Biosynthesis of Terpenes in Cell-Free Extracts from Tulip and ‘Wedgwood’ Iris1

Abstract

Abstract Cell-free extracts which incorporated mevalonate-2 -14 C into terpenes were obtained from Tulipa gesneriana L. cv. Ralph and Iris hollandica Hoog cv. Wedgwood. The richest source of the enzyme system was the shoot, specifically the stamens, from tulip and the shoot from iris. Scale and root tissue of iris and scales of tulip were also active but to a lesser extent. Time-course studies with tulips showed that the system could be extracted as long as the flower was not aborted and at any time prior to placing the plants in the greenhouse (light). Similar studies with iris indicated that an active system could be obtained from the onset of precooling to anthesis.