Host-Derived Acetogenins Involved in the Incompatible Parasitic Relationship between Cuscuta reflexa (Convolvulaceae) and Ancistrocladus heyneanus (Ancistrocladaceae)*

G. Bringmann; J. Schlauer; M. Rückert; B. Wiesen; K. Ehrenfeld; P. Proksch; F.-C. Czygan

doi:10.1055/s-2007-978556

Plant Biology, Table of Contents

Plant Biol (Stuttg) 1999; 1(5): 581-584
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-978556

Original Papers

Host-Derived Acetogenins Involved in the Incompatible Parasitic Relationship between Cuscuta reflexa (Convolvulaceae) and Ancistrocladus heyneanus (Ancistrocladaceae)*

G. Bringmann¹ , J. Schlauer¹ , M. Rückert¹ , B. Wiesen¹ , K. Ehrenfeld² , P. Proksch² , F.-C. Czygan²

¹Institut für Organische Chemie der Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
²Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie der Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

* No. 119 in the series “Acetogenic Isoquinoline Alkaloids”, for no. 118, see Bringmann et al. (1998 b[7])

Abstract

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Abstract

The twining parasitic plant Cuscuta reflexa is able to attack the tropical liana Ancistrocladus heyneanus by invading the stem tissues and forming haustoria that penetrate the vascular bundles of the host. Subsequent reactions by the host, including phytoalexin production and hypersensitive reactions, lead to a degeneration of the parasite's haustoria and eventually to the abortion of parasitic tissues. In experiments with callus cultures of both plants, acetogenic secondary metabolites produced by the host, in the first line the naphthoquinone plumbagin, are demonstrated to be major antipathogenic factors involved in this incompatible relationship.

Key words

Parasitism - Cuscuta reflexa - Ancistrocladus heyneanus - phytoalexins - incompatible interaction - HPLC-NMR

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