An acidic water-soluble cell wall polysaccharide:: a chemotaxonomic marker for Fusarium and Gibberella

Alkali-extractable and water-soluble cell-wall polysaccharides were purified from cell walls of some species of Fusarium and Gibberella. Their structures were determined by chemical analysis and NMR. The polysaccharides consisted of a main chain of beta-(1 --> 6)-linked galactofuranose units almost fully branched at positions O-2 by single residues of glucopyranose or acidic chains containing glucuronic acid and mannose. Individual differences were found concerning the proportion of neutral and acidic side chains. These polysaccharides showed major differences from those of Microdochium nivale, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, Fusarium ciliatum, F. aquaeductuum and F. cavispermum. Highly specific polyclonal antibodies were raised against this structure, which were used in immunocompetence and immunofluorescence experiments.