苦豆子内生真菌对宿主培养物生长及喹诺里西啶类生物碱合成的影响

利用苦豆子健康植株中分离鉴定的8株内生真菌菌株为真菌诱导子,分别制备灭活菌丝和菌液浓缩物,研究内生真菌诱导子不同种类、浓度和诱导时间对苦豆子无菌苗和愈伤组织的生长以及喹诺里西啶生物碱含量的影响。结果表明:8株苦豆子内生真菌诱导子中,菌液浓缩物的诱导效果要强于灭活菌丝。菌株HMGKDF1菌液浓缩物和灭活菌丝都能明显促进愈伤组织的生长,净生长率是对照的1.82和1.42倍;菌株NDZKDF13菌液浓缩物对愈伤组织生物碱的合成效果明显,生物碱含量为0.5483 mg·g-1,是对照的23.8倍;在一定浓度范围内(0.01~1.0 mg·L-1),苦豆子内生真菌诱导子能够促进宿主植物喹诺里西啶生物碱的合成。内生真菌诱导子处理苦豆子无菌苗12 d时,喹诺里西啶生物碱含量最高,是对照的2.65倍。在苦豆子无菌苗或愈伤组织中添加一定量的苦豆子内生真菌诱导子,对宿主的生长以及提高喹诺里西啶生物碱含量是一种有效的方法。     

混合盐碱处理下蚕豆叶片生理指标的变化

为了研究蚕豆在混合盐碱胁迫下的生理变化,试验采用3种盐碱胁迫方式KCl/NaCl、KCl/Na₂CO₃、KCl/Na₂SO₄处理2周,测定蚕豆鲜重、丙二醛和脯氨酸含量、抗氧化酶活性等生理指标。结果表明,随着盐碱胁迫时间的延长,蚕豆鲜重表现为先升高后下降趋势,丙二醛和脯氨酸含量呈上升趋势,其中脯氨酸含量在处理11d时急剧增加;随胁迫时间的延长,4种抗氧化酶SOD、POD、CAT、APX活性增加幅度呈先升高后降低趋势,其中处理11d时,酶活性增加幅度顺序是SOD＞ CAT＞ APX或POD。结论:蚕豆盐碱胁迫中,SOD酶活性发挥首要作用,脯氨酸是一种重要的渗透物质。     

亚精胺对渗透胁迫下甜瓜幼苗膜脂过氧化和抗氧化系统的影响

为探讨多胺提高作物抗渗透胁迫的生理机制，以甜瓜品种‘齐甜2号’为材料，采用营养液法培养甜瓜幼苗，以15% PEG-6000模拟渗透胁迫，研究1 mmol·L^-1亚精胺（Spd）对不同渗透胁迫时间下甜瓜幼苗的生长、活性氧代谢、抗氧化酶活性、渗透调节物质和非酶抗氧化剂的影响。结果表明：渗透胁迫后4 d，与胁迫处理相比，1 mmol·L^-1 Spd处理使甜瓜幼苗生物量提高11.34%，根系活力提高24.20%；叶片和根系H₂O₂含量、O^₂产生速率、MDA含量和相对电解质渗透率降低，叶片中分别降低30.72%、29.99%、29.34%和14.62%，根中分别降低29.33%、25.31%、28.23%和20.34%。Spd诱导甜瓜叶片和根系中抗氧化酶活性增加，与胁迫处理相比，叶中SOD、POD、CAT和APX抗氧化酶活性分别提高25.54%、28.70%、27.72%和28.41%，根中分别提高23.35%、27.38%、25.06%和20.34%。与渗透胁迫处理相比，Spd处理在渗透胁迫后16 d甜瓜幼苗叶片脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白的含量分别增加46.51%、49.72%和40.25%；渗透胁迫后16 d幼苗叶片ASA含量增加62.50%，渗透胁迫后12 d幼苗叶片GSH含量增加37.17%，ASA/DHA和GSH/GSSG分别提高74.46%、60.95%。说明在渗透胁迫下1 mmol·L^-1浓度Spd能够促进甜瓜幼苗生长，稳定生物膜系统，增强甜瓜幼苗抗氧化能力，有效缓解渗透胁迫对甜瓜幼苗伤害的作用。     

