title: Butenolides from plant-derived smoke: natural plant-growth regulators with antagonistic actions on seed germination.
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.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
authors.forename: Marnie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Light
authors.forename: Ben V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staerk
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kohout
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Staden
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D005390:Fires; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010944:Plants; D011714:Pyrans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D012906:Smoke
chemical_list: C548099:3,4,5-trimethylfuran-2(5H)-one; C488803:3-methyl-2H-furo(2,3-c)pyran-2-one; D005663:Furans; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D011714:Pyrans; D012906:Smoke; C004511:butenolide; D015107:4-Butyrolactone