SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL SUBSTRATES FOR THE ISOLATION OF THE STRIGOL RECEPTOR

A series of analogues derived from (+)-strigol, which is a germination stimulant for seeds of the parasitic weeds Striga and Orobanche, has been prepared. For the isolation and characterization of the strigol r eceptor, labelled analogues are required in which a photoreactive func tion may be incorporated. The synthetic strategy allows for the synthe sis of a range of A-ring substituted analogues of GR24 (which is a str igol analogue), including fluorescent dansyl GR24-10. Bioassays reveal that the stimulatory activity of these analogues in the seed germinat ion of Striga hermonthica is retained.