PHYTOECDYSTEROIDS IN WORLD FLORA - DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION, BIOSYNTHESIS AND EVOLUTION

Ecdysteroids, the molting hormones of Arthropods, are found in many pl ant species where they often reach very high concentrations. These ''p hytoecdysteroids'' belong to a large family of ecdysteroids that compr ises more than 250 representatives. Their occurrence and distribution within plant species is reviewed. Recent developments with in vitro sy stems producing ecdysteroids are described, as well as our present kno wledge of the ecdysteroid biosynthetic pathway.