To examine algino-oligosaccharide production by alginase from newly isolated Flavobacterium sp. LXA and its elicitor and antibacterial activity. Algino-oligosaccharide production from alginate was carried out using alginase obtained from a newly isolated Flavobacterium sp. LXA. When alginase was partially purified by dual ammonium sulfate precipitation and used for alginate degradation, the viscosity loss correlated well with the release of reducing terminals. The optimal temperature and pH for alginate degradation was 40 degrees C and pH 7.0, respectively. When alginate was added at an initial concentration of more than 0.8%, the maximal degradation rate of alginate was obtained. Under these optimal reaction conditions and with partially purified alginase, the average degrees of polymerization (DP) of alginate-degraded products was about 6.0, which favoured algino-oligosaccharide production. The algino-oligosaccharides showed an elicitor activity stimulating the accumulation of phytoalexin and inducing phenylalanine ammonia lyase in soybean cotyledon, and antimicrobial activity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Algino-oligosaccharide could be degraded from alginate by the partially purified alginase and its maximal bioactivity occurred on the oligosaccharide with average DP 6.8. Algino-oligosaccharide was first reported to have elicitor and antibacterial activity and have potential as a biological agent for protection against plant or human disease.