THIOPHENE INTERCONVERSION IN ELICITOR-TREATED ROOTS OF TAGETES-PATULA L

Thiophenes are polyacetylene-related heterocyclic metabolites. Some of these compounds are phototoxic, but the bithiophenes occurring in Tagetes mainly accumulate in the root where photo-activation is not likely to occur. A cell-free extract from the fungus Fusarium oxysporum induced biosynthesis of hydrophilic thiophenes In root cultures and roots of seedlings of Tagetes Patula. The thiophenes formed win partially excreted into the culture medium. The excreted thiophenes inhibited fungal growth in the absence of light and thus may play a role in the biochemical defense against pathogens.