The biodegradation of the phytotoxic metabolite botrydial by its parent organism, Botrytis cinerea

Abstract

The inhibition of the growth of Botrytis cinerea has been found to be directly proportional to the concentration of its metabolite, botrydial (1). The fungus transforms botrydial (1) to the less active phytotoxins dihydrobotrydial (2), botryenedial (3), and secobotrytrienediol (4). Two main biodegradative pathways of botrydial (1) and the interconversion of the botryane toxins excreted by B. cinerea are proposed.