Lytic enzymes in autolysis ofBotrytis cinerea

Abstract

Filamentous fungi produce during their autolytic phase of growth lytic enzymes which can catalyze the degradation of cell-wall polysaccharides [1] and cytoplasmic material [2] and are considered important in pathogenesis [3]. These enzymes show increased activity in the culture fluid during autolysis [4-6] and also occur in the mycelium [ 1,7,8]. Many studies have been made on pectic enzymes, cellulases and xylanases produced by Botrytis cinerea and the role they play in pathogenic processes [9-12]. Recently enzymes degrading plant cell-wall polysaccharides present during the autolysis of Botrytis cinerea have been studied [131. This paper describes the changes in the activities in the culture fluid and in the mycelial extract of the lytic enzymes implicated in the degradation of the cell wall of this fungus during the autolytic phase of growth.