Two active fractions of soluble oligosaccharides were isolated from pe
a (Pisum sativum L.) stem tissues. Both fractions are capable of affec
ting different phases of root development on buckwheat thin cell-layer
explants (TCLs) and of inhibiting auxin-promoted growth of etiolated
pea stem segments. The existence of non-wall bioactive oligosaccharide
s which may have a role in cell development in vivo is proposed.