**A. Appendix**

*Grain and Seed Proteins Functionality*

30,000 and 56,000.

In this research, we observed that the molecular weight of endo-polygalacturonase from our strain of *Lasiodiplodia theobromae* using Sephadex G-100 has an estimate of 124,000 Daltons while that of our strain of *Rhizoctonia solani* has an estimate of 92,000 Daltons. Adejuwon *et al.* [11] reported from their studies a polygalacturonase from *Penicillium funiculosum* Thom. isolated from tomato fruits with molecular weight estimate of 89,100 Daltons. Ajayi *et al*. [12] in their own investigation purified polygalacturonase from *Rhizopus arrhizus* Fisher isolated from tomato fruits with molecular weight estimates of approximately 166,000 Daltons and 60,260 Daltons. Olutiola [13] reported from his investigation, an extracellular polyglacturonase complex from *Penicillium citrinum* associated with internal mouldiness of cocoa (*Theobroma cacao*) beans having molecular weights of

The purified endo-polygalcuronase from our *Lasiodiplodia theobromae* exhibited

optimum activity at 30°C and at pH 4.5 while that from our *Rhizoctonia solani* exhibited optimum activity at 32°C and at pH 5.0. Olutiola [30] reported that *Penicillium sclerotigenum* Yamamoto isolated from rotten yam tuber produced a

The purified endo-polygalacturonases from both fungi exhibited optimum activities at 0.2% pectin concentration. The purified endo-polygalacturonases from both fungi were stimulated by Ca2+ but inhibited by ethlylenediamine tetracetic acid (EDTA) and 2,4-dinitrophenol. Ajayi *et al.* [31] purified polygalacturonase from *Rhizopus arrhizus* Fisher with optimum activity at pH 4.5, stimulated by Ca2+ but inhibited by ethlylenediamine tetracetic acid (EDTA) and 2,4-dinitrophenol. The purified endo-polygalacturonase from our *Lasiodiplodia theobromae* lost 80% of its activity within 20 minutes of heat at 80°C. While the purified endo-polygalacturonase from our *Rhizoctonia solani* lost 82% of its activity within 20 minutes of heat at 80°C. Potassium nitrate as nitrogen source in the defined growth medium with pectin as carbon source supported highest activity of endo-polygalacturonase by *Lasiodiplodia theobromae* while ammonium chloride as nitrogen source in the defined growth medium with pectin as carbon source supported highest activity of endo-polygalacturonase by *Rhizoctonia solani*. According to Olutiola [32], pectin as carbon source with L-asparagine as nitrogen source of a defined growth medium supported the growth and sporulation of *Fusarium oxysporum* Schlecht. In conclusion, the conditions inhibiting endo-polygalacturonases from *Lasiodiplodia theobromae* and *Rhizoctonia solani* capable of degrading the pectin portion of rice (*Oryza sativa*) observed in this study can be adapted as feasible control measures limiting the infection and contamination of rice (*Oryza sativa*) by these phytopathogens on the field and at postharvest. Temperature and pH extreme from 30°C and pH 4.5 will be feasible inhibitory control measures for the growth of *Lasiodiplodia theobromae* on rice (*Oryza sativa*) in Nigeria and particularly the preservation of pectin in rice (*Oryza sativa*) from degradation by this particular phytopathogen. Temperature and pH extreme from 32°C and pH 5.0 will inhibit growth of *Rhizoctonia solani* on rice (*Oryza sativa*) and preserve pectin in this grain from degradation by

Authors are grateful to the British Mycological Society (BMS), Britain, United Kingdom; the National Academy of the Sciences (NAS) of Ukraine, Ukraine, East Europe; and the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry (IBOCP),

polygalacturonase with optimum activity at pH 5.0.

**168**

*Rhizoctonia solani*.

**Acknowledgements**

Kyiv, Ukraine, East Europe for research supports.
