AN ANTIFUNGAL FACTOR FROM BARLEY OF POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANCE IN DISEASE RESISTANCE

Abstract

Susceptibility to Helminthosporium sativum in barley coleoptiles is associated with tissue senescence. Aqueous extracts of young coleoptiles show high antifungal activity. This activity disappears rapidly with age owing to the appearance of an inhibitor in the extracts. Preliminary characterization of the antifungal factor suggests an empirical formula of C 9 H 17 O 7 N. Inhibition of activity was found to be caused by various divalent cations. The results point to the particular importance of calcium.