Green Life Sciences seminar – Prof.dr. Binne Zwanenburg
“Strigolactones, new plant hormones on the move”
Prof. Binne Zwanenburg, Radboud University Institute for Molecules and Materials, Dept of Organic Chemistry
Date: 22 February 2019
Time: 11:00-12:00
Venue: Science Park 904, room C0.110
Host: Harro Bouwmeester; h.j.bouwmeester@uva.nl
Abstract
In recent years strigolactones (SLs) became recognized as a new family of plant hormones with a multitude of bio-properties. Interestingly, the first SL, namely strigol, was isolated only 60 years ago, but it took 20 years before all structural details of this compound were unveiled. All SLs invariably possess three annulated rings (the ABC scaffold) connected with a butenolide ring via an enol ether unit.
The most well-known property of SLs is their ability to germinate seeds of parasitic weeds Striga and Orobanche spp. These weeds have a devastating impact on the development of the host plants. When agriculturally important crops are involved, the food production may be severely affected, which often is the case in tropical and semi-tropical areas in Africa and Asia.
Over the years our research program focused on the chemistry of SLs, the structure-activity relationship of germination stimulants for parasitic weeds and the application of SL analogues in the control of these weeds.
In this lecture first some historic highlights of Striga research will be presented. Then the strategy of the total synthesis of naturally occurring SLs will be discussed with a focus on stereochemical features, followed by the identification of the bioactiphore in SLs and the design of new bioactive SL analogues. A new class of SL related compounds are SL mimics which have no ABC scaffold but a D-ring only. They show a remarkable bioactivity as germination stimulants.
It is a true challenge to understand the mode of action of SLs on a molecular level and how to apply SL analogues in the field to control parasitic weeds. In this context the prospects of suicidal germination in weed control in the field will be discussed.
Reviews: Zwanenburg et al, Mol. Plant, 6, 38-62 (2013); Planta, 243, 1311-1326 (2016); Pest Manag. Sci. 72, 15-29 (2016); Pest Manag. Sci. 72, 2016-2025 (2016); J. Exp. Botany, 69, 2206-2218 (2018) .
Friday, February 22, 2019 through February 23
10:59 - 02:00
Science Park 904
Science Park 904, Amsterdam