Immunization of rabbits with glutar aldehyde-treated intact Azospirillum cells results in the production of antibodies specific mainly with regard to the cell O-antigens. EPS, CPS, and 0-specific polysaccharides of A. brasilense Sp 7 are antigenically identical. Pre-treatment of the wheat seedling roots and a carrot cell suspension with LPS of strain Sp 245 promotes significantly bacterial adhesion to wheat roots and Azospirillum-induced agglutination of carrot cells. It also leads to an increased synthesis of the major proteins in the wheat root apoplast, which is comparable with the plant response to inoculation with whole cells. This may be explained by an active effect of Azospirillum LPS on the receptor systems of plant cells.