根施水杨酸对铅胁迫下小麦根系生长发育的影响

以小麦品种“轮选988”为材料,采用溶液培养法,研究了80 mg·L^-1水杨酸（SA）对铅（50 mg·L^-1 Pb²⁺）胁迫下小麦幼苗生长及生理特性的影响。结果表明:根施SA后,铅胁迫下的小麦幼苗株高、根长、株鲜重、根鲜重、株干重和根干重较对照(铅胁迫下未根施SA)分别上升了17.67%、24.85%、23.46%、18.69%、18.95%和25.41%,根系超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性分别上升了215.73%、98.92%、137.45%和111.47%,根中超氧阴离子（O^—[KG-1][JX*3]·[JX-*3]₂）和过氧化氢（H₂O₂）含量分别降低了23.82%和28.99%;同时,根施SA,铅胁迫下小麦根系中可溶性糖含量上升了13.59％,而Pro含量下降了40.11%,根系中丙二醛（MDA）含量降低了16.78％,小麦根系活力增加了694.52%。因此,根施SA在一定程度上提高了小麦根系的抗氧化能力,缓解了铅离子对小麦根系的毒害。     

旱盐交叉胁迫对燕麦幼苗叶片生理特性的影响

以‘定莜6号’燕麦幼苗为试材,分析了旱盐交叉胁迫下叶片O₂^·和H₂O₂产生、膜脂过氧化及抗氧化系统的变化。结果表明,随着干旱和盐胁迫程度的提高,叶片活性氧代谢失调,细胞膜受到严重伤害,表现为SOD、POD和APX活性先升高后降低,AsA含量下降,CAT活性及GSH和丙二醛（MDA）含量升高,O₂^·和H₂O₂产生增加。0.3%的土壤含盐量可显著提高轻度（土壤含水量占田间持水量65%）和中度（土壤含水量占田间持水量50%）干旱胁迫下燕麦幼苗叶片SOD、POD和APX的活性,降低O₂^·产生速率及H₂O₂和MDA含量;0.6%的土壤含盐量对轻度干旱胁迫燕麦幼苗叶片的O₂^·产生速率及H ₂O₂和MDA含量无明显影响,却使中度干旱胁迫下的O₂^·产生速率及H₂O₂和MDA含量显著升高;在重度干旱（土壤含水量占田间持水量35%）胁迫下,随着土壤含盐量的增加,燕麦叶片SOD、CAT、POD、APX活性和AsA、GSH含量显著下降,O₂^·产生速率及H₂O₂和MDA含量明显增加。表明适量的土壤含盐量可通过提高抗氧化系统的活性缓解 轻、中度干旱胁迫对燕麦幼苗的伤害,而过量的盐分则加重干旱损伤。     

PEG胁迫对萌动苦豆子子叶抗旱生理及氧化苦参碱含量的影响

以PEG-6000模拟干旱条件,测定苦豆子种子萌发、萌动种子子叶中质膜相对透性(PMP)、丙二醛(MDA)和脯氨酸(Pro)含量以及抗氧化物酶POD、CAT、SOD酶活性以及氧化苦参碱含量,探讨苦豆子种子的抗旱适应性。结果表明:10%PEG胁迫下,种子的发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数和活力指数均达到最高,依次为66.67%,78.67%,24.40和183.79,20%PEG胁迫种子仍有较高的发芽能力。随PEG胁迫程度加剧,萌动苦豆子种子子叶中质膜相对透性和Pro含量逐渐上升,MDA含量逐渐下降;POD、CAT和SOD 3种保护酶对干旱胁迫的保护作用不尽相同,中轻度胁迫(PEG≤20%)时POD酶起主要作用,重度胁迫(PEG20%)时CAT和SOD酶起主要作用。PEG胁迫使子叶中OMA含量下降,OMA含量与抗旱生理指标间均存在负相关。适度干旱有助于苦豆子种子萌发,萌动种子对干旱有强的防御机制。     

