytic Index (IC) of 1.66 and 2.08. Identification based on the 16s rRNA gene showed the D35 strain bacteria showing that it has maximum homology 99% with the Klebsiella variicola strain F2R9.