Growth and oxidative enzymatic activity of in-vitro cultures of Ciliochorella buxifolia

To get a better insight into the physiological capabilities of Ciliochorella buxifolia, the most frequent fungus occurring on Scutia buxifolia leaf-litter in a native forest from Argentina, its in-vitro ability to use 10 carbon sources and to produce extracellular enzymes, including its response to tannic acid and to the addition of a water-soluble fraction of Scutia buxifolia leaf-litter, was analyzed. Growth, colony morphology and extracellular enzyme activity as well as differentiation of pycnidia were a function of the C substrate. The fungus responded to the presence of tannic acid in a range between 0.001 and 0.1% (w/v), by increasing growth, but higher phenol concentrations like 0.5% were inhibitory. The activity of extracellular oxidative enzymes increased with the concentration of tannic acid. Furthermore, the fungus showed extracellular laccase and peroxidase activity, being the former increased by water-soluble fraction in association to pycnidia development. Based on these results, Ciliochorella buxifolia is a fungus growing on Scutia buxifolia leaf-litter that is able to metabolize soluble phenolic compounds, which triggers the synthesis of extracellular oxidative enzymes possibly involved in sporulation and detoxification reactions. •Physiological capabilities of Ciliochorella buxifolia to use C sources and to produce extracellular degrading enzymes were analyzed.•Growth, colony morphology, extracellular enzyme activity and differentiation of pycnidia were a function of the C substrate.•Ciliochorella buxifolia grew on Scutia buxifolia leaf litter soluble compounds.•This fungus synthesizes extracellular oxidative enzymes possibly involved in sporulation and detoxification reactions.