Biosynthesis of pyrethrin I in seedlings of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium

[1- 13C]-Glucose was employed as a precursor to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway for pyrethrin I in the seedlings of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium. The biosynthetic pathway to natural pyrethrins in Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium seedlings was studied using [1- 13C] d-glucose as a precursor, with pyrethrin I isolated using HPLC from a leaf extract. The 13C NMR spectrum of pyrethrin I from the precursor-administered seedlings indicated that the acid moiety was biosynthesized from d-glucose via 2- C-methyl- d-erythritol 4-phosphate, whereas the alcohol moiety was possibly biosynthesized from linolenic acid.