Extracellular Enzymes of Some Fungi Associated with Mushroom Culture

Abstract

Forty isolates of 18 fungus species isolated from mushroom culture (compost, casing soil and mushrooms) were tested for the ability to produce hydrolytic enzymes which degrade cellulose, starch and lipids. In addition, the fungi were tested for their ability to produce phenolic oxidases, a presumptive test for the ability to degrade lignin. The production of cellulolytic enzymes was determined in a liquid medium, while the production of the other enzymes was examined by using solid media. Sixteen species possessed cellulolytic activity and of these, most were considered to be weakly or moderately cellulolytic. Most isolates of the same species of weed mold were similar in their ability to degrade cellulose. The pathogenic fungi showed the most variability between isolates of the same species in their ability to produce cellulolytic enzymes. Two-thirds of the species studied exhibited phenolic-oxidase activity. The different isolates of the same fungus showed similar abilities to oxidize differing phenolic substrates. Sixteen of the species were capable of hydrolyzing lipids, but only 14 of the 18 demonstrated amylolytic activity.