1,2-Dehydrolactarolide A, a new plant growth regulatory lactarane sesquiterpene from Lactarius vellereus.

A new lactarane sesquiterpene, 1,2-dehydrolactarolide A (1), together with lactarorufin A (2), 3-O-ethyllactarolide A (3) and 3-O-ethyllactarolide B (4), was isolated from a mushroom of the Russulaceae family, Lactarius vellereus. Additionally, two lactarane sesquiterpenes, lactarorufin A (2) and lactarolide A (5) were isolated from L. subpiperatus. 1,2-Dehydrolactarolide A (1) showed promotional activity (152% at 3.6 x 10(1) microM) toward radicle elongation in lettuce seedlings.