ABSTRAKBakteri kitinolitik memiliki kemampuan menghasilkan enzim kitinase dan banyak dilaporkan sebagai agens biokontrol. Penelitian ini bertujuan memperoleh bakteri kitinolitik yang bersifat antagonis terhadap pertumbuhan Ganoderma boninense penyebab busuk pangkal batang pada kelapa sawit. Sebanyak 63 galur bakteri penghasil enzim kitinase berhasil diisolasi dari tanah di Taman Nasional Bukit Dua Belas dan dari perkebunan kelapa sawit di Provinsi Jambi. Seluruh galur diseleksi untuk melihat potensinya menghambat pertumbuhan G. boninense secara in vitro. Tiga galur TB04-05, SW01-11, dan SW02-08 paling potensial menekan dan menghambat pertumbuhan miselium G. boninense secara in vitro. Berdasarkan uji aktivitas spesifik, ketiganya memiliki aktivitas masing-masing sebesar 6.3072 U mg -1 protein, 6.0385 U mg -1 protein, dan 6.1279 U mg -1 protein setelah diinkubasi 24 jam. Identifikasi 16S RNA menunjukkan galur TB04-05 berkerabat dekat dengan Bacillus cereus, sedangkan SW01-11 dan SW02-08 berkerabat dekat dengan Bacillus thuringiensis.Kata kunci: busuk pangkal batang, Elaeis guineensis, kelapa sawit, kitinase, 16S RNA ABSTRACT Chitinolytic bacteria have been reported as biocontrol agents and have the ability to produce chitinase enzymes. The objective of the research was to obtain chitinase producing bacteria that had antagonistic activity to Ganoderma boninense, a causal agent of basal stem rot on oil palm. A total of 63 isolates of chitinase producing bacteria were isolated from soil of Bukit Dua Belas National Park and oil palm plantation in Jambi Province; all was screened for their potency in inhibiting G. boninense in vitro. Three isolates designated TB04-05, SW01-11, and SW02-08 were potentially suppressed and inhibited the mycelium growth of G. boninense in vitro. Based on their specific chitinase activity, these three isolates produced the highest level of chitinase enzyme of 6.3072 U mg -1 protein, 6.0385 U mg -1 protein and 6.1279 U mg -1 protein, respectively after 24 hr incubation. Based on 16S RNA identification, strain TB04-05 had similarity with Bacillus cereus, whereas strains SW01 and SW02-08 had similarity with Bacillus thuringiensis.