外源钙对镉胁迫下南美蟛蜞菊毛状根生长、抗氧化酶活性和镉吸收的缓解效应

为了探讨外源钙对重金属镉(Cd)缓解南美蟛蜞菊Wedelia trilobata毛状根毒害的生理机理,采用溶液培养法研究了重金属Cd单独及其与Ca组合对南美蟛蜞菊毛状根生长、抗氧化酶超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性及对Cd2+吸收的影响。结果表明,Cd≤50μmol/L时促进毛状根生长;高于100μmol/LCd则抑制其生长,使其侧根短小,根尖变褐或变黑。与对照相比,不同浓度Cd培养的毛状根POD活性、SOD活性和MDA含量都比对照明显提高,但高于100μmol/L Cd培养的毛状根可溶性蛋白含量均比对照降低。与仅添加200μmol/L或300μmol/L Cd的毛状根相比,Cd和10~30 mmol/L Ca组合培养可促进毛状根生长,使其主、侧根变粗;提高其可溶性蛋白含量;降低其MDA含量、POD活性及SOD活性。原子吸收分光光度法测定结果表明,南美蟛蜞菊毛状根能吸收和吸附重金属Cd2+,当Cd2+浓度为100μmol/L时毛状根对Cd2+的吸收量最大,而Cd2+浓度为300μmol/L时毛状根对Cd2+的吸附量最大。外源加入10~30 mmol/L Ca2+可显著减少毛状根对Cd2+的吸收和吸附,并可调节其抗氧化酶活性,降低其膜脂过氧化水平而解除重金属镉对毛状根生长的抑制或毒害。     

褐脉少花龙葵毛状根的诱导、培养及其澳洲茄胺的产生

利用发根农杆茵的遗传转化和液体培养技术,研究了褐脉少花龙葵(solanum nigrum L.Var.Dauciforum)毛状根的诱导和离体培养及其澳洲茄胺的产生以及液体培养过程中培养基中N源和钙的消耗变化.结果表明.发根农杆菌ATCC15834感染褐脉少花龙葵叶片外植体5 d后产生毛状根.感染25d后,约90%的叶片外植体产生毛状根.毛状根能在无外源生长调节剂的MS固体和体培养基上自主生长.PCR扩增结果显示发根农杆菌Ri质粒的rilB和rolC基因已在少花龙葵毛状根基因组中整合并得到表达.所产生的毛状根能产生药用次生物质澳洲茄胺,其含量约为非转化植株根的1.3倍,达到582.05μg/g干重.少花龙葵毛状根液体培养0-5 d内处于生长迟滞期、5-15 d为快速生长期、15d后进入生长平台期.培养基的硝态氮和铵态氮在毛状根液体培养过程中被逐渐吸收和消耗,至培养15 d时铵态氮被消耗殆尽.而硝态氮仍剩余44.7%;培养基中钙的浓度在培养过程中虽逐渐降低,但在培养25d时仍未被完全消耗,其浓度约为起始浓度的43.5%.该结果为今后设计合适的培养基来规模培养褐脉少花龙葵毛状根生产药用次生物质澳洲茄胺提供了可能性.     

重金属镉及其与锌组合对黄瓜毛状根生长及其抗氧化酶活性的影响

为了探讨利用黄瓜毛状根来修复重金属镉(Cd)污染的可能性, 研究了重金属Cd单独及其与锌(Zn)组合对黄瓜毛状根生长及其抗氧化酶SOD、POD活性变化的影响。结果表明, Cd≤10 mg/L仅在培养5~15 d间促进黄瓜毛状根生长, 使根增粗; 而Cd≥15 mg/L则抑制黄瓜毛状根生长, 浓度愈高抑制作用愈明显, 侧根变得短而细小。在供试的不同浓度Cd培养的黄瓜毛状根中, 除10 mg/L Cd外, 其余Cd浓度培养的黄瓜毛状根可溶性蛋白含量随着培养时间的延长而逐渐下降; 但其POD和SOD活性则随着培养时间的延长而逐渐升高。与对照(仅添加25 mg/L Zn)相比, 仅1 mg/L Cd+ 25 mg/L Zn组合在培养7~15 d期间促进黄瓜毛状根生长; 其余浓度Cd和25 mg/L Zn组合都抑制黄瓜毛状根的生长, 且Cd浓度愈高抑制作用越强, 侧根数目更少且短小, 侧根根尖变得肿胀; 同时, 除培养5 d外, 25 mg/L Zn和不同浓度Cd组合培养的黄瓜毛状根的生物量、POD和SOD活性均比单独添加对应浓度Cd培养的毛状根降低, 但其可溶性蛋白含量则较之明显提高。结果表明: 黄瓜毛状根具有较强的重金属Cd耐受能力, 高浓度Cd则抑制其生长; 而镉和锌组合会随着培养时间的延长而加重Cd对黄瓜毛状根生长的抑制作用。     

