BIOSYNTHESIS OF THE SEX-PHEROMONE OF THE MALE BOLL-WEEVIL FROM MONOTERPENE PRECURSORS

Biosynthesis of the four monoterpene compounds that comprise the sex pheromone of the male boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis, was demonstrated by using a mixture of geraniol and nerol. An average 2.4% of the administered radioactive alcohols was incorporated into the pheromone components. The amount of radioactivity incorporated into each pheromone component indicated that these two isomeric alcohols are incorporated directly into the pheromone biosynthetic pathway. © 1979.