Possesses chitinase activity in vitro toward glycol chitin, carboxymethyl-chitin, colloidal chitin, and the chitin oligosaccharides (N-acetylglucosamine) (GlcNAc)6 and (GlcNAc)5 (PubMed:27383628). Hydrolyzes (GlcNAc)6 into (GlcNAc)4 and (GlcNAc)2, or two (GlcNAc)3 molecules (PubMed:27383628). Has the capacity to inhibit hyphal growth of the fungus Trichoderma viride in an agar-plate bioassay (PubMed:27383628). Involved in symbiotic signaling (PubMed:30284535). Required for root hair infection threads (ITs) elongation and nodule development (PubMed:30284535). Possesses Nod factor (NF) hydrolase activity (PubMed:30284535). NFs are lipo-chitooligosaccharide signaling molecules produced by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia to initiate nodulation (symbiosis) on the roots of legumes (PubMed:30284535). Modulates NF levels and signaling to complete transition of infected nodules to functional nitrogen-fixing organs (PubMed:30284535). Random endo-hydrolysis of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide (1->4)-beta-linkages in chitin and chitodextrins. Glycan degradation; chitin degradation. Induced by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Root nodule development arrested at the primordia stage and defect in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in presence of Mesorhizobium loti. Belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 18 family. Chitinase class V subfamily.