ARS | Publication request: DIVERSITY IN CYCLIC SESQUITERPENE PRODUCTION BY GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.

Submitted to: Phytochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 12, 1995
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Volatile sesquiterpenoids show a wide range of biological activities against certain cotton pests. DA wild cotton, Texas race stock 810, collected from the Bahama Islands is resistant to bacterial blight and several insect pests. This cotton also produces two major volatile terpenes that are absent in cultivated cottons and might contribute to the resistance. These compounds were identified as alpha-selinene and beta-selinene. Aromadendrene, which occurs in low concentrations in cultivated cotton, also was identified. Complete chemical characteristics of the three compounds are reported. Identification of the compounds allows further evaluation of their role in pest resistance and the initiation of genetic studies to incorporate them into cultivated cottons.

Technical Abstract: Major sesquiterpene components of oil of Texas Race Stock 810 of Gossypium hirsutum L. were a- and b-selinene. This is the seventh cyclic terpene type found to date in this genus. alpha- and beta-Selinene, along with aromadendrene, were found but only as minor components of extracts of several domestic cultivars of Gossypium hirsutum.