钙对低温胁迫下玉米幼苗氧化损伤的保护作用

采用室内盆栽试验,利用不同浓度的CaCl₂（0、5、10、15、20 mmol·L^-1）处理低温胁迫下的玉米幼苗,研究了钙对玉米幼苗抗冷性的作用。结果表明：与对照相比,低温处理明显抑制了玉米幼苗的生长,减缓了可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量的积累,抗氧化酶活性下降,脯氨酸含量减少,丙二醛（MDA）含量增加,质膜透性增大。适宜浓度的钙（5～10 mmol·L^-1）能减缓低温胁迫下玉米幼苗质膜相对透性和丙二醛（MDA）含量的增加,促进脯氨酸(Pro)、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白的积累,提高超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）和过氧化物酶（POD）活性,其中10 mmol·L^-1 Ca²⁺处理的效果最为明显。     

拟康氏木霉菌剂对黄瓜幼苗生长、抗氧化系统及枯萎病防效的影响

于2019年5—8月采用前期筛选出的对黄瓜枯萎病菌有较好拮抗作用的拟康氏木霉Trichoderma pseudokoningii 886菌株，通过盆栽实验，测定不同菌剂施用量对黄瓜幼苗生长、抗氧化系统以及对黄瓜枯萎病防效的影响。结果表明：拟康氏木霉不同施用量均能提高对黄瓜枯萎病的防效，其中10⁵ cfu·g^-1拟康氏木霉厚垣孢子菌剂应用效果最好，对黄瓜枯萎病的防效达到83.98%；与CK（只接种病原菌）相比，拟康氏木霉不同施用量均能提高黄瓜幼苗株高、茎粗、叶面积、根体积、根冠比和壮苗指数，其中10⁵ cfu·g^-1拟康氏木霉厚垣孢子菌剂对黄瓜幼苗形态建成的促进效果最好；拟康氏木霉不同施用量均能提高瓜幼苗叶片中CAT、POD、SOD、APX、PPO活性和Pro含量，降低叶片中的MDA含量和质膜透性，其中10⁵ cfu·g^-1拟康氏木霉厚垣孢子菌剂对黄瓜幼苗抗氧化系统促进效果最好；在播种后30 d，黄瓜幼苗叶片中CAT、POD、SOD、APX、PPO活性和Pro含量分别比CK提高了119.96%、213.75%、139.29%、97.53%、101.15%、70.38%，相对电导率、MDA含量则分别比CK下降了46.10%、60.28%。研究表明拟康氏木霉886厚垣孢子菌剂通过提高黄瓜幼苗抗氧化系统能力，促进了幼苗形态建成，提高了对黄瓜枯萎病的防治效果。     

茉莉酸甲酯响应盐碱胁迫下苹果砧木M26的生理机制

为探索外源茉莉酸甲酯（MeJA）处理后苹果砧木对盐碱胁迫的响应特性，以苹果砧木M26为试验材料，设置CK1（清水浇灌)、CK2（盐碱胁迫：200 mmol·L^-1NaCl∶NaHCO₃=1∶1）、T1（盐碱胁迫+0.05 μmol·L^-1MeJA）、T2（盐碱胁迫+0.5 μmol·L^-1MeJA）、T3（盐碱胁迫+5 μmol·L^-1MeJA）、T4（盐碱胁迫+50 μmol·L^-1MeJA）、T5（盐碱胁迫+500 μmol·L^-1MeJA）共7个处理，观察并测定各处理下苹果砧木生长的表型、光合色素以及渗透调节物质含量，并对其进行相关性和主成分分析。结果表明：与CK2相比，喷施MeJA处理幼苗叶片边缘黄化未扩大，叶绿素a（Chl a）含量、叶绿素b（Chl b）含量、叶绿素a+b（Chl a+b）含量、净光合速率（P_n）、可溶性糖（SS）含量、可溶性蛋白（SP）含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、脯氨酸（Pro）含量、过氧化物酶（POD）活性、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性均有所升高，其中T4升幅最大，各指标平均增幅范围为12.77%~69.80%；喷施MeJA处理的叶片电导率（REC）、超氧阴离子（O^₂）含量、丙二醛（MDA）含量相比CK1有所升高，T1、T2、T3、T5处理各指标升高幅度范围为30.5%~109.2%，其中T4增幅最小，为18.72%~45.02%。相关性分析表明，Chl a与Chl b、Chl a+b含量呈极显著正相关关系，与MDA、O^₂含量及REC呈极显著负相关关系，与SP、H₂O₂含量呈显著负相关关系。对17个指标进行主成分分析，3个主成分累积方差贡献率达到95.25%；依据主成分进行综合排序，外源MeJA对盐碱胁迫下M26幼苗叶片缓解能力表现为T4>T5>T3>T2>T1。综上，在200 mmol·L^-1浓度盐碱胁迫下，施用50 μmol·L^-1的外源茉莉酸甲酯对苹果砧木生理特性的调节效果最佳。     

