ISOLATION AND ANALYSIS OF SOLUBLE OLIGOSACCHARIDES STIMULATING ROOT-FORMATION FROM PEA SHOOTS

The fraction of soluble oligosaccharides stimulating root formation in buckwheat thin-cell-layer explants was isolated from pea shoots. Subs equent separation by gel permeation chromatography on a Biogel P-4 col umn and high performance anion-exchange chromatography on a CarboPac P A 100 column yielded a fraction containing only four fragments; the fr action stimulated root formation at 100-fold lower concentration versu s the initial oligosaccharide fraction. The fragments include glucose, galactose, mannose, and xylose and comprise oligomers of galactan, xy lan, and galactoglucomannan, one of which may be responsible for the b iological activity of the fraction.