Bibliography: leaves 129-151. / xiv, 151 [65] leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Plant Science, 1999

Hop cell wall material (CWM) extracted from hop leaves (hamulus lupulus) was purified and characterized. The total sugar content, uronic acid content and monosaccharide composition of the CWM were determined. Galacturonic acid is the major component in the CWM. A mixture of unsaturated oligogalacturonides were released from purified hop CWM by autoclaving. The biological activity of these oligomers was tested for their ability to elicit phytoalexins. The oligomer with hexagalacturonic acid possessed the greatest biological activity. Column chromatography and high-pH anion exchange chromatography were used for the sample separation and purification. Fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) was used for the structure elucidation. The FAB-MS spectrum showed that the unsaturated galacturonosyl residue was located at the nonreducing terminus of the oligomer. / Graduation date: 1993