Butenolides from plant-derived smoke : natural plant-growth regulators with antagonistic actions on seed germination
Date
2010-01
Authors
Light, Marnie E.
Burger, B. V.
Staerk, Dan
Kohout, Ladislav
Van Staden, Johannes
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy
Abstract
Smoke plays an intriguing role in promoting the germination of seeds of many species following a fire. Recently, a
bicyclic compound containing a condensed butenolide moiety, 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (1), was reported
as a potent germination promoter from plant-derived smoke. In this study, a related butenolide, 3,4,5-trimethylfuran-
2(5H)-one (2), which inhibits germination and significantly reduces the effect of 1 when applied simultaneously, was
also isolated from plant-derived smoke. The interaction of these compounds with opposing actions on seed germination
may have important ecological implications in a post-fire environment and could be useful molecules for understanding
the events involved in breaking seed dormancy and promoting seed germination.
Description
The original publication is available at http://pubs.acs.org/page/jnprdf/
Keywords
Butenolides, Germination, Plants -- Effect of smoke on, Smoke -- Physiological effect, Seeds -- Growth
Citation
Light, M. E. et al. 2010. Butenolides from plant-derived smoke : natural plant-growth regulators with antagonistic actions on seed germination. Journal of natural products, 73(2):267–269, doi:10.1021/np900630w.