Tentoxin is a natural cyclic tetrapeptide produced by phytopathogenic fungusAlternaria alternata. It selectively induces chlorosis in several germinating seedling plants. Therefore, tentoxin may be used as a potential natural herbicide, and is a lactam.[1]
Tentoxin was first isolated from Alternaria alternata (syn. tenuis) and characterized by George Templeton et al. in 1967.[2]
Tentoxin has also been used in recent research to eliminate the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity from seedlings of higher plants.[3]
^Templeton, G. E., C. 1. Grable, N. D. Fulton, W. L. Meyer. 1967. Tentoxin from Alternaria tenuis: its isolation and characterization. Proceedings of the Mycotoxin Research Seminar, Washington, D. C., June 8–9, 1967. United States Department of Agriculture. pp. 27-29
^Duke, S.O. & Vaughn, K.C. 1982. Lack of involvement of polyphenol oxidase in ortho-hydroxylation of phenolic compounds in mung bean seedlings. Physiol. Plant. 54: 381-385.