Production of amylolytic enzymes in culture by Botryodiplodia theobromae and Sclerotium rolfsii associated with the corm rots of Colocasia esculenta.

Extracellular amylase was detected in culture filtrates of Botryodiplodia theobromae and Sclerotium rolfsii. During 10 days incubation S. rolfsii produced more amylase than B. theobromae. B. theobromae produced the greatest amount of amylase at 25 degrees C, while S. rolfsii at 30 degrees C. Both organism exerted the highest amylase activity at pH 6-7. In starch-free medium extracellular amylase was in very low quantities. There was a positive correlation between increase in starch concentration and production of extracellular amylolytic enzymes.