Biological Activities of Analogues of Ser-Val-Gly-Glu (AS-I), a Toxin Pathogenic to Sunflower

The tetrapeptides Ser-Val-Glu-Gly, Hse-Val-Gly-Glu, Thr-Val-Gly-Glu, Val-Ser-Gly-Glu and Ser-Val-Glu-Gly, analogues of the AS-I toxin which is pathogenic to sunflower, were examined for biological activity on sunflower and eight other plant species. These peptides were synthesized in solution or on a solid phase. Of the species studied by leaf inoculation, sunflower and zucchini were the most susceptible and cotton the most resistant to all of the toxins tested. The effect of Ser-Val-Glu-Gly was similar to that reported for AS-I, whereas the tetrapeptide Thr-Val-Gly-Glu was the most toxic.