Cembratrienol

Cembratrienol (CBTol) is a tertiary alcohol produced in the leaves of tobacco plants. It acts as an insect repellent.^[1][2]

In 2018 researchers isolated the sections of the tobacco genome that produce CBTol molecules. They incorporated those genes into Escherichia colibacteria. When fed wheat bran, those bacteria produced CBTol. The chemical was extracted via centrifugal separationchromatography^[2] and incorporated into a biodegradable, non-toxic and environmentally-friendly repellent that can be sprayed directly onto crops. In laboratory tests, aphids avoided treated crops. One side benefit was that it kills multiple types of gram-positive bacteria that are harmful to humans.^[1]

• Crop protection
• Insecticide
• Pesticide

• Guo, Zhenhua; Wagner, George J. (September 1995). "Biosynthesis of cembratrienols in cell-free extracts from trichomes of Nicotiana tabacum". Plant Science. 110 (1): 1–10. Bibcode:1995PlnSc.110....1G. doi:10.1016/0168-9452(95)04174-s. ISSN 0168-9452.
• "Repelente orgánico de insectos para la agricultura: productos biodegradables para la protección de cultivos sin riesgos ni efectos secundarios" . ScienceDaily . 6 de junio de 2018. Consultado el 9 de junio de 2018 .