COMPARATIVE-STUDIES OF ELICITORS THAT INDUCE PHYTOALEXIN IN OATS

The activity of the four elicitors, a N-acetylchitopentaose [(GLNAc)(5 )], a chitopentaose [(GLN)(5)] Ag+ ion and victorin, which induce phyt oalexins in oats were compared using the following assays: i) electrol yte leakage, ii) effects of Ca2+ on the induction of phytoalexin and i ii) difference in induced-metabolite profiles. The results suggest tha t at least two distinct mechanisms are involved in phytoalexin inducti on in oats. Among the tested elicitors, (GLNAc)(5) appears to induce p hytoalexin directly by binding to its putative receptor, while inducti on by other elicitors may be a secondary effect, presumably due to the damage of the plasma membrane caused by the elicitors.