RHIZOBIAL LIPO-OLIGOSACCHARIDE SIGNALS AND THEIR ROLE IN PLANT MORPHOGENESIS - ARE ANALOGOUS LIPOPHILIC CHITIN DERIVATIVES PRODUCED BY THE PLANT

Rhizobia, bacterial symbionts of leguminous plants, produce lipo-oligo saccharide signal molecules after induction of their nod genes by the plant host. The effects of these signals on plant developmental proces ses are discussed. Considering the similarity of the lipo-oligosacchar ides with chitin, we discuss the possible basis of these effects and s how some preliminary results which indicate that analogous molecules c ould occur in uninfected plants.