Production of beta-glucosidases by EuropeanArmillaria species

Production of beta-glucosidase was investigated in nine isolates ofArmillariarepresenting four species found in Europe:Armillaria melleaandArmillaria ostoyae, considered to be pathogenic and moderately pathogenic, respectively, andArmillaria. gallicaandArmillaria cepistipes, both considered to be non-pathogenic. beta-glucosidase was predominantly produced in the rhizomorphs, while the vegetative mycelium produced only a low amount of enzyme. Pachlewski's medium containing ammonium tartrate, glucose, maltose and thiamine was very efficient in promoting differentiation and growth of rhizomorphs. InA. ostoyaeandA. cepistipes, a large proportion of beta-glucosidase production was endocellular, but the rhizomorphs of all species excreted significant amounts of the enzyme in the culture medium once they had grown. The pathogenic speciesA. ostoyaeandA. melleaexcreted significantly more beta-glucosidase than the non-pathogenic species, indicating that this enzyme might play a key role in pathogenicity. Native intracellular beta-glucosidases were visualized as three bands at 470, 164 and 82 kDa on polyacrylamide gradient gels. The native excreted enzymes exhibited two, three or four bands depending on the isolates, with molecular weights ranging from 170 to 400 kDa.