PRODUCTION OF PECTOLYTIC ENZYMES IN LETTUCE ROOT COLONIZED BY GLOMUS-MOSSEAE

The type of extraction solution used influences pectolytic enzyme recovery from Lactuca sativa root colonized with Glomus mosseae. The most suitable extraction buffers are 250 mM NaCl for pectin esterase and 50 mM citrate-phosphate plus polyvinyl-polypyrrolidone for polygalacturonase, endo-polygalacturonase, polymethylgalaturonase, endo-polymethylgalacturonase, pectin and pectate lyase. The inclusion of glycine and urea to citrate-phosphate buffer decreases polygalacturonase activity but enhances endo-polymethylgalacturonase activity. Mycorrhizal colonized roots posses more pectin esterase, with optimum production at pH 7 and endo-polymethylgalacturonase but not more polygalacturonase, polymethylgalacturonase endo-polygalacturonase pectin and pectate lyases, than non-colonized roots. This fact suggests that these enzymes may participate in the process of penetration and colonization of root by the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus G. mosseae.