Activity of polygalacturonases from Moniliophthora perniciosa depends on fungus culture conditions and is enhanced by Theobroma cacao extracts

•We report the first polygalacturonase activity (PG) of Moniliophthora perniciosa.•The best M. perniciosa PG activity is obtained at 50 °C for 10 min.•The secreted PG activity is the highest when the fungus is cultivated on PD medium.•The secreted PG activity is enhanced by fermentable carbon sources.•The secreted PG activity is enhanced by cacao extracts.

We report the first analysis of polygalacturonase regulation in the basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa. Non-secreted and secreted polygalacturonase activity was obtained from M. perniciosa cultivated on bran-based solid medium or liquid media containing additional carbon sources or cacao extracts (infected or not by the fungus). Polygalacturonase activity assays were carried out under different temperatures and incubation periods. The best secreted polygalacturonase activity was obtained when the enzymatic assay was made at 50 °C for 10 min. Moreover, the polygalacturonase activity was enhanced when the fungus was cultivated on potato dextrose medium, in the presence of additional fermentable carbon sources, in the presence of cacao pulp or non infected cacao extracts.