Herbicidal potential of pyrenophorol isolated from a Drechslera avenae pathotype

A pathotype of Drechslera avenae (Eidam) Scharif exhibited host‐specificity, being pathogenic to Avena sterilis L but not to a number of related or unrelated species tested. In culture, the fungus produces a metabolite which was identified as the macrodiolide pyrenophorol (5,13‐dihydroxy‐8,16‐dimethyl‐1,9‐dioxa‐cyclohexadeca‐3,11‐diene‐2,10‐dione). This compound at a concentration of 320 µ M was phytotoxic to A sterilis and considerably less so to Avena fatua L. The phytotoxicity was expressed as leaf necrosis on seedling cuttings partially immersed in pyrenophorol solution and as ‘green islands’ on detached leaves on which droplets of the solution were placed. Seed germination and seedling growth of A sterilis were not affected. Pyrenophorol at concentrations up to 640 µ M did not cause any symptoms of phytotoxicity to a number of other monocotyledons or dicotyledons tested, with the exception of Lycopersicon esculentum Miller on which leaf necrosis was observed after application of the substance through the vascular system to seedling cuttings. These findings are discussed in relation to the exploitation of such compounds of natural origin as wild oat herbicides. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry