ELICITATION OF PLUMBAGIN BY CHITIN AND ITS RELEASE INTO THE MEDIUM INDROSOPHYLLUM-LUSITANICUM LINK. SUSPENSION-CULTURES

Polysaccharides (chitin/pectin) that are involved in the interactions between plants and microorganisms were applied to the cultured cells o f Drosophyllum lusitanicum. In the case of chitin addition, elicitatio n and crystallization of plumbagin in the medium were observed. N-Acet ylchitooligosaccharides smaller than heptamers [(GlcNAc)(n) (n<7)] eli cited the biosynthesis of plumbagin but did not increase the hypersens itive response (HR). On the other hand, carboxymethylchitin (DP simila r to 200) led to the accumulation of plumbagin in cells and to HR deat h as well as to the lysis of the cells and release of plumbagin into t he medium. The response of cultured cells to the N-Acetylchitosacchari des varied depending on the chemo/physiological conditions of the cell s. Addition of pectin (1 g/l) resulted in enhanced HR and decreased bi osynthesis of plumbagin.