title: Production of the seed germination stimulant karrikinolide from combustion of simple carbohydrates.
abstract: The naturally occurring seed germination stimulant karrikinolide is formed from the combustion of plant material including cellulose. It has previously been reported that combustion of simple carbohydrates such as d-glucose does not produce extracts containing karrikinolide. Moreover, it was reported that extracts with germination-promoting ability could be obtained only by combustion of simple carbohydrates in the presence of amino acids such as l-glycine. By employing a (13)C-labeled karrikinolide to physically quantify natural karrikinolide, we now show that it is produced from combustion of simple carbohydrates in similar amounts regardless of whether l-glycine is present or not. The addition of l-glycine appears to be beneficial in reducing the inhibitory effect of smoke extracts and provides a greater concentration range for effective germination-promoting activity.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia , Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. flematti@uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Gavin R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Flematti
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scaffidi
authors.forename: Kingsley W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Emilio L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ghisalberti
mesh_terms: D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D005663:Furans / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018525:Germination; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry; D005998:Glycine; D006358:Hot Temperature; D011714:Pyrans / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012906:Smoke / Q000032:analysis; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D014994:Xylose / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005663:Furans; D011714:Pyrans; D012906:Smoke; D012996:Solutions; C557869:karrikinolide; D014867:Water; D002482:Cellulose; D014994:Xylose; D005947:Glucose; D005998:Glycine