Occurrence of jasmonic acid, related compounds and abscisic acid in fertile and sterile fronds of three Equisetum species

Summary In fertile fronds of Equisetum arvense the plant growth regulator jasmonic acid and its metabolite 6epi-7-iso-cucurbic acid were identified by physical methods. Jasmonic acid dominated before spore scattering and 6-epi-7-iso-cucurbic acid thereafter. In fertile fronds of Equisetum sylvaticum 4,5didehydro-jasmonic acid was found to be the major component of the jasmonic acid-like compounds. In fertile and sterile fronds of Equisetum arvense as well as in fertile fronds of Equisetum sylvaticum and Equisetum fluviatile abscisic acid was unequivocally identified. In fertile fronds its level exceeded that of sterile fronds, and it was much higher before spore scattering than thereafter.