This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Magnus, V. Articles by Kveder, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Magnus, V. Articles by Kveder, S. Agricola Articles by Magnus, V. Articles by Kveder, S.

Articles

Metabolism of Tryptophan, Indole-3-acetic Acid, and Related Compounds in Parasitic Plants from the Genus Orobanche

Volker Magnus, umski imaga, Sonja Iskri and Sergije Kveder

Ru/der Bokovi Institute, 41001 Zagreb, Yugoslavia

Metabolic reactions involving the aliphatic side chain of tryptophan were studied in the holoparasitic dicotyledonous plants Orobanche gracilis Sm., O. lutea Baumg., and O. ramosa L. Unlike known autotrophic plants, the parasite metabolized L-tryptophan directly to indole-3-carboxaldehyde, which was further converted to indole-3-methanol and indole-3-carboxylic acid. Independently, these metabolites were also formed from D-tryptophan, tryptamine, indole-3-lactic acid, and indole-3-acetic acid. As in autotrophic plants, tryptophan and tryptamine were also converted, via indole-3-acetaldehyde, to indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-ethanol, and its glucoside. The branch of tryptophan metabolism relevant to auxin biogenesis and catabolism is, therefore, not rudimentary in Orobanche but even more complex than in autotrophic higher plants.