Potato tuber-inducing activities of jasmonic acid and related compounds

Abstract

The chemical structure of tuberonic acid (3-oxo-2-[5-hydroxy-2-cis-pentenyl]-cyclopentane-1-acetic acid), which is the aglycone of a potato tuber-inducing substance isolated from potato leaves, is closely related to that of jasmonic acid. The potato tuber-inducing activities of jasmonic acid and related substances were compared. Jasmonic acid and its methyl ester showed strong tuber-inducing activity. Comparison of the tuber-inducing activities of various analogues of jasmonic acid suggests that those parts of the structure that are indispensable for the activity are the carboxyl group or its esters at the C-1 position, the pentenyl side chain at C-2 and the oxygen atom at C-3. © 1991.