Helmut Maucher

Coronalon: a powerful tool in plant stress physiology

Coronalon, a synthetic 6‐ethyl indanoyl isoleucine conjugate, has been designed as a highly active mimic of octadecanoid phytohormones that are involved in insect and disease resistance. The spectrum of biological activities that is affected by coronalon was investigated in nine different plant systems specifically responding to jasmonates and/or 12‐oxo‐phytodienoic acid. In all bioassays analyzed, coronalon demonstrated a general strong activity at low micromolar concentrations. The results obtained showed the induction of (i) defense‐related secondary metabolite accumulation in both cell cultures and plant tissues, (ii) specific abiotic and biotic stress‐related gene expression, and (iii) root growth retardation. The general activity of coronalon in the induction of plant stress responses together with its simple and efficient synthesis suggests that this compound might serve as a valuable tool in the examination of various aspects in plant stress physiology. Moreover, coronalon might become employed in agriculture to elicit plant resistance against various aggressors.

Isolation, characterization and sequence of a cDNA encoding γ-tubulin protein from the fern Anemia phyllitidis L. Sw.

A complete cDNA encoding γ-tubulin protein from Anemia phyllitidis is presented. The deduced amino acid sequence shows an average similarity of 81–86% to known γ-tubulin genes from insects, mammals and fungi. Northern blots indicate the existence of transcripts of ca. 1.9 kb which are expressed during gametogenesis of A. phyllitidis. The gene described is the first cloned and entirely sequenced γ-tubulin gene in any plant.