Biochemical Studies on Sclerotinia Libertiana

Part 9. II. Pectic Enzymes (ii) Degumming Action of Ramie Fibre by Raw Extract of Fungus Bran Culture

Abstract

Raw dilute extract of the dry, mycelial mass Sclerotinia libertiana formed by bran culture was found to have a considerably strong enzymatic degumming action of eamic fibre.
Though the optimum temperature for the maceration action of vegetable tissue is 40°C, the depectinising action of fibre was performed favourably at the room temperature (17_??_24°C) than at 37°C, and in 24 hrs. at 24°C, rate of pectin dissolved reached to 80_??_90%, but hardly proceeded any more with prolonged time.
Rew extract had lost the degumming activity gradually by leaving it at 37°C, but scarcely did at 24°C, and could be used for degumming repeatedly. As a result of examing the joint effect of enzymatic degumming and alkali scouring, it seemed to be obvious that qua-ntity of alkali and heat consumed cnuld be reduced less than half.