Isolation of 4-acetyl-benzoxazolin-2-one (4-ABOA) and diferuloylputrescine from an extract of gibberella ear rot-resistant corn that blocks mycotoxin biosynthesis, and the insect toxicity of 4-ABOA and related compounds

Bioassay-directed fractionation of an extract of a gibberella ear rot-resistant corn hybrid resulted in the isolation of a fraction that inhibited mycotoxin production. but not growth, of Fusarium culmorum. The fraction contained diferuloylputrescine and a new allelochemical 4-acetyl-benzoxazolin-2-one (4-ABOA). This report describes the isolation of the bioactive fraction and tests of the effect of 4-ABOA on 3-acetyl deoxynivalenol (3ADON) and aflatoxin production. In addition, data are reported on the effects of 4-ABOA and related compounds on a number of insect species and some preliminary studies on the mechanism of insect toxicity. The effect of 4-ABOA on F. culmorum and Apergillus flavus was similar. Production of toxin was reduced without a concomitant reduction of growth. A 50% inhibition of 3ADON production occurred at ca. 4 mu M and 0.12 mM for alfatoxin. 4-ABOA was slightly toxic to Spodoptera frugiperda. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd