INHIBITION OF TOBACCO NECROSIS VIRUS-INFECTION BY XYLOGLUCAN FRAGMENTS

Oligosaccharide fragments prepared from tamarind seed and pea xylogluc an inhibited the development of necrotic local lesions induced by toba cco necrosis virus on cotyledons of Cucumis sativus L. cv. 'Laura'. In hibition of virus infection ranged from 44 % to 84 % when the xylogluc an fragments were applied in amounts ranging from 10 to 100 mug per co tyledon 24 h prior to virus inoculation. These results suggest the pos sible role of the cell wall polysaccharides or their oligosaccharide f ragments in the mechanism of induced resistance against viruses.