This enzyme group is found in many plants, animals and also in the human organism. It is used to break down chitin, a structural polysaccharide (polysaccharide) that is mainly found in the cell walls of many fungi and in the exoskeleton of insects. In plants - including grapevines - chitinases contribute to natural resistance to fungal attack by attacking and weakening the chitin-containing cell structure of the pathogens.
Two derivatives obtained from chitin, chitosan and chitin-glucan, are important for viticulture. Chitosan is produced by deacetylation of chitin and has fungicidal, bactericidal, haemostatic and heavy metal-binding properties. It is used in fruit juice processing and in viticulture for microbial stabilisation, colour stabilisation, reduction of astringent tannin notes and clarification.
![]()
Using the encyclopaedia is not only time-saving, but also extremely convenient. What's more, the information is always up to date.
Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“