A. Basile et al., INDUCTION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY BY ALPHA-D-OLIGOGALACTURONIDES INNEPHROLEPIS SP (PTERIDOPHYTA), International journal of antimicrobial agents, 8(2), 1997, pp. 131-134
This paper presents data on the induction by alpha-D-oligogalacturonid
es (OG) of antibiotic activity in vitro by the fern Nephrolepis sp. Th
e extracts from the fern grown aseptically, partly in a medium contain
ing a mixture of OG and partly in a medium lacking OG, as control, wer
e tested against several bacterial strains. The results show that the
OG mixture promotes the production of antibiotic compounds. Comparing
the present results with those on the antimicrobial properties of the
same fern grown in a greenhouse, we discuss the hypothesis that the pr
oduction of antibiotic substances can be elicited by different factors
, such as products of synthesis or degradation of the biotic component
of the soil or by OG (in axenic culture) that can mimic the effect of
natural elicitors. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.