Enzymatic Activity of Fungal Pathogens in Corn

Enzymatic activity e.g., pectinase, cellulase, protease and lipase of different fungal pathogens causing stalk rot disease in corn was determined. In-vitro studies; corn stalk rot pathogens viz., Cephalosporium acremonium, Fusarium moniliforme, F. graminearum, F. semitectum, Macrophomina phaseolina, st. 1, M. phaseolina st. 2, Rhizoctonia solani st.1, R. solani st. 2 and Verticillium albo-atrum showed maximum pectinase activity after 48 hrs., which then decreased with the exception of C. acremonium. F. moniliforme, F. graminearum and F. semitectum showed the same pattern of pectinase activity but in variable quantity (88.9 μml, 66.6 μml & 77.7 μml respectively) after 48 hrs. In V. albo-atrum alongwith both strains of Macrophomina phaseolina, pectinase activity was also maximum at 48 hrs., and then significantly reduced at 96 hrs. Production of pectinase enzyme by C. acremonium started at 24 hrs., (22.2 μml) and showed maximum activity at 72 hrs., (66.6 μml) and then decreased significantly at 96 hrs., (11.1 μml). Cellulase production was not observed at 24 hrs., after inoculation of the pathogens, however, all the pathogens except R. solani st.2 showed cellulase activity at 48 hrs. Protease enzyme was found only in C. acremonium, F. moniliforme and F. graminearum. Lipase activity was maximum at 24 hrs., post-inoculation in all pathogens with the exception of F. graminearum, C. acremonium and R. solani st.1. Differences in enzymatic activity at different intervals may suggest their specificity in causing corn stalk rot disease.