Aims: Evaluation of various Sclerotium spp. as producers of the biotechnologically attractive enzyme cellobiose dehydrogenase.
Methods and results: All isolates of S. coffeicola, S. delphinii and S. rolfsii grown in shaken flasks on a cellulose-based medium produced appreciable amounts of the extracellular enzyme cellobiose dehydrogenase.
Conclusions: Cellobiose dehydrogenase seems to play an important role in phytopathogenic Sclerotium spp.; a possible function could be either in the degradation of rigid lignocellulose or as a protective mechanism against toxic quinones.
Significance and impact of the study: S. coffeicola and S. delphinii were identified as potent, not-yet-described producers of cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH). The high levels of intact CDH produced by the different Sclerotium species should make them attractive producers for further studies and applications.