The effect of carbohydrate carbon sources on the production of constitutive and inducible laccases by Botryosphaeria sp.

The influence of carbohydrates: glucose, fructose, galactose, galacturonic acid, xylose, lactose, sucrose, pectin and inulin, were evaluated as sole carbon source for the production of laccases by the ascomycete, Botryosphaeria sp. Veratryl alcohol, a laccase inducer, was added to culture media to study inducible laccase production on the same carbon sources. Inulinase and pectinase were also produced when Botryosphaeria sp. was grown on inulin, and galacturonic acid and pectin, respectively, and their levels were less in the presence of veratryl alcohol. Botryosphaeria sp. produced constitutive laccases on all carbon sources examined, and veratryl alcohol increased the laccase production on most of carbon sources studied except for inulin and galacturonic acid. Evidence is presented that Botryosphaeria sp. is also pectinolytic.