Abstract
THE agglutination of erythrocytes by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) from seeds of Phaseolus was first reported by Land-steiner and Raubitschek in 19081. Since then much work has been published on their effects on mammalian cells but little is known of their role in the plants from which they are derived. Saint-Paul2 suggested that PHA might be plant antibodies produced in response to antigenic stimulation by Rhizobium species, but his studies proved inconclusive. We have explored the possibility that the symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium phaseoli and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is influenced by PHA. Our hypothesis is that PHA may bind the bacteria to the roots.
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References
Landsteiner, K., and Raubitschek, H., Zbl Bakt., 45, 660 (1908).
Saint-Paul, M., Transfusion, Paris, 4, 3 (1961).
Vincent, J. M., IBP Handbook, 15 (1970).
Coombs, R. A., Scient. Basis Med. Ann. Rev., 16 (1967).
Porter, F. E., Nelson, I. S., and Wold, E. K., Crops Soils, 18, 10 (1966).
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HAMBLIN, J., KENT, S. Possible Role of Phytohaemagglutinin in Phaseolus vulgaris L.. Nature New Biology 245, 28–30 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio245028a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio245028a0
