The action of 28 antibiotics and antimetabolites at varying concentrations was studied in coincidence with the bioassay of tobacco mosaic virus on detached bean leaves by using an ultrasonic method of inoculation developed by Lamborn, Cochran and Chidester. All tested chemicals were classified, in regard to the virus infection process, as inhibitory or stimulatory and their optimal concentrations in the inoculum were determined. Of the 28 antibiotics and antimetabolites studied, eight were found to stimulate while twenty inhibited TMV infection in bean leaves. From the results of these experiments, an attempt was made to characterize the nature of the cellular antiviral defense mechanism operating in the bean leaves. The results of this study may also be used in the development of a new TMV bioassay procedure with increased sensitivity.