STUDIES ON THE CELL-SURFACE OF ZOOSPORES AND CYSTS OF THE FUNGUS PHYTOPHTHORA-CINNAMOMI - NATURE OF THE SURFACE SACCHARIDES AS DETERMINED BY QUANTITATIVE LECTIN BINDING-STUDIES

The nature of the surface saccharides of zoospores, partially encysted zoospores and cysts of the root-rotting fungus P. cinnamomi, has been examined by quantitative lectin binding studies. Zoospores bound concanavalin A (Con A), but did not bind any of a variety of other lectins tested. Both cysts and partially encysted zoospores bound soybean agglutinin (SBA) as well as Con A. This indicates that accessible .alpha.-D-glucosyl/.alpha.-D-mannosyl-containing glycoconjugates predominate at the zoospore surface; both .alpha.-D-glucosyl/.alpha.-D-mannosyl and galactosyl and/or N-acetyl-D-galactosaminosyl residues are accessible at the surface of cysts and partially encysted zoospores. Neither Ulex europaeus lectin nor wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) bound to any of the 3 cell preparations, indicating the absence of accessible .alpha.-L-fucosyl and N-acetyl-D-glucosaminosyl residues.