STIMULATION OF ROOT DEVELOPMENT ON BUCKWHEAT THIN CELL-LAYER EXPLANTSBY PECTIC FRAGMENTS FROM PEA STEM-CELL WALLS

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) thin cell-layers (TCLs) cultu red individually in a liquid medium were used to test the root-inducin g activity of pectic polysaccharides with a degree of polymerization ( DP) of 20-25, isolated from pea (Pisum sativum L.) stem cell walls. Th ese pectic fragments induced more rapid root formation on the explants in comparison with untreated controls. This pectic fragment treatment also promoted root growth as measured by both fresh and dry weights a nd about doubled the number of roots formed. This buckwheat TCL system is proposed as a new bioassay for oligosaccharins due to its sensitiv ity, reproducibility and ease of preparation.