In this paper,the effects of three carbon sources,namely,xylose and xylo- oligosaccharides, on the enzymatic selective hydrolysis of plant hemicelluloses,by the anaerobic culture of bifidobacterium adolescentis in vitro,and the abilit to promote the proliferation of bifidobacteria were examined.It was shown that the home- made xylo- oligosaccharides were cap able to support the growth of bifidobacterium adolescentis.It was found that the bifidobacterium adolescentis could metabolize xylobiose and xylotriose...