PEG胁迫下不同品系藜麦抗旱性评价

利用不同浓度PEG溶液模拟干旱胁迫,研究5种品系藜麦幼苗的形态、生理生化及光合特性,并对其进行耐旱性评价。结果表明：15%PEG处理下各品系藜麦株高增量、叶面积及生物量显著（P<0.05）低于对照,其中株高增量、叶面积、生物量下降幅度最小的品系分别是NK1、NK2和NK5,分别比对照下降了44.38%、25.39%和48.23%;随着干旱胁迫加剧, 各藜麦品系叶片内相对含水量显著（P<0.05）下降, 叶片的质膜透性、丙二醛（MDA）含量、脯氨酸（Pro）含量上升,15%PEG胁迫下NK2和NK3的Pro含量分别是对照的2.69和1.93倍, 超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性均先升后降,SOD、CAT和APX活性在5%PEG处理下达到最大值, 而POD活性在10%PEG处理下达到最大; 随干旱胁迫增强,5种品系藜麦幼苗的净光合速率（P_n）、蒸腾速率（T_r）和气孔导度（G_s）降低,胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）先降后升,叶绿素（Chl）先升后降,其中NK5品系P_n下降幅度最小,比对照下降了51.15%。运用隶属函数法对藜麦抗旱能力进行综合评定,不同藜麦品系耐旱性为NK5>NK1>NK2>NK4>NK3。     

宁夏地区苦豆子内生真菌的分离与初步鉴定

为了探讨宁夏地区苦豆子内生真菌类群的多样性,以宁夏地区苦豆子草为试验材料,采用组织分离法从其根、茎、叶中分离内生真菌,依据形态进行初步鉴定。结果表明,从宁夏地区苦豆子875个表面消毒的根、茎、叶组织块中,共分离出内生真菌115株。其中根中分离出18株,占15.7%,茎中分离出41株,占35.7%,叶中分离出56株,占48.6%,分布规律为叶、茎、根依次递减,叶组织中的内生真菌多样性较高。对产孢的113株进行初步鉴定,分类为2纲3目5科7属,其中青霉属(Penicillium)3株,占2.6%,黑葱花霉属(Periconia)4株,占3.6%;链格孢属(Alternaria)45株,占39.1%;镰孢霉属(Fusarium)9株,占7.8%,曲霉属(Aspergillus)10株,占8.7%,枝梗茎点霉属(Dendrophoma)30株,占26.1%,根霉属(Rhizopus)9株,占7.8%;其中链格孢属(Alternaria),枝梗茎点霉属(Dendrophoma)为优势种群。宁夏地区苦豆子内生真菌多样性丰富,同时不同部位内生菌的数量、种类及分布存在差异。     

Induction of peroxidase, scopoletin, phenolic compounds and resistance in Hevea brasiliensis by elicitin and a novel protein elicitor purified from Phytophthora palmivora

