Abstract
Qualitative enzyme assays were used as a tool to investigate the stability of freeze-dried mycorrhizal fungi. Both lyophilized (L) and non-lyophilized (NL) mycelia of individual isolates showed identical response for all the enzymes tested (nitrate reductase, protease, pectinase, and nuclease). All the isolates showed positive nitrate reductase activity, except two isolates of Thelephora terrestris (both L and NL). Both L and NL cultures of individual isolates showed substrate specificity (between gelatin and casein) for protease activity. Though both L and NL mycelia of all the culture isolates grew upon pectin substrate, there was no pectinase activity expressed. RNAase activity was variously exhibited (little activity, little growth–no activity, and no growth–no activity) by individual test cultures. The consistencies in growth and enzyme activity of the cultures before and after lyophilization imply the stability of the freeze-dried vegetative mycelium.
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Sundari, S.K., Adholeya, A. Retention of enzyme activity following freeze-drying the mycelium of ectomycorrhizal isolates. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 16, 373–376 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008984700163
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008984700163