Pectinolytic activity of revertants of auxotrophic strains of Aspergillus niger.

From conidia of 4 different auxotrophic A. niger strains 400 spontaneous revertants (100 from each strain) were obtained, and in one case additionally 100 revertants induced by mutagens (UV+NTG). The revertants showed a considerable differentiation with regard to the total pectinolytic activity. Its highest increase occurred in revertants originating from auxotrophs greatly predisposed to synthesize pectinases. In the case of revertants induced by mutagenes an increase in the frequency of their formation was observed, as well as an increased participation of revertants with higher pectinolytic activity compared to both their initial auxotrophic and prototrophic strain.