A 2-Arylbenzofuran from roots of Cicer Bijugem associated with Fusarium wilt resistance
Stevenson. P. C Veitch. N. C
Phytochemistry ; 1998 [Vol.48] Pages:947-951
Abstract
A new 2-arylbenzofuran, 2-(2-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyphenyl)-6-hydroxybenzofuran (cicer-furan) has been isolated from roots of the wild chickpea Cicer bijugum by preparative HPLC. The structure was determined by one and two dimensional 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and Fast Atom Bombardment-Mass Spectrometry. The concentration of cicerfuran and a previously identified isoflav-3-ene, judaicin, was found to be greater in the roots of plants grown in the presence of the wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri than in those grown in wilt-free soil. In addition, both cicerfuran and judaicin inhibited germination of the fungal spores when tested at natural concentrations. Cicerfuran was more potent than both maackiain and medicarpin, which are known antifungal phytoalexins in Cicer. The potential value of cicerfuran as a novel natural defence mechanism for the cultivated chickpea C. arietinum is discussed.
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