Alkylresorcinols in the family Fabaceae

The Fabaceae are a large family, members occurence of which is very common at various latitudes. The characteristic feature of this plant family is th e symbiosis with the bacteria genus Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium. The analysis of acetone extracts from dried seeds of the subfamily Papilini oideae revealed the occurrence of alkylresorcinols in about 85% of the exam ined samples. Unfortunately, it was not possible to verify this observation in the second subfamily of Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae. It was partly becaus e there is merely one species belonging to this subfamily, in Poland. In reference to the common occurence of alkylresorcinols in Papilinioideae some interspecific differences were indicated. This survey is a basis for f urther studies on the Fabaceae family.