A　novel　glycosyl　hydrolase　family　11　xylanase　gene,　xynMF13A,　was　cloned　from　Phoma　sp.　MF13,　a　xylanase-producing　fungus　isolated　from　mangrove　sediment.　xynMF13A　was　heterologously　expressed　in　Pichia　pastoris,　and　the　recombinant　XynMF13A　(rXynMF13A)　was　purified　by　Ni-affinity　chromatography.　The　temperature　and　pH　optima　of　purified　rXynMF13A　were　45　degrees　C　and　pH　5.0,　respectively.　rXynMF13A　showed　a　high　level　of　salt　tolerance,　with　maximal　enzyme　activity　being　seen　at　0.5　M　NaCl　and　as　much　as　53%　of　maximal　activity　at　4　M　NaCl.　The　major　rXynMF13A　hydrolysis　products　from　corncob　xylan　were　xylobiose,　xylotriose,　xylotetraose,　and　xylopentaose,　but　no　xylose　was　found.　These　hydrolysis　products　suggest　an　important　potential　for　XynMF13A　in　the　production　of　xylooligosaccharides　(XOs).　Furthermore,　rXynMF13A　had　beneficial　effects　on　Chinese　steamed　bread　production,　by　increasing　specific　volume　and　elasticity　while　decreasing　hardness　and　chewiness.　These　results　demonstrate　XynMF13A　to　be　a　novel　xylanase　with　potentially　significant　applications　in　baking,　XOs　production,　and　seafood　processing.