-1,3-Glucanase activity was determined following the method of Abeles and Forrence (1979), by incubating 62.5 L of protein extracts for 2 h at 37 ◦C in 62.5 L of 4% (w/v) laminarin. The reaction was stopped by adding of 375 L of 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid(DNS) and by heating the sample in boiling water for 10 min and then rapidly cooling it in ice