The fate of the phytoalexin ipomeamarone: furanoterpenes and butenolides from Ceratocystis fimbriata-infected sweet potatoes

Abstract Nine new sesquiterpenes related biosynthetically to ipomeamarone, the well-known sweet potato phytoalexin, have been isolated from Ceratocystis fimbriata -infected sweet potato root tissue and the structures determined. Their biosynthetic relationship with previously identified furanoterpenes is discussed.