Triterpene methyl ethers of Chionochloa (Gramineae)

The leaf wax of twenty species of Chionochloa was examined for triterpene methyl ethers; twelve species gave positive yields. The known pentacyclic methyl ethers arundoin, miliacin, lupeol methyl ether and β-amyrin methyl ether were identified and the methyl ethers of the tetracyclic alcohols, cycloartenol and parkeol are reported as new natural products. Arundoin and miliacin occur in many species while the remaining compounds may be suitable chemotaxonomic markers.     

Triterpene methyl ethers in leaf waxes of Saccharum and related genera

The triterpene methyl ethers in the leaf waxes of over 80 clones of Saccharum officinarum, S. edule, S. robustum, S. spontaneum and a limited number of related species were compared as possible chemotaxonomic markers by GLC. The principal components were arundoin, crusgallin and cylindrin. The overall interspecific variation was small, but arundoin was particularly characteristic of S. officinarum. However, each species showed marked interclonal variation, which was related to chromosome numbers and geographical origin. Most S. spontaneum clones from India were atypical containing no triterpene methyl ethers.     

Inheritance of triterpene methyl ethers in Cortaderia (Gramineae)

The distribution of triterpene methyl ethers in several generations of interspecific hybrids of Cortaderia indicates dominant gene control of their synthesis. The hybrid C. richardii × C. toetoe is an exception because synthesis of α- and β-amyrin methyl ethers is suppressed in F₁ and F₂, but is restored in the backcross F₁ × C. toetoe; this backcross generation was heterozygous for genes for the amyrin methyl ethers, and on selfing segregated in a simple Mendelian ratio.