Die facettenreiche Welt der Apocarotinoide. Farben,Düfte,Aromen und Hormone

Apocarotenoids are tailored from carotenoids by highly specific oxidative enzymes cleaving different double bonds. New chromophores can be generated, which make additional nuances of the yellow‐red color spectrum available. Colorless C13 apocarotenoids can constitute potent scent and aroma compounds. Many apocarotenoid hormone functions are well‐known (abscisic acid in plants, trisporic acid in fungi, retinoic acid in mammals). A new class of apocarotenoid plant hormones, which take part in determining shoot branching has recently been identified as strigolactones. In the biosyntheses of strigolactones and mycorrhiza‐induced C13/C14 apocarotenoids several sequential cleavage reactions occur. The knowledge about biosynthetic pathways and functions of apocarotenoids opens up new perspectives for its application in horticulture and in the control of parasitic weeds as well as in the manipulation of flower scents and fruit aromas.