Production of cell wall degrading enzymes by Colletotrichum capsici causing fruit rot of Chillies

The virulent isolates of Colletotrichum capsici produced more cellulolytic enzymes viz., C1 and Cx in vitro than the avirulent ones and the activity of these enzymes increased with the increase in age of culture. The virulent isolates of C. capsici produced more pectinolytic enzymes (macerating enzymes, pectin methyl esterase and endo polygalacturonase) than the avirulent ones. All the pectinolytic enzymes were highly active in 10-days-old culture and the activities decreased with the increase of culture age. Whereas the activity of enzymes produced by avirulent isolate of pathogens did not decrease and these enzyme activities increased with the increase in the age of culture.