HYDROXYPROLINE-CONTAINING FRAGMENTS IN THE CELL-WALL OF PHYTOPHTHORA-PARASITICA

The composition of a cell wall derived elicitor preparation from Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae which induced ethylene and proteinase inhibitor production in tobacco plants, was analysed. The peptide part which accounted for 77% of the dry mass was characterized by high levels of Glx, Ala, Thr, Asx, Ser and Hyp; the carbohydrate moiety was mainly mannose and glucose. Unlike most plants, in Phytophthora cell walls and elicitor, most of the Hyp residues were non-glycosylated. The glycosylated Hyp (7%) carried oligoarabinose side chains composed of three or four arabinose residues.