EXTRACELLULAR ACCUMULATION OF AN AUXIN-REGULATED PROTEIN IN PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS L CELLS IS INHIBITED BY OLIGOGALACTURONIDES

Alpha-1,4-oligogalacturonides elicit a variety of plant defense respon ses and affect plant growth and development. Treatment of Phaseolus vu lgaris L. suspension cultured cells with oligogalacturonides reduced t he level of a 32 kD protein (p32) that is accumulated in the culture m edium in the presence of auxin but is not secreted under a condition o f auxin starvation. Addition to bean cell suspension cultures of elici tors such as glucan and chitosan had no effect on the p32 level. These data suggest that the regulation of p32 by oligogalacturonides may be important in plant growth and development as well as for plant defens e responses.