硒对三裂叶野葛毛状根生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响

本文研究硒(Se)对三裂叶野葛毛状根生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明,低浓度亚硒酸钠(0~0.5 mg/L)可促进毛状根生长及异黄酮的生物合成,而高浓度亚硒酸钠抑制其生长和异黄酮的积累,且浓度愈高抑制作用愈强。此外,硒可促进可溶性蛋白的生物合成,亚硒酸钠浓度愈高促进作用愈明显;硒还可降低毛状根中SOD活性,提高POD活性,降低MDA含量。说明硒对三裂叶野葛毛状根生长和抗氧化酶活性有重要的调节作用。     

土壤不同镉水平对马缨丹生长及其抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用盆栽试验方法,分别设置0(对照,不添加镉)、30、60、90、120、150、180、210mg·kg-1共8个土壤镉处理水平,研究土壤不同镉水平对马缨丹(Lantana comara L.)生长及其抗氧化酶活性的影响,以探讨马缨丹对镉胁迫的生理响应机制。结果显示:(1)随着土壤镉处理浓度的升高,马缨丹干重呈先升高后降低的趋势,30mg·kg-1镉处理能促进植株的生长,而浓度高于60mg·kg-1时显著抑制马缨丹的生长。(2)马缨丹叶片和根系中O-·2产生速率、H2O2和MDA含量及电解质渗漏率均随土壤镉处理浓度的升高和胁迫时间的延长逐渐升高,胁迫90d时,叶片和根系中O-·2产生速率、H2O2和MDA含量及电解质渗漏率分别在镉浓度高于60和30mg·kg-1时显著低于对照。(3)叶片和根系抗氧化酶SOD、POD、APX和CAT活性随着土壤镉处理浓度的增加大体呈先升高后降低的趋势,并在镉浓度分别高于90和60mg·kg-1时,叶片和根系抗氧化酶活性显著低于对照。研究表明,低浓度镉处理土壤能促进马缨丹植株生长,而高浓度镉处理土壤显著降低了马缨丹体内抗氧化酶活性,导致活性氧大量积累,引起严重的膜脂过氧化伤害,从而显著抑制马缨丹植株的生长。     

镉锌复合污染对龙葵苗期生长和镉锌累积特性的影响

采用营养液培养法研究了苗期龙葵(Solanumnigrum L.)对镉锌复合污染的反应及其对镉锌的吸收和积累特性.结果表明:(1)高浓度镉(200μmol·L-1)、锌(500μmol·L-1)胁迫使苗期龙葵植株生长受到严重抑制,但低浓度镉锌复合处理的部分植株生物量甚至超过了对照.(2)添加锌对苗期龙葵地上部镉积累有显著的影响(P<0.05);当锌浓度为100μmol·L-1时,镉积累量达到峰值,其中的100Cd/100Znμmol·L-1处理组合的镉积累量为所有处理中的最大值(地上部积累量高达171.31μg·plant-1);当锌浓度增加到500μmol·L-1时,植株体内镉积累量则呈现下降趋势.(3)添加镉对苗期龙葵地上部锌积累也有显著的影响(P<0.05);当镉浓度达50μmol·L-1时,根、茎、叶中锌积累量均达到最高值;当镉浓度为200μmol·L-1时,各处理单株地上部锌积累量最低.(4)从植株整体的镉、锌积累量来看,苗期龙葵地上部镉积累量最高达根系的14.67倍,而其锌积累量最高达根系的13.59倍.研究发现,龙葵幼苗根系、茎和叶中镉、锌含量随营养液中镉、锌浓度的增加而显著增加(P<0.05);添加锌在一定程度上缓解了镉对苗期龙葵的毒害效应,低浓度锌还可以提高植株对镉的吸收和积累;添加镉在一定程度上增强了植株对锌的耐受性和吸收富集能力;植株地上部的镉、锌积累量明显高于根系.     

