Phenalenone-type phytoalexins mediate resistance of banana plants (Musa spp.) to the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis.

The global yield of bananas-one of the most important food crops-is severely hampered by parasites, such as nematodes, which cause yield losses up to 75%. Plant-nematode interactions of two banana cultivars differing in susceptibility to Radopholus similis were investigated by combining the conventional and spatially resolved analytical techniques (1)H NMR spectroscopy, matrix-free UV-laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging, and Raman microspectroscopy. This innovative combination of analytical techniques was applied to isolate, identify, and locate the banana-specific type of phytoalexins, phenylphenalenones, in the R. similis-caused lesions of the plants. The striking antinematode activity of the phenylphenalenone anigorufone, its ingestion by the nematode, and its subsequent localization in lipid droplets within the nematode is reported. The importance of varying local concentrations of these specialized metabolites in infected plant tissues, their involvement in the plant's defense system, and derived strategies for improving banana resistance are highlighted.

Biosynthesis of tetraoxygenated phenylphenalenones in Wachendorfia thyrsiflora.

The biosynthetic origin of 1,2,5,6-tetraoxygenated phenylphenalenones and the sequence according to which their oxygen functionalities are introduced during the biosynthesis in Wachendorfia thyrsiflora were studied using two approaches. (1) Oxygenated phenylpropanoids were probed as substrates of recombinant W. thyrsiflora polyketide synthase 1 (WtPKS1), which is involved in the diarylheptanoid and phenylphenalenone biosynthetic pathways, (2) Root cultures of W. thyrsiflora were incubated with (13)C-labelled precursors in an (18)O2 atmosphere to observe incorporation of the two isotopes at defined biosynthetic steps. NMR- and HRESIMS-based analyses were used to unravel the isotopologue composition of the biosynthetic products, lachnanthoside aglycone and its allophanyl glucoside. Current results suggest that the oxygen atoms decorating the phenalenone tricycle are introduced at different biosynthetic stages in the sequence O-1→O-2→O-5. In addition, the incubation of W. thyrsiflora root cultures with (13)C-labelled lachnanthocarpone established a direct biosynthetic precursor-product relationship with 1,2,5,6-tetraoxygenated phenylphenalenones.

The biosynthetic origin of oxygen functions in phenylphenalenones of Anigozanthos preissii inferred from NMR- and HRMS-based isotopologue analysis.

The biosynthetic origin of 9-phenylphenalenones and the sequence according to which their oxygen functionalities are introduced were studied using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS). (13)C-labelled precursors were administered to root cultures of Anigozanthos preissii, which were simultaneously incubated in an atmosphere of (18)O(2). Two major phenylphenalenones, anigorufone and hydroxyanigorufone, were isolated and analyzed by spectroscopic methods. Incorporation of (13)C-labelled precursors from the culture medium and (18)O from the atmosphere was detected. O-Methylation with (13)C-diazomethane was used to attach (13)C-labels to each hydroxyl and thereby dramatically enhance the sensitivity with which NMR spectroscopy can detect (18)O by means of isotope-induced shifts of (13)C signals. The isotopologue patterns inferred from NMR and HRESIMS analyses indicated that the hydroxyl group at C-2 of 9-phenylphenalenones had been introduced on the stage of a linear diarylheptanoid. The oxygen atoms of the carbonyl and lateral aryl ring originated from the hydroxyl group of the 4-coumaroyl moiety, which was incorporated as a unit.