Polypectate sodium is a major component of cell wall polysaccharides (pectins) and is used as a carbon source and inducer of polygalacturonase. Polypectate sodium can also be used to evaluate alkaline active and alkaline stable pectate lyases from Streptomyces spp. and to study the optimization of polygalacturonase production from Xanthophyllum spp. and reaction conditions.