VIEW ARTICLE

Physiology and Biochemistry

Stimulation of Germination of Puccinia carthami Teliospores by Polyacetylenes from Safflower. Ronald G. Binder, Research Chemist, Western Regional Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Berkeley, CA 94710; John M. Klisiewicz(2) and Anthony C. Waiss, Jr.(3). (2)Research Plant Pathologist, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of California, Davis, CA 95616; (3)Research Chemist, Western Regional Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Berkeley, CA 94710. Phytopathology 67:472-474. Accepted for publication 5 November 1976. Copyright © 1977 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-67-472.

Volatile polyacetylenes from safflower stimulate germination of teliospores of Puccinia carthami. Ten isomers of known C₁₃ polyacetylenic hydrocarbons containing from two to five acetylenic bonds were isolated from safflower seedlings and assayed for activity. Exposure of teliospores to 15 ng/cm³ of 1, 11-tridecadiene-3,5,7,9-tetrayne resulted in 83% germination, whereas controls with no stimulator showed 10% germination. Polyacetylenes with three or two acetylenic bonds were less active, but were present in larger quantities.