OCCURRENCE OF POLYGODIAL IN PLANT ORGANS AND TISSUE-CULTURE OF POLYGONUM HYDROPIPER

Shoots of Polygonum hydropiper L. (waterpepper), especially in the lea ves and flowerheads, contain significant amounts of the sesquiterpenoi d polygodial, a compound with a potential use as a natural pesticide. The polygodial content of the tepals is particularly high: up to 8.5% of the dry weight. Roots and seeds do not contain detectable amounts o f polygodial. Polygodial containing organs e.g. leaves and tepals, wer e found to contain cavities. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) micros pectroscopy demonstrated that polygodial or its congeners are found in these cavities but not in other tissues or cells. Comparable cavities containing polygodial-like compounds were absent in the closely relat ed species Polygonum persicaria L. Callus cultures and cell suspension s as well as root- and shoot cultures were initiated from mature P. hy dropiper plants. Polygodial could be detected only in shoot cultures. Our results indicate that functioning plastids may be essential for po lygodial production and cavities for its accumulation.