The occurrence of alkylresorcinols, polyketide compounds that in the same h
omologous series as cardol isolated from Anacardium occidentale (cashew) or
bilobol from Ginkgo biloba which are derivatives of 1,3-dihydroxy-5-alk(en
)ylbenzene, have been demonstrated in developing rye (Secale cereale L.) ke
rnels. The 3-day-old seedlings grown in sterile conditions already contain
detectable amounts of phenolic compounds that were identified as alkylresor
cinols. This fraction is the mixture of saturated and enoic homologs of var
ious lengths of the aliphatic side chain. The composition of homologs is si
milar to that determined in mature grains. The relatively high level of alk
ylresorcinols in mitochondria and plastids (enhanced approximately twice in
the absence of light) suggests that their synthetic pathway and/or biologi
cal function may be related to these cellular compartments. Resorcinolic li
pids, when present in the external medium, are taken up by seedlings in the
energy-dependent manner. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve
d.