Enzymes of Botrytis cinerea capable of breaking down hydrogen peroxide

The amounts of intra- and extracellular guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbic perox idase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, laccase, and catalase present in Botrytis cinerea, cultured in three different media: Kovac synth etic medium, Sabouraud fluid medium, and a medium containing malt extract, were determined. The activity of two enzymes, ascorbic peroxidase and gluta thione peroxidase: has not been previously described in B. cinerea. The det ected amount of the enzymes showed considerable variability in the three di fferent culture media. The presence of an array of enzymes capable of metab olizing hydrogen peroxide, whose levels are determined by the conditions un der which the fungus grows, shows that B. cinerea is well equipped to conte nd with the occurrence of host-produced active oxygen species. (C) 2000 Fed eration of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.