Cellulolytic Activity of Botrytis cinerea in vitro and in vivo

Experiments were carried out to determine whether stepwise breakdown of native cellulose is carried out by B. cinereain vitro and in vivo. Protein fractions were obtained from ungerminated conidia, from culture filtrates 24, 48 and 96 h after inoculation with conidia, and from culture filtrates of 12 day-old cultures growing on cotton wool as the carbon source. In addition, petioles and fruits of tomato plants were inoculated and the protein fraction of the colonized tissues were tested. Using filter paper, carboxymethylcellulose and cellobiose as substrates, all fraction showed c₁, glucanase and cellobiase activity respectively.