<i>β</i>-Glucosidase from<i>Botrytis cinerea</i>: Its Relation to the Pathogenicity of This Fungus

Abstract

Cellulolytic enzyme activities in 11 strains of B. cinerea and their pathogenicity against apples, grapes, and lettuce were tested. A positive correlation was found between the β-glucosidase activity of B. cinerea cultured in PYA-medium and the pathogenicity, as expressed in the area of lesions. Further, this correlation was found to hold for the β-glucosidase activity of the apple fruit lesion caused by B. cinerea. Since it was suggested that pathogenicity of B. cinerea depended on its β-glucosidase activity, the β-glucosidase was purified and characterized. The enzyme had its optimum pH at 3.0, and was very stable in a wide range of pH. These properties were extremely advantageous for B. cinerea to infect the apple fruit.