UNUSUAL LONG-CHAIN MONOENOIC FATTY-ACIDS IN CONIDIA OF ERYSIPHE-GRAMINIS

Conidia of two different strains of the obligate plant pathogen Erysip he graminis f.sp. hordei have been analysed for their total fatty acid composition. A total of 14 saturated and unsaturated acids were prese nt, 90% of which were long-chain (C20-C24). The major components were characterized using GC and GC-MS as 2-docosenoic and 2-tetracosenoic a cids; the double bond is thought to be trans-orientated in both compou nds. Further work demonstrated that these acids occurred mainly in an esterified form on the surface of the conidia.