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Bruchins
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Photo of Bruchin on a Pea weevil (Coleoptera: Bruchidae: Bruchus pisorum)

Pea weevil (Coleoptera: Bruchidae: Bruchus pisorum) oviposition on pods of specific genetic lines of pea (Pisum sativum) stimulates cell division at the sites of egg attachment. As a result, tumor-like growths of undifferentiated cells (neoplasms) develop beneath the egg. These neoplasms impede larval entry into the pod. This unique form of induced resistance is conditioned by the Np allele, and mediated by a newly discovered class of natural products that we have identified from both cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) and pea weevil. These compounds, which we refer to as "bruchins," are long chain a,w-diols, esterified at one or both oxygens with 3-hydroxypropanoic acid. Bruchins are potent plant regulators, with application of as little as 1 femtomole (0.5 picogram) causing neoplastic growth on pods of all of the pea lines tested. The bruchins are the first natural products discovered with the ability to induce neoplasm formation when applied to intact plants.