Abstract
2-Furaldehyde was growth inhibitory and toxic to larvae ofBombyx mori at concentrations as low as 1 ppm. Baldcypress,Taxodium distichum, heartwood released this volatile at concentrations in excess of these levels. The adverse effect of this chemical on silkworms may partially account for the demise of the Georgia silkworm industry (circa 1765), after the construction of a baldcypress rearing facility.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, R., andVoorhees, V. 1967. Furfural, p. 280in H. Gilman (ed.). Organic Synthesis l. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Barker, R. 1971. Organic Chemistry of Biological Compounds, p. 177. Foundations of Modern Biochemistry Series. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, pp. 374.
Blakeley, N., andGoodner, S.R. 1978. Size dependent timing of metamorphosis in milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus) and its life history implications.Biol. Bull. 155:499–510.
Cerning, J., andGuilbot, A. 1973. A specific method for the determination of pentosans in cereals and cereal products.Cereal Chem. 50:176–184.
Dinsmore, H., andNagy, S. 1974. Improved colorimetric determination for furfural in citrus juices.J. Off. Anal. Chem. 57:332–335.
Dora-Gonzalez, M., Lodos, J., andKoslov, Y. 1972. Effect of UV irradiation on furfural.Rev. Inst. Cubano Invest. Deriv. Cana Azucar. 6:20–32.
Filatova, A.M., andKorol'kov, I.I. 1977. Determination of the potential furfural content in pentosan-containing plant raw materials.Khim. Drev. 2:94–101.
Flodin, K., andAndersson, J. 1977. Studies on volatile compounds fromPinus sylvestris and their effect on wood decomposing fungi. Part I: Identification of volatile compounds from fresh and heat-dried wood.Eur. J. Forest Pathol. 7:282–287.
Guenther, E. 1965. The Essential Oils, I-V. Van Nostrand, Princeton, New Jersey.
Ishikawa, S., Hirao, T., andArai, N. 1969. Chemosensory basis of hostplant selection in the silkworm.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 12:544–554.
Jones, C.G., Aldrich, J.R., andBlum, M.S. 1981. Baldcypress allelochemics and the inhibition of silkworm enteric microorganisms.J. Chem. Ecol. 7:103–114.
Krispyn, J.W. 1978. The silkwormBombyx mori (Linn.) in colonial Georgia.J. Georgia Entomol. Soc. 13:124–128.
Lehninger, A.L. 1975. Biochemistry, p. 255. Worth Publishing, New York.
McCullough, T. 1972. Furfural. Ubiquitous natural product.J. Chem. Educ. 49:836.
Nayar, J.K., andFraenkel, G. 1963. Practical methods of year-round laboratory rearing of the silkworm,Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 56:122–123.
Nijhout, M.F. 1975. A threshold size for metamorphosis in the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta (L.).Biol. Bull. 149:214–225.
Nijhout, H.F., andWilliams, C.M. 1974. Control of moulting and metamorphosis in the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta (L.): Growth of the last-instar larva and the decision to pupate.J. Exp. Biol. 61:481–491.
Pashev, I., Kostov, V., andLoseva, L. 1970. Effect of furfural on the growth and development ofBlakeslea trispora.Izv. Mikrobiol. Inst. Bulg. Akad. Nauk. 21:17–28.
Saubenova, M.G., Mukhamedieva, V.S., andBaimuratova, R.I. 1973. Effect of furfural on intra-cellular carbohydrates of yeastCandida tropicalis L-2.Izv. Akad. Nauk. Kaz. SSR. Ser. Biol. 6:44–47.
Soboleva, G.A., Golubkov, V.I., andVitrinskaya, A.M. 1973. Effect of furfural on the cytochrome system of yeasts.Candida tropicalis. Mikrobiologiia 42:341–344.
Starzyk, J., Slowakiewicz, E., andSiuda, K. 1969. Action of furfural on some pathogenic protozoans.Acta. Biol. Cracov Ser. Zool. 12:1–2.
Stecher, P.G. (editor). 1968. The Merck Index. Merck and Co., Rahway, New Jersey, pp. 1713.
Steel, C.G.H., andHarmsen, R. 1971. Dynamics of the neurosecretory system in the brain of an insect,Rhodnius prolixus, during growth and molting.Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 17:125–141.
Van Der Kloot, W.G. 1961. Insect metamorphosis and its endocrine control.Am. Zool. 1:3–9.
Wigglesworth, V.B. 1934. The physiology of ecdysis inRhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera). II. Factors controlling moulting and “metamorphosis.”Q. J. Microsc. Sci. 77:191–222.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jones, C.G., Aldrich, J.R. & Blum, M.S. 2-Furaldehyde from baldcypress. J Chem Ecol 7, 89–101 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988637
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988637