ENZYMATIC-ACTIVITY OF THE MYCOPARASITE VERTICILLIUM-FUNGICOLA ON AGARICUS-BISPORUS FRUIT BODY CELL-WALLS

The in vitro production of different hydrolytic enzyme activities by V erticillium fungicola, a mycoparasite of Agaricus bisporus fruit bodie s, was examined in cultures grown with various carbon sources (glucose , fructose, sucrose and A. bisporus cell walls), Several of the identi fied enzymes were influenced by the carbon source. The results of A. b isporus cell wall digestion by these enzymes in vitro have been compar ed with V. fungicola infection of A, bisporus fruit bodies in vivo, Ev idence supporting mycoparasite enzymic action on the host cell walls i s presented.