PRODUCTION AND PROPERTIES OF THE CELLULAS E COMPLEX OF BOTRYTIS-CINEREA

The production of cellulasic complex by the fungal pathogen Botrytis c inerea is induced by addition of cellulose in the culture medium. The amount of activity increases greatly when the culture medium is supple mented with pectins, whereas glucose and cellobiose strongly inhibit t he production of the complex. The cellulasic complex is constituted by three enzymes, separated and identified as beta-glucosidase, exo 1,4- beta-D-glucanase and endo 1,4-beta-D-glucanase. The catalytic activity of the whole cellulasic complex is low and the inhibitors glucose and cellobiose act differently on this activity.