The diazotrophic endophyte Herbaspirillum seropedicae Z78 was shown to possess a capsule con taining two high molecular weight glycolipids, one of which was of a lipopolysaccharide nature. These gly colipids differed considerably in the fatty acid composition of their lipid components. The polysaccharide moiety of these glycans was composed of glucose, galactose, glucosamine, galactosamine, and a noncarbo hydrate component, butanetetraol. In the culture liquid of H. seropedicae Z78, an extracellular polysaccha ride and an extracellular form of lipopolysaccharide were revealed. Fatty acid composition of the extracellular lipopolysaccharide differed from that of the capsular glycoconjugates; the polysaccharide moiety of exogly cans contained only neutral sugars (mannose, glucose, and galactose) and a tetraatomic alcohol, butanetet raol. It is assumed that structural diversity of polysaccharide containing polymers at the surface of H. serope dicae Z78 cells is conditioned by their different roles in plant colonization and formation of efficient symbi osis.