A simple, rapid and yet less expensive method to detect chitinase in agarose plates

Methods have been developed, in the past, to detect the chitinase activity in plate assays using fluorescent brightener Calcofluor White which is simple and rapid, but expensive. We, now, report the use of a less expensive fluorescent brightener Ranipal, which reduces 2500-times the cost of the assay. The use of Ranipal, in place of Calcofluor White, does not compromise on the sensitivity and limits of detection, but required more washes. This forms the first report on the use of Ranipal for detection of chitinases and also the least expensive method for this purpose.