Pectinolytic and cellulolytic enzymes enhance fusarium compactum virulence on tubercles infection of egyptian broomrape

Abstract

The use of enzyme could facilitate pathogen penetration into plant host. Here the combination of cellulase and pectinase was ascertained on the pathogenicity of F. compactum (1.4 × 10 6 propagules ml -1) on broomrape tubercles. F. compactum alone infected all the inoculated tubercles but did not kill any significant number. Infested tomato roots that were inoculated withmycelia plus pectinase (20Uml -1) had over 50% tubercles dead one week after treatment. Those inoculated with mycelia plus cellulase (20Uml -1) had above 60% mortality. Mixtures ofmycelial plus the two enzymes (10Uml-1 of each enzyme) showed synergy. The activity catalyzed by an enzyme is a measure of the amount of enzyme present. It was shown that, in a 1mg (10Umg -1) cellulase used, 0.055 mg pectinase (1.1Umg -1) is present. This explains whymycelial plus cellulase mix contends withmycelial plus the two enzymes. Copyright © 2010 Olubukola O. Babalola.