The importance of fungal pectinolytic enzymes in plant invasion, host adaptability and symptom type

This review describes the extent to which recent works performed in the last decade have clarified the role of different pectinase activities in pathogenicity of fungi responsible for a wide array of diseases. Beyond physiological or biochemical investigations, strategies that have been used include gene cloning and expression studies as well as gene disruption or replacement. Pectinase involvement in fungal diseases has been considered according to the type of symptoms produced by the studied fungi. Although pectinolytic enzymes are clearly important for soft rot diseases, their role cannot be anticipated for other diseases as a whole. Each symptom type must therefore be investigated separately. Moreover, before antifungal strategies can be considered, several strains and/or mutants must be analysed.