培养基磷缺乏对黄瓜毛状根生长、抗氧化酶活性及氮源利用的影响

采用液体培养的方法研究了培养基磷缺乏对黄瓜毛状根生长及其抗氧化酶活性及培养基中氮源和钙利用的影响.结果表明,黄瓜毛状根在完全缺磷的培养基中几乎不能生长;而培养基无机磷缺乏会抑制黄瓜毛状根的生长,且浓度越低,其抑制作用越明显,毛状根变得越纤细而长,侧根数减少且短小.与全磷培养相比,磷缺乏培养基培养的黄瓜毛状根可溶性蛋白含量明显偏低,但其SOD和POD活性则明显升高.与完全缺磷(对照)相比,在培养过程中不同无机磷浓度培养的黄瓜毛状根的SOD和POD活性均比对照低.当黄瓜毛状根在不同磷缺乏浓度的液体培养基中培养时,随着培养时间的延长,培养基的电导率逐步下降,并与培养基起始无机磷浓度成正比;其培养基的铵态氮和硝态氮不断被吸收和利用,培养至15d时,培养基中的铵态氮已绝大部分被消耗完毕,但直至培养30d时培养基的硝态氮仍未被消耗完毕.培养基中无机磷缺乏会降低黄瓜毛状根对培养基硝态氮的吸收和消耗以及抑制黄瓜毛状根对钙的吸收.而适当提高培养基的无机磷浓度可促进黄瓜毛状根对培养基中钙的吸收和消耗.     

镉胁迫对矮牵牛种子萌发、幼苗生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用营养液培养的方法研究了不同浓度镉Cd（0、1、2和4 mmol·L^-1）处理对矮牵牛（Petunia hybrida）种子萌发、幼苗生长及生理特性的影响。结果发现：与对照相比,较低浓度（1 mmol·L^-1）Cd处理下矮牵牛种子萌发和幼苗生长均显著被抑制,当Cd浓度增至4 mmol·L^-1时完全抑制了矮牵牛种子的萌发。Cd胁迫在低浓度时激活矮牵牛幼苗叶片过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性,而高浓度产生抑制效应;抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性与对照相比均显著升高,丙二醛（MDA）含量无显著变化。不同浓度的乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)的加入使4 mmol·L^-1 Cd胁迫下矮牵牛幼苗叶片POD和APX活性增加,但不影响SOD和CAT活性;此外,6 mmol·L^-1 EDTA使Cd胁迫下矮牵牛幼苗叶片中MDA含量增加。结果表明,Cd胁迫抑制矮牵牛种子萌发和幼苗生长,却使幼苗叶片POD、CAT和APX活性增加,EDTA的加入能够进一步提高Cd胁迫幼苗POD和APX活性。因此,矮牵牛幼苗在Cd胁迫下具有较强的抗氧化损伤的能力。     

镉和增强紫外线-B辐射复合作用对大豆生长的影响

研究了Cd^2+和增强紫外线-B(UV-B)辐射以及二者复合胁迫(Cd+UV-B)对大豆生长、光合作用、抗氧化酶活性和吲哚乙酸(IAA)氧化酶活性的影响,结果表明,UV-B辐射对大豆生长较CA^2+有更明显的抑制作用,主要是降低了光合作用,生物量减小;抑制节间的分化和伸长,节间减少,株高降低。UV-B辐射对POD、SOD活性有显著诱导作用,而Cd^2+明显颉颃UV-B对POD活性的诱导并抑制IAA氧化酶活性．在复合作用下,植物体内IAA氧化酶和POD活性较UV-B单独作用下显著降低,这两种酶活性降低会引起植物体内IAA含量升高,同时光合作用略有升高,这是株高和生物量较UV-B作用下有所增加的重要原因,复合胁迫还增强了对根伸长生长的抑制作用,根长度较对照显著降低(P<0．05)。IAA氧化酶和POD活性变化以及光合强度变化与大豆株高和生物量变化密切相关,这也是复合胁迫影响大豆生长状况的重要因素。     

