Fatty acid esters produced by Lasiodiplodia theobromae function as growth regulators in tobacco seedlings

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2016-04, Vol.472 (2), p.339-345
• Main Authors: Uranga, Carla C., Beld, Joris, Mrse, Anthony, Córdova-Guerrero, Iván, Burkart, Michael D., Hernández-Martínez, Rufina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; Ascomycota - metabolism; CACAO TREES; CONCENTRATION RATIO; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; Esters - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids - administration & dosage; FUSARIUM; Fusarium oxysporum; GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY; GC-MS; GERMINATION; GIBBERELLIC ACID; Lasiodiplodia theobromae; Lycopersicon esculentum; MASS SPECTROSCOPY; MORPHOLOGY; Nicotiana - drug effects; Nicotiana - growth & development; NMR; NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE; PATHOGENS; PLANT GROWTH; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS; Plant Growth Regulators - pharmacology; SEEDLINGS; Seedlings - drug effects; Seedlings - growth & development; STEARATES; TOBACCO; TOMATOES; TRICHODERMA; Trunk disease fungi
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.02.104

The Botryosphaeriaceae are a family of trunk disease fungi that cause dieback and death of various plant hosts. This work sought to characterize fatty acid derivatives in a highly virulent member of this family, Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of an isolated compound revealed (Z, Z)-9,12-ethyl octadecadienoate, (trivial name ethyl linoleate), as one of the most abundant fatty acid esters produced by L. theobromae. A variety of naturally produced esters of fatty acids were identified in Botryosphaeriaceae. In comparison, the production of fatty acid esters in the soil-borne tomato pathogen Fusarium oxysporum, and the non-phytopathogenic fungus Trichoderma asperellum was found to be limited. Ethyl linoleate, ethyl hexadecanoate (trivial name ethyl palmitate), and ethyl octadecanoate, (trivial name ethyl stearate), significantly inhibited tobacco seed germination and altered seedling leaf growth patterns and morphology at the highest concentration (0.2 mg/mL) tested, while ethyl linoleate and ethyl stearate significantly enhanced growth at low concentrations, with both still inducing growth at 98 ng/mL. This work provides new insights into the role of naturally esterified fatty acids from L. theobromae as plant growth regulators with similar activity to the well-known plant growth regulator gibberellic acid. [Display omitted] •Lasiodiplodia theobromae produces a wide variety of fatty acid esters in natural substrates.•Ethyl stearate and ethyl linoleate inhibit tobacco germination at 0.2 mg/mL.•Ethyl stearate and ethyl linoleate induce tobacco germination at 98 ng/mL.•Tobacco growth increase in ethyl stearate and ethyl linoleate parallels gibberellic acid.•A role as plant growth regulators is proposed for fatty acid esters.