Orchis militaris

In a series of feeding experiments, it was found that phenylalanine, cinnamic acid, wera-coumaric acid, and dihydro-m-coumaric acid were good precursors for orchinol (20) and hircinol (21) in Orchis militaris, but o- and p-coumaric acids were not. The production of both meta-substituted compounds in this orchid was confirmed (Dewick, 1984). Incor-... 

The compounds orcinol (20) and hircinol (21) are phytoalexins in Orchis militaris and in other species of Orchis (Orchidaceae) when infected with Rhizoctonia repens (Brooks and Watson, 1985 Coxon, 1982 Dewick, 1984 Kuc, 1992). These compounds are active as phytoalexins against a range of organisms at 10 " M (Gorham, 1989). Hircinol has also been isolated from tubers of yam (Diosc-orea rotundata, Dioscoreaceae) where it is a preformed antifungal compound. 

Orchinol 9,10-dihydro-2,4-dimethoxy-7-phenan-throl, a phytoalexin. O. is formed by the orchid Orchis militaris as a defense against infection by the fungus Rhizoctonia repens. The structurally related... 

Constit. of muskmelon (Cucurbita moschata) seedlings and from infected bulbs of Orchis militaris and Loroglossum hircinum. Cofactor for indoleacetic acid oxidase. Prisms or needles (H2O). Mp 124.5-125.5°. a-Ac ... 

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