The Use of Solid Media for Detection of Enzyme Production by Fungi

TLDR

Solid media can detect extracellular enzyme production (amylase, lipase, nucleases, pectinase, protease, urease, chitinase) by fungi. The authors tested the media on 13 fungi and leaf compost, evaluated antibiotic suppression of bacteria, and studied how antibiotics and pH influence fungal growth and enzyme production. These media enable rapid screening of fungi for enzyme production and support ecological and chemotaxonomic studies.

Abstract

SUMMARYSolid media are described on which the production of the extracellular enzymes amylase, lipase, DNA- and RNAase, pectinase, protease, urease, and chitinase were detected. The media were tested with seven plant pathogenic and six saprophytic fungi, as well as a sample of leaf compost. Antibiotics were examined for their ability to suppress bacterial growth in the fungal media. The effects of antibiotics and pH on fungal growth and extracellular enzyme production were examined. The solid media described could be useful for evaluating individual fungi and for rapid screening of genetic variants for the presence or absence of enzyme production, as well as for ecological studies and possible chemo-taxonomic differentiation.