STIMULATION OF DENOVO SYNTHESIS OF L-PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA-LYASE IN RELATION TO PHYTOALEXIN ACCUMULATION IN COLLETOTRICHUM-LINDEMUTHIANUM ELICITOR-TREATED CELL-SUSPENSION CULTURES OF FRENCH BEAN (PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS)

1. (1) The regulation of the accumulation of the isoflavonoid-derived phytoalexin phaseollin in cell suspension cultures of Dwarf French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) has been investigated. 2. (2) An elicitor preparation from cell walls of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, the causal agent of anthracnose disease of French bean, caused a marked accumulation of phaseollin in the cultures. The elicitor induced phaseollin accumulation to a level of 60% that obtained with the artificial elicitor autoclaved ribonoclease A and was maximally active at a concentration (weight basis) of at least 50 times lower than required for maximall response to ribonuclease. 3. (3) Elicitor preparations from cell walls of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae, a fungal pathogen of soybean, and Botrytis cinerea, the common grey mould, were much less effective than the C. lindemuthianum wall-released elicitor. 4. (4) There was a marked but transient increase in the extractable activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, the enzyme catalysing the first reaction in the biosynthesis of phaseollin from l-phenylalanine, in response to the elicitor from C. lindemuthianum. 5. (5) Comparative density labelling with 2H from 2H2O indicated that the elicitor stimulates de novo synthesis of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and that this is an early event in the phytoalexin defence response. 6. (6) These findings provide the basis of a scheme for elicitor induction of phytoalexin accumulation. © 1979.