Elicitin and a new protein 75 kDa elicitor were purified from the culture filtrate of Phytophthora palmivora, a pathogen of Hevea brasiliensis (rubber plant). Elicitin was obtained by using a one step of DEAE cellulose chromatography and the new elicitor was obtained by two steps of chromatography: a DEAE cellulose column followed by a hydrophobic column. Both elicitors were stable to heat and a wide range of pH values, but were sensitive to ProteaseK. Both elicitors induced scopoletin, peroxidase isozymes (with substrate o-dianisidine and scopoletin) and total phenolic compounds in cell suspension of H. brasiliensis with similar kinetics. In addition, both elicitors induced peroxidase enzyme (o-dianisidine), total phenolic compounds and enhanced local resistance against P. palmivora on young rubber tree seedlings. However, the increase of peroxidase enzyme and total phenolic compounds in rubber tree seedlings was different from those in cell suspension. Furthermore, during the expression of local resistance the zoospore of P. palmivora induced the peroxidase enzyme (o-dianisidine) more rapidly and with higher level than the control plants. H. brasiliensis is more responsive to the new elicitor than elicitin in triggering defense responses. That is the new elicitor was active at a concentration lower than those required for elicitin, about a 30-fold decrease for activation defense responses in cell suspension. For induction of peroxidase enzyme (o-dianisidine), phenolic compounds and local resistance of rubber plants against P. palmivora, the 75 kDa protein was active at about a 2-fold lower concentration when compared to elicitin.     

工业废水对黄瓜幼苗生长及叶片抗氧化系统的影响

采用以甘肃省境内某地区化肥厂、造纸厂的工业废水以及此两厂的混合废水作溶剂的培养液(分别记作废液1、废液2和废液3)培养黄瓜幼苗,研究了其对黄瓜幼苗的生长及其叶组织中活性氧清除系统的影响。结果发现,(1)培养5 d后,生长在废液1中的幼苗,叶片组织中的几种抗氧化酶除APX的活性显著增加外(P<0.01),CAT、SOD和GR活性均无明显变化(P>0.05)。生长在废液2中的CAT和GR的活性基本未变,APX和SOD的活性分别在P<0.01和P<0.05的水平上增加。在废液3中,CAT和SOD及APX的活性分别在P<0.05和P<0.01的水平上增加,而GR活性降低(P<0.05)。(2)培养13 d后,无论在哪种废水中,黄瓜幼苗的伸长生长和干物质积累及叶片组织中APX、SOD、CAT和GR活性、GSH和ASA含量均明显降低(P<0.05或P<0.01),H2O2、O2、MDA含量和电解质泄漏率明显增加(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结果表明,化肥厂、造纸厂的工业废水以及此两厂的混合废水对黄瓜幼苗叶组织中的抗氧化系统有明显的破环作用,最终影响幼苗的生长。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylsphingosine,an inhibitor of sphingosine kinase,induces phytoalexin production and hypersensitive cell death of Solanaceae plants without generation of reactive oxygen species

Plant recognition of elicitors derived from pathogens induces various resistant reactions, including production of reactive oxygen species, hypersensitive cell death and accumulation of phytoalexins. Previously, we isolated a ceramide elicitor from Phytophthora infestans, which activates O₂ ⁻ production of potato suspension-cultured cells. In this study, we employed nine ceramide-related chemicals to test their elicitor activity. Although, none of the tested chemicals induced O₂ ⁻ production, N,N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) induced accumulation of phytoalexin in potato tubers. In potato, tobacco and Nicotiana benthamiana, DMS also induced rapid cell death. DMS-treated potato cells stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) showed chromatin condensation, and isolated DNA from DMS-treated cells had ladder pattern, confirming that DMS-induced plant cell death is a hypersensitive reaction-like programmed cell death. Involvement of ceramide signaling in induction of plant defense reactions is discussed. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

硅对盐胁迫下葡萄幼苗生理效应的影响

以酿酒葡萄"赤霞殊"(Cabernet Sauvignon,CS)1年生扦插苗为试材,采用营养液水培系统,研究了根施外源硅(K2SiO3·9H2O,Si)对盐(50 mmol/L NaCl)胁迫下赤霞珠葡萄幼苗叶片生理生化特性的影响.结果表明:盐胁迫处理下,葡萄幼苗叶片超氧阴离子(O2-')产生速率加快,过氧化氢(H2O2)、丙二醛(MDA)含量和相对膜透性增加;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD),过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性增强;组织含水量降低;施用2.0mmol/L Si明显抑制了O2-、H2O2和MDA的积累,增加了组织含水量,并进一步提高了抗氧化酶SOD和POD的活性.说明外源Si可通过提高盐胁迫下葡萄幼苗体内的抗氧化酶活性,从而降低活性氧(ROS)水平,一定程度上减轻盐胁迫对植株所造成的细胞膜脂过氧化伤害,增强其耐盐性.     

