Effects of fungal infection on lipid extract composition of higher plant remains: comparison of shoots of a Cenomanian conifer, uninfected and infected by extinct fungi

The lipid fraction extracted from uninfected shoots of a fossil conifer, Fr enelopsis alata, was analysed by gas-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. and compared with shoots of the same conifer infected by extinct epiphyllous fu ngi. so as to study the effects of fungal infection on the chemical composi tion of extracts from higher plant remains. The extracts from the uninfecte d shoots appeared to be composed of (i) common constituents of higher plant lipids such as n-alkanes and fatty acids, (ii) elemental sulphur, and (iii ) substantial amounts of terpenoids characteristic of conifers, such as cad alene, beyerane, dehydroabietane and related compounds. Comparison of this extract with that of fungal-infected shoots revealed, in addition to the af orementioned compounds. the presence of substantial amounts of hydroxysucci nic acid and functionalised benzoic compounds that were interpreted as degr adation products of lignin by fungi. This study afforded preliminary indica tions of the composition of extracts from higher plant remains infected by fungi. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. hll rights reserved.