PHYSIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE OLIGOSACCHARIDES ACCUMULATING IN THE ROOTS OF WINTER-WHEAT DURING ADAPTATION TO LOW-TEMPERATURE

The accumulation of water-soluble oligosaccharides with mol wt of 3-5 kD was observed during the first hours of low-temperature adaptation i n the root cells of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. The extraction, purification, and preliminary separation of these oligosa ccharides by high-performance anion-exchange liquid chromatography dem onstrated two groups of oligosaccharides able to influence wheat seedl ing adaptation to chilling temperatures. Oligosaccharides of one of th ese groups enhanced, while of another group inhibited, this adaptive c apacity. Such oligosaccharides were found in both control plants and t hose exposed to 2 degrees C for 6 h. In addition, the oligosaccharides from hardened seedlings were able to inhibit the elongation of segmen ts from wheat coleoptiles. The conclusion is that oligosaccharins accu mulated in plant cells during the first hours of adaptation contribute to the control of adaptation to low temperatures.