Arabanases in Phytopathogenic Fungi

Abstract

PECTOLYTIC and cellulolytic enzymes of phytopathogenic fungi are generally assumed to play an important part in the infection process in many plant diseases. There is an extensive literature covering this subject¹. The enzymes facilitate the penetration of the fungus into the plant by a hydrolytic cleavage of polymers (pectic substances, cellulose) which constitute the plant cell walls. However, not only pectic substances and cellulose are building stones of the plant cell wall. In many cases arabans, galactans, or other homoglycans, heteroglycans and proteins are found as well². Yet comparatively little work has been done concerning the role of enzymes hydrolysing these latter polymers. The main reason for this may be that these polymers are not all available commercially, and not that arabanases, galactanases, etc., should not be of possible importance in fungal invasion.