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Chitinolytic, Cellulolytic, and Pectinolytic Activity in vitro of Some Parasitic and Saprophytic Oomycctes
Author(s) -
Unestam Torgny
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1966.tb09070.x
Subject(s) - chitinase , cellulase , pectinase , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , phycomycetes , enzyme , enzyme assay , chitin , liquid medium , pythium , botany , glucanase , mycelium , biochemistry , food science , chemistry , horticulture , chromatography , inoculation , chitosan
Summary Seven lower phycomycetes, Afhanomyees astaci, A. euteiches, A. cladogamus, A. cochlioides, A. laevis. Pythium sp and Saprolegnia sp. , have been investigated in respect of chitinolytic and cellulolytic activity. The five Aphanomyces species were also tested for pectinolytic activity. Different ages of stationary and shaken cultures, 2 or 3 different substrates, and 2 test pH were used for each enzyme to be tested. Chitinase and cellulase were assayed with 2 different methods. All the fungi showed chitinase activity, although in varying degree. In liquid cultures the strains of A. astaci gave the by far highest ac tivity. Differenl results were obtained with different growth media aud lest methods. Chitinase of some of the fungi was readily adsorbed on chilin. Adsorbed chitinase seemed to withstand heating more than unadsorbed enzyme. Only the three plant parasites, A. euteiches, A. cladogamus and A. codilioides , showed appreciable cellulase and pectinase activities which in some cases were stimulated by the presence in the medium of the enzyme substrate. Different assay methods and growth conditions showed difterent pattern regarding the difference in activity between the tested fungi and between used media. The conceivable roles in vivo of found activities were discussed.