EXTRACELLULAR ENZYME-ACTIVITIES IN 6 LENTINULA EDODES STRAINS DURING CULTIVATION IN WHEAT-STRAW

Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler is found in nature on dead broadleaf t rees, but it is commercially produced on different substrates. The que stion of adaptation to different lignocellulosic substrates was addres sed by measuring enzyme activities produced by six strains that were c ultivated on wheat straw and that were able to produce sporophores. De spite quantitative variations, each strain of L. edodes had similar pa tterns of enzyme secretion into the wheat straw log matrix. Two peaks of carbohydrase activities were observed, the first relating to the ea rly mycelial growth during the first days after spawning and the secon d during sporophore extension. Laccase activity in the early stage of colonization was related to the degradation of soluble phenolic compou nds present in wheat straw. Manganese peroxidase activity was associat ed with mycelial growth. The strains with the earlier production and h igher yield were able to hydrolyse and utilize straw cell wall compone nts soon after inoculation, and developed high metabolic activities.