镉胁迫对旱柳细胞膜透性和抗氧化酶活性的影响

以‘Fuyang 3’旱柳为材料,通过水培方法研究了中、高剂量(5、25μmol.L-1)镉胁迫下旱柳器官的镉(Cd2 )积累、叶和根细胞膜渗透及抗氧化酶活性的变化。结果表明:Cd2 主要积累在旱柳的根部(最高达1 297.71μg.g-1),其次是枝条(最高为163.13μg.g-1)。中、高剂量Cd2 胁迫下,旱柳叶相对电导率、根K 渗透以及根和叶丙二醛(MDA)含量均未发生显著变化。中、高剂量Cd2 胁迫使旱柳根系的超氧歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和谷胱甘肽转移酶(GST)活性,以及叶片的SOD、愈创木酚过氧化酶(POD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)和GST活性均比对照显著增强;且高剂量胁迫旱柳根系的SOD和GST活性,及其叶片的POD、GPX和GST活性均显著高于相应中剂量胁迫。研究发现,旱柳在不同浓度镉胁迫条件下,其根是Cd2 主要积累器官,其叶和根细胞质膜能保持相对稳定性,其根和叶各抗氧化酶活性发生不同程度改变,从而使旱柳对Cd2 胁迫表现出一定的忍耐性。     

Cadmium tolerance and antioxidative defenses in hairy roots of the cadmium hyperaccumulator,Thlaspi caerulescens

Plant species capable of hyperaccumulating heavy metals are of considerable interest for phytoremediation and phytomining. This work aims to identify the role of antioxidative metabolism in heavy metal tolerance in the Cd hyperaccumulator, Thlaspi caerulescens. Hairy roots of T. caerulescens and the non-hyperaccumulator, Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco), were used to test the effects of high Cd environments. In the absence of Cd, endogenous activities of catalase were two to three orders of magnitude higher in T. caerulescens than in N. tabacum. T. caerulescens roots also contained significantly higher endogenous superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione concentrations. Exposure to 20 ppm (178 microM) Cd prevented growth of N. tabacum roots and increased hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) levels by a factor of five relative to cultures without Cd. In contrast, growth was maintained in T. caerulescens, and H(2)O(2) concentrations were controlled to low, nontoxic levels in association with a strong catalase induction response. Treatment of roots with the glutathione synthesis inhibitor, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), exacerbated H(2)O(2) accumulation in Cd-treated N. tabacum, but had a relatively minor effect on H(2)O(2) levels and did not reduce Cd tolerance in T. caerulescens. Lipid peroxidation was increased by Cd treatment in both the hyperaccumulator and non-hyperaccumulator roots. This work demonstrates that metal-induced oxidative stress occurs in hyperaccumulator tissues even though growth is unaffected by the presence of heavy metals. It also suggests that superior antioxidative defenses, particularly catalase activity, may play an important role in the hyperaccumulator phenotype of T. caerulescens.     

强化龙葵富集镉根际促生菌的分离、筛选与鉴定

【背景】植物-微生物联合修复土壤重金属污染日渐兴起,获取与超富集植物高效互作的微生物是实现联合修复技术进步的关键。龙葵在镉农田污染修复中广泛应用。【目的】筛选可促进龙葵生长及富集镉的耐镉根际促生菌。【方法】从龙葵根际土分离耐镉菌株,筛选具有良好促生特性的菌株,水培试验考察镉胁迫下菌株对植物生长及镉富集能力的影响,确定可促进龙葵生长及富集镉的微生物菌株,通过生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列分析进行菌株的初步鉴定。【结果】分离得到NT1、AXY1、AW2和AW1四株强化龙葵富集镉促生菌,经鉴定分别为Lysinibacillus sp.、Beijerinckia fluminensis、Achromobacter animicus和Herbaspirillum huttiense。上述菌株均可有效促进龙葵生长,增加其株高和干物质积累,提高地上部镉富集量。其中,NT1可使株高、地上部干重分别增加31.33%和62.65%,AW2可使地上部镉富集量增加37.29%。【结论】筛选所得菌株可为提高植物修复效率提供实践依据,为研制田间施用生态功能菌剂做铺垫,用于农田镉污染的微生物-龙葵联合原位修复。     

