Conditions for obtaining stable protoplasts from Sclerotium glucanicum and their reversion to hyphal growth were determined. 1,3+Glucan synthase activity was detected in particulate enzyme fractions from mycelium and protoplasts of Scl. glucanicum. UDP-[U-14C]glucose was linearly incorporated into a p-glucan for about 20 min at 25 OC. Optimum pH and temperature values, as well as thermal stabilities of the 1,3-P-glucan synthase activity, were determined. High concentrations of EDTA were inhibitory. Enzyme activity was stimulated by ATP and GTP. The apparent K,,, value for UDP-glucose was 0.54 mM. The reaction product was characterized as 1,3-pglucan by 13C N M R spectroscopy and hydrolysis products of an exo-1,3-P-glucanase.