PISATIN METABOLISM IN PEA (PISUM-SATIVUM-L) CELL-SUSPENSION CULTURES

Cell suspension cultures were established from germinating pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds. This cell culture, which accumulated pisatin, consi sted mostly of single cells containing a few cell aggregates. The cell s responded to treatment with a yeast glucan preparation with transien t accumulation of pisatin in both cells and culture media. Addition of pisatin to cell cultures resulted in increased synthesis of pisatin. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chalcone synthase and isoflavone reductas e activities were present in untreated cells. Upon treatment with an e licitor preparation the activities of the first two enzymes showed a r apid, transient increase up to 20 hours after treatment. Isoflavone re ductase showed a major and minor peak at 16 and 36 h, respectively, af ter elicitor treatment. The time course of the enzyme activity and pis atin accumulation is consistent with an elicitor-mediated response.