Intergeneric variability in enzyme production of microfungi from pine litter

Twelve unrelated microfungi from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) needle litter were selected to represent supposedly different ecophysiological traits. In order to explore the differences in their involvement in decomposition, activities of their hydrolytic enzymes were compared. Most strains were able to degrade cellulose. The highest exocellulase, β-xylosidase and N-acetylglucosaminidase activities were found in Verticicladium trifidum. Oidiodendron griseum and Allantophomopsis lycopodina were strongly cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic as well. The overlap in the microfungal utilization of cellulose suggests the overlap of nutritional niches of unrelated fungal taxa and competition for carbon sources. Production of the protein-degrading enzymes, arylsulphatase, phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase by litter microfungi was mostly low.