EFFECT OF PROTEOLYTIC AND GLYCOLYTIC-ENZYMES ON A FACTOR IN SORGHUM-BICOLOR THAT INDUCES MYCELIAL GROWTH IN THE SMUT FUNGUS, SPORISORIUM-REILIANUM

Proteins obtained from seedling shoots and floral meristems of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cv. NK 1210 induced mycelial growth in the smut f ungus, Sporisorium reilianum in vitro. Proteins precipitated with tric hloroacetic acid and ammonium sulfate were equally effective as induce rs, although there were minor variations in the pattern of mycelial gr owth. Hydrolysis of the protein fraction with the proteolytic enzyme p ronase E resulted in considerable reduction in the proteins' ability t o induce mycelial growth. Digestion of the protein fraction with drise lase, resulted in a slight enhancement of biological activity. The res ults suggest that amino sugar moieties in glycoproteins may act as ind ucers of mycelial growth in Sporisorium reilianum.