Glutamine synthetase isoenzymes, oligomers and subunits from hairy roots of Beta vulgaris L. var. lutea

A cytosolic and a plastidic isoenzyme of glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2) were separated from hairy roots of Beta vulgaris L. var. lutea. The predominant activity was that of cytosolic GS 1; the relative proportion of plastidic GS 2 activity changed, however, depending on the growth conditions. Maximum activity of both isoenzymes was measured after growth with NO⁻ ₃ as the major N-source. Growth with NH⁺ ₄ as the sole N-source or growth in constant darkness resulted in a significant decrease in GS 1 activity, whereas GS 2 activity was much less effected and thus contributed as much as 25% of total root GS activity. The isoenzymes GS 1 and GS 2 were active both in the octameric and tetrameric states. Both oligomers of GS 2 and octameric GS 1 were active under all growth conditions applied whereas tetrameric GS 1 was not active when the roots were grown under light-dark changes with NO⁻ ₃ as the major N-source. The molecular masses of the subunits were identical for both isoenzymes. Glutamine synthetase 1 was composed of up␣to four different 38-kDa subunits and two different 41-kDa subunits; GS 2 was assembled from one type of 38-kDa subunit and one type of 41-kDa subunit. The GS␣2 subunits were most probably identical to two of the GS␣1 subunits. The subunit composition of GS 1, but not of GS 2, changed depending on the growth conditions of the roots. Changes in GS 1 subunit composition were correlated with changes in GS 1 activity. The different growth conditions induced the specific assembly of different GS 1 isoenzymes which could, however, not be separated by anion-exchange chromatography but became evident only after two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Received: 30 May 1997 / Accepted: 28 August 1997     

Effect of HCO - 3 concentration in the absorption solution on the energetic coupling of H+-cotransports in roots of Zea mays L.

The effect of HCO ₃ ^- on ion absorption by young corn roots was studied in conditions allowing the independent control of both the pH of uptake solution and the CO₂ partial pressure in air bubbled through the solution. The surface pH shift in the vicinity of the outer surface of the plasmalemma induced by active H⁺ excretion was estimated using the initial uptake rate of acetic acid as a pH probe (Sentenac and Grignon (1987) Plant Physiol. 84, 1367). Acetic acid and orthophosphate uptake rates and NO ₃ ^- accumulation were slowed down, while ⁸⁶Rb⁺ uptake and K⁺ accumulation rates were increased by HCO ₃ ^- . These effects were similar to those induced by 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethane sulfonic acid/2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (Hepes-Tris). They were more pronounced when the H⁺ excretion was strong, were rapidly reversible and were not additive to those of Hepes-Tris. The hypothesis is advanced that the buffering system CO₂/H₂CO₃/HCO ₃ ^- accelerated the diffusion of equivalent H⁺ inside the cell wall towards the medium. This attenuated the surface pH shift in the vicinity the plasma membrane and affected the coupling between the proton pump and cotransport systems.Abbreviations FW fresh weight - Hepes 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid - J_aa acetic acid influx - J_K ⁺ K⁺ influx - J_Pi orthophosphate influx - Mes 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - pCO₂ CO₂ partial pressure - Tris 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol     

