LOCALIZATION OF PEANUT (ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA) ROOT LECTIN (PRA-II) ON ROOT SURFACE AND ITS BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The glucose-specific peanut root lectin, PRA II, is localized on the s urface of 7-day-old peanut seedling root and in root cortical parenchy matous cells. The lectin is eluted from intact roots upon washing with buffer containing glucose. Rabbit erythrocytes bind to the root surfa ce and the cortical cells; the binding is inhibited by antibodies rais ed against PRA II, peanut-specific Rhizobium cells and by glucose. Lip opolysaccharides isolated from host-specific Rhizobium strain inhibit the haemagglutinating activity of PRA II and are precipitated by the l ectin. Our results suggest that PRA II might be involved in recognitio n of Rhizobium by peanut roots.