Dynamics of conidial adhesion and elicitor uptake in relation to pisatin accumulation in aqueous droplets on the endocarp of pea pods

The adhesion of conidia of Monilinia fructicola to, and uptake of a biotic elicitor (pea-M. fructicola diffusate preparation) and two abiotic elicitors (actinomycin-D and CuCl₂) by endocarp tissue of pea pods has been investigated in relation to the elicitation of pisatin. Conidia were found to rapidly adhere to the endocarp surface and were not readily dislodged by washing. The dynamics of elicitor uptake from the bathing solutions varied with the elicitor treatments. In the case of the biotic elicitor, bioassays of the solutions remaining on the endocarp surface for residual elicitor activity indicated there was a gradual loss of elicitor from the bathing solution. By 10 h, approximately 41% of the original elicitor activity had disappeared from the bathing solution. Direct measurement of actinomycin-D in the bathing solution showed that uptake appeared to begin about 6 h after its application. On the other hand, direct measurement of Cu²⁺ in the bathing solution showed that approximately 60% of the original concentration of Cu²⁺ rapidly disappeared from the bathing solution in the first 30 min.The results highlight the need for sustained contact between plant and fungus or elicitor in the bathing fluid of the infection-droplet or of the elicitor solution for the maximum outcome of the pisatin response.     

Pea extracellular Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase responsive to signal molecules from a fungal pathogen

We previously reported that the release of O₂ ⁻ from isolated pea cell walls was enhanced by a 70-kDa glycoprotein elicitor but was suppressed by mucin-type glycopeptide suppressors (supprescins A and B) prepared from pycnospore germination fluid of Mycosphaerella pinodes, causal agent of Mycosphaerella blight of pea. Here, we show that superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the apoplast fluid/cell wall of pea seedlings responds to the fungal elicitor and suppressor molecules. In a pharmacological study and with internal amino acid sequencing, the apoplastic SOD in a pea cultivar Midoriusui was found to be a Cu/Zn type SOD. We cloned a full-length cDNA of the Cu/Zn-SOD and designated it as PsCu/Zn-SOD1. An increase in PsCu/Zn-SOD1 mRNA and the PsCu/Zn-SOD1 protein was induced by treatment with the elicitor more intensively than by wounding. Such induction by the elicitor or wounding, however, was inhibited by the concomitant presence of supprescins. The SOD activity of recombinant PsCu/Zn-SOD1 was regulated directly by these signal molecules in a manner similar to their effect on the SOD activity in the apoplastic fluid and in the cell wall-bound proteins. Based on these findings, we discuss a role for PsCu/Zn-SOD1 in the pea defense response. The nucleotide sequence data of PsCu/Zn-SOD1 reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under accession number AB189165.     

Polygalacturonase isoenzymes and oxalic acid produced by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soybean hypocotyls as elicitors of glyceollin

The polygalacturonases (PG) and oxalic acid produced by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in infected soybean hypocotyls were investigated as elicitors of the phytoalexin glyceollin I.Purification to homogeneity through isoelectrofocusing and ion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography revealed three endo-PG isoenzymes (PG-I, PG-II and PG-IV) and one exo-PG (PG-III) in 6-day-old etiolated soybean hypocotyls infected with the B-24 isolate of S. sclerotiorum.PG-I and PG-III, in the range of concentrations tested (0·15–1·2 reducing units ml⁻¹), did not act as elicitors of glyceollin I synthesis. Some elicitor activity was shown by PG-II at 0·6–1·2 reducing units ml⁻¹. PG-IV, at lower doses (0·038–0·30 reducing units ml⁻¹), was even more effective in inducing phytoalexin synthesis. However higher concentrations of PG-IV induced tissue softening and decreased phytoalexin accumulation.PG-II and PG-IV released heat-stable elicitors from purified soybean cell walls supporting the evidence that uronides are intermediate inducers in elicitation by endo-PGs. Oxalic acid was an active elicitor of glyceollin I over the range of concentrations tested (0·31–20 m ) with the maximum at a concentration of 5 m . The inability of oxalic acid to release uronides from purified cell walls makes it unlikely that uronide intermediate elicitors are involved in elicitation by oxalic acid.