title: Chitin oligosaccharides as elicitors of chitinase activity in melon plants.
abstract: Chitin oligosaccharides elicited chitinase activity in melon plants. Hexamer to nonamer were the most efficient elicitors: hexamer for maximal stimulation of colorimetrically assessed chitinase activity, heptamer for maximal stimulation of radiochemically assessed chitinase activity. Chitinase elicitation was a rapid response to these elicitors: it occurred within 6 hours after treatment and was maximal at 12-24 hours. In addition, chitinase induction in melon plants by these oligosaccharides was both local and systemic.
mesh_terms: D002686:Chitin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002688:Chitinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010944:Plants / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; D002686:Chitin; D002688:Chitinases