EXTRACELLULAR LACCASE PRODUCTION DURING HYPHAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN TRICHODERMA SP AND SHIITAKE, LENTINULA EDODES

Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler was cultivated in liquid media contain ing malt and yeast extract. Extracellular laccase activity, measured i n the culture fluids, was 5-18 times higher in cultures incubated for 29 days than in cultures incubated for 24 days. The addition of water- soluble lignin derivatives or Trichoderma sp. in cultures of L. edodes incubated for 11 days increased laccase activity 3- to 20 fold. The h igher response was obtained with live mycelium of Trichoderma sp., but cell-free culture fluids of Trichoderma sp. in pure cultures were als o effective. Trichoderma sp. induced changes in the laccase isoenzyme pattern as a result of the alteration of laccases secreted by L. edode s and not the induction of new isoforms.