Claims
- 1. A phytohormone for inducing root hair curling and root nodulation in the roots of leguminous plants, said phytohormone is a 6-.alpha.-2-O-methylfucose pentasaccharide having the structure: ##STR2## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of (CH.sub.2).sub.15 CH.sub.3 and (CH.sub.2).sub.n --CH.dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.m --CH.sub.3, wherein n+m is 13 or 15 and R' is selected from the group consisting of H and CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 C.dbd.O.
- 2. A method for treating the roots of leguminous plants for inducing root hair curling and root nodulation, said method comprising treating the roots of the plants with a 6-.alpha.-2-O-methylfucose pentasaccharide having the structure: ##STR3## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of (CH.sub.2).sub.15 CH.sub.3 and (CH.sub.2).sub.n --CH.dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.m --CH.sub.3, wherein n+m is 13 or 15 and R' is selected from the group consisting of H and CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 C.dbd.O.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the roots of the plants are treated with said 6-.alpha.-2-O-methylfucose pentasaccharide at a concentration of from about 10.sup.-12 M to about 10.sup.-3 M.
- 4. The method of claim 2 wherein said roots are treated with said 6-.alpha.-2-O-methylfucose pentasaccharide in the absence of nitrogen fixing bacteria.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said treated roots exhibit foci of root cell division equivalent to roots of like plants grown in the presence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria but without the addition of said 6-.alpha.-2-O-methylfucose pentasaccharide to said roots of said like plants.
- 6. The method of claim 2 wherein said 6-.alpha.-2-O-methylfucose pentasaccharide induces the production of flavonoids by said plants.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/771,356, filed Oct. 4, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,149, issued Dec. 29, 1992.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
Coutts, R. T. et al., Polysaccharides, Peptides and Proteins, pp. 60-62, 1966. |
Dazzo, F. B. et al., "Rhizobium Lipopolysaccharide Modulates Infection Thread Development in White Clover Root Hairs" J. Bacteriology, v. 173, No. 17, pp. 5371-5384, 1991. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
771356 |
Oct 1991 |
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