镉胁迫对家蚕脂肪体脂质过氧化物含量及抗氧化酶活性和mRNA表达的影响

【目的】探讨鳞翅目模式昆虫家蚕Bombyx mori作为重金属污染的监测指示生物在镉胁迫下的酶反应及相关的基因表达。【方法】给家蚕幼虫期全龄添食镉(Cd²⁺), 调查不同性别家蚕5龄幼虫脂肪体中脂质过氧化物丙二醛（MDA）的含量, 超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、 过氧化氢酶（CAT）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）的活性及其基因表达水平的变化。【结果】Cd²⁺胁迫对雌雄家蚕MDA 含量均具有浓度效应关系, MDA含量随Cd²⁺胁迫浓度的升高而增加。Cd²⁺胁迫下, SOD和CAT活性表现为先升后降的变化趋势, Pearson相关性分析显示SOD和CAT活性变化有显著相关性(雄: R=0.770, P=0.001; 雌: R=0.854, P=0.000）。雌性家蚕脂肪体中CAT活性变化和Cat mRNA水平的表达具有正相关性（R=0.712, P=0.003）。雄性家蚕脂肪体中GSH-Px活性随Cd²⁺胁迫浓度的升高而增加, 显示浓度 效应关系, 12.5~50 mg/kg Cd²⁺胁迫组GSH-Px活性与对照相比有显著差异（P<0.05）, 其活性和GSH-Px mRNA水平的表达具有正相关性（R=0.834, P=0.000）; 雌性家蚕脂肪体中GSH-Px活性表现为先升后降的变化趋势, 12.5 mg/kg Cd²⁺胁迫组GSH-Px活性与对照相比有显著增加（P<0.01）。【结论】结果表明, 急性镉胁迫对家蚕脂肪体有明显的毒性作用, 其作用机制与脂质过氧化加剧和抗氧化酶活性变化有关。家蚕对重金属镉的解毒机制有性别相关性。     

Effects of nutrient solution zinc activity on net uptake,translocation, and root export of cadmium and zinc by separated sections of intact durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) seedling roots

Cd accumulation in durum wheat presents a potential health risk to consumers. In an effort to understand the physiological mechanisms involved with Cd accumulation, this study examined the effects of Zn on Cd root uptake and phloem translocation in a split– root system. Durum wheat seedlings were grown in chelate-buffered nutrient solution with intact root systems divided into two sections. Each root section grew in a separate 1 l pot, one of which contained 0.2 μM CdSO₄. In addition, each two-pot system contained ZnSO₄ in the following combinations (in μm) (for -cd root system: +cd root system): 1:1, 1:10, 10:1,10:10, 1:19, and 19:1. Harvested plant material was analyzed for Cd and Zn. In addition, rates of Cd and Zn net uptake, translocation to the shoot, and root export (translocation from one root segment to the other) between days 8 and 22 were calculated. Results show that Zn was not translocated from one root section to its connected root section. Uptake rates of Cd increased as solution Zn concentrations increased. Cd translocation from one root section to the other decreased significantly when the Zn concentration in either pot was greater than 1 μM. These results show the potential of Zn to inhibit movement of Cd via the phloem, and suggests that providing adequate Zn levels may limit phloem loading of Cd into wheat grain. Increasing the rhizosphere activity of Zn²⁺ in Cd-containing soils may therefore result in reduced Cd accumulation in grain even while net Cd uptake is slightly enhanced. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of chitosan on tobacco mosaic virus(TMV) accumulation,hydrolase activity,and morphological abnormalities of the viral particles in leaves of N. tabacum L. cv. Samsun

The effect of chitosan on the development of infection caused by Tobacco mosaic virus(TMV) in leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun has been studied. It was shown that the infectivity and viral coat protein content in leaves inoculated with a mixture of TMV(2 μg/mL) and chitosan(1 mg/mL) were lower in the early period of infection(3 days after inoculation), by 63% and 66% respectively, than in leaves inoculated with TMV only. Treatment of leaves with chitosan 24 h before inoculation with TMV also caused the antiviral effects, but these were less apparent than when the virus and polysaccharide were applied simultaneously. The inhibitory effects of the agent decreased as the infection progressed. Inoculation of leaves with TMV together with chitosan considerably enhanced the activity of hydrolases(proteases, RNases) in the leaves, in comparison with leaves inoculated with TMV alone. Electron microscope assays of phosphotungstic acid(PTA)-stained suspensions from infected tobacco leaves showed that, in addition to the normal TMV particles(18 nm in diameter, 300 nm long), these suspensions contained abnormal(swollen, "thin" and "short") virions. The highest number of abnormal virions was found in suspensions from leaves inoculated with a mixture of TMV and chitosan. Immuno-electron microscopy showed that "thin" virus particles, in contrast to the particles of normal diameter, lost the ability to bind to specific antiserum. It seems that the chitosan-induced activation of hydrolases stimulates the intracellular degradation of TMV particles and hence hydrolase activation may be considered to be one of the polysaccharide-mediated cellular defense mechanisms that limit virus accumulation in cells.