Constitutive polymorphic cyanogenesis in the Australian rainforest tree, Ryparosa kurrangii (Achariaceae).
Cyanogenesis, the liberation of volatile hydrogen cyanide from endogenous cyanide-containing compounds, is a proven plant defence mechanism and the particular cyanogens involved have taxonomic utility. The cyclopentenoncyanhydrin glycoside gynocardin was the only cyanogen isolated from foliar tissue of the rare Australian rainforest tree, Ryparosa kurrangii (Achariaceae). Mechanical damage simulating foliar herbivory did not induce a significant increase in the expression of cyanogenesis over a 24h period, indicating cyanogenic herbivore defence in R. kurrangii is constitutive. The cyanogenic potential of mature leaves was quantitatively polymorphic between trees in a natural population, ranging from 0.54 to 4.77 mg CN g(-1) dry wt leaf tissue.
Webber
Bruce L
BL
School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. b.webber@bigfoot.com
Miller
Rebecca E
RE
Woodrow
Ian E
IE
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006027:Glycosides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009570:Nitriles / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011793:Queensland; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D014329:Tropical Climate
D006027:Glycosides; D009570:Nitriles