Enzyme production by the mycoparasite Verticillium biguttatum against Rhizoctonia solani

Verticillium biguttatum, a mycoparasite of the ubiquitous soil-borne plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani, excreted chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase into liquid medium when grown on laminarin and chitin, respectively. Neither chitinase nor beta-1,3-glucanase was produced by the mycoparasite when grown on cell walls of two isolates of R. solani representing anastomosis groups (AG)-3 and AG-8. Extracellular protease was induced by growth on cell walls of the pathogen, whereas beta-1,3-glucanase and chitinase were produced bound to the cell wall of V. biguttatum. This is the first report of chitinase, beta-1,3-glucanase and protease production by V. biguttatum. These enzymes may play a previously unforeseen role in dissolving and penetrating the cell walls of R. solani.