Enzymatic activities of mycelia in mycorrhizal fungal communities

This chapter will review recent studies of the potential of mycorrhizal fungi to produce extracellular enzymes and thereby utilize complex organic resources in the soil. Many studies have focused on the enzyme production of mycelium growing in axenic culture. In order to evaluate the potential to produce extracellular enzymes under more realistic conditions, enzyme activities have also been studied in soil microcosms containing mycorrhizal plants. More recently, molecular techniques have been used to explore the genetic potential of mycorrhizal fungi to produce different enzymes. The application of molecular tools in the field is now necessary to demonstrate the expression of this potential under natural conditions.