In vitro Effect of the Phytoalexin Glyceollin I on Polygalacturonase and Oxalic Acid Production ofSclerotinia sclerotiorum

The polygalacturonase (PG) activity in culture filtrates fromSclerotinia sclerotiorum is reduced when glyceollin I, the major soybean phytoalexin, is present in the culture medium. When the enzyme activities in the culture filtrates are expressed per unit of fungal growth, PG activity decreases with increasing concentration of glyceollin I in the culture medium. The phytoalexin does not influence the isoenzyme pattern. This suggests that glyceollin I may inhibit quantitative but not qualitative enzyme production. Only the highest glyceollin I concentration tested inhibits oxalic acid production. The inhibitory effect on mycelial growth is confirmed. The data suggest a further hypothesis about the role of phytoalexin during pathogenesis.