INVOLVEMENT OF THE ACCUMULATION OF SUCROSE AND THE SYNTHESIS OF CELL-WALL POLYSACCHARIDES IN THE EXPANSION OF POTATO CELLS IN RESPONSE TO JASMONIC ACID

Jasmonic acid (JA) is capable of inducing the expansion of cells in po tato tubers. Changes in the levels of soluble sugars and starch, as we ll as changes in the levels of cell wall polysaccharides, during the J A-induced expansion of cells were studied. JA caused a considerable in crease in the level of sucrose in the cells, while it did not affect l evels of glucose and fructose. JA also increased the levels of cell wa il polysaccharides. An inhibitor of cellulose synthesis, 2,6-dichlorob enzonitrile (DCB), almost completely inhibited the JA-induced expansio n of cells. The results suggest that the cellulose synthesis is necess ary for the JA-induced expansion of cells. Cytoskeletal inhibitors als o strongly inhibited the JA-induced expansion of cells, suggesting the involvement of cytoskeletal structures, namely, microtubules and micr ofilaments, in the JA-induced expansion of cells.