INVESTIGATIONS ON NATURE OF A CHEMOTACTIC SUBSTANCE PRODUCED BY FEMALE GAMETES OF ECTOCARPUS SILICULOSUS .I. METHODS ISOLATION AND DETECTION BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

Female gametes of the brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus produce a sexual attractant which is highly volatile and has a characteristic odor. Two biological test reactions have been worked out for its detection: chemokinesis and positive chemotaxis of the male gametes. The substance can be collected by passing a stream of air through suspensions of female gametes, and can be condensed in a cold trap at-83°C. The substance can be detected by gas chromatography; it is represented by a single peak. © 1968 Springer-Verlag.