title: Germination and growth inhibitors from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) husks.
abstract: On the basis of our findings that the germination of intact wheat seeds (with husks) belonging to dormancy varieties was restrained as compared with that of the dehusked seeds (grains), the germination inhibitors in the husks were explored. The water-soluble extracts from the husks were separated by the aid of inhibition assay experiments, resulting in the characterization of 2-phenylethyl alcohol 1, 4-vinylphenol 2 and its 2-methoxy derivative 3, and dihydroactinidiolide 4, all of which showed clear inhibition of germination at 500 ppm in aqueous solution. The related compounds 1-phenylethyl alcohol 5 and tetrahydroactinidiolide 6 were as active as 1 and 4, while no noticeable difference in activity was detected among both enantiomers and the DL-form of compounds 4-6. Clear synergistic relations were observed between 4 and 1 and also 4 and 3. Since the present inhibitors have been isolated from various kinds of seed plants, they may be responsible for the general germination inhibition in the seed plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Science University of Tokyo, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan. tkato1936@cc.e-mansion.com
authors.forename: Tadahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashimura
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurahashi
authors.forename: Kohji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D004357:Drug Synergism; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D006131:Growth Inhibitors