Conserved and species-specific oxylipin pathways in the wound-activated chemical defense of the noninvasive red alga Gracilaria chilensis and the invasive Gracilaria vermiculophylla

• Martin Rempt,
• Florian Weinberger,
• Katharina Grosser and
• Georg Pohnert

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2012, 8, 283–289, doi:10.3762/bjoc.8.30

• , D-24105 Kiel, Germany 10.3762/bjoc.8.30 Abstract Chemical defense of the invasive red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla has been studied and compared to that of the noninvasive but related Gracilaria chilensis. Both species rely on a wound-activated chemical defense that makes them less attractive to

• potential of Gracilaria spp. is discussed. Keywords: activated chemical defense; invasive species; oxylipins; prostaglandins; red algae; regulation; Introduction The red alga Gracilaria chilensis is native along the Chilean coast and is commercially farmed for the production of agar hydrocolloids [1