Modification of the fatty acid composition of phospholipids during the hypersensitive reaction in tobacco.

When Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc. plants were inoculated with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), grown at 33 degrees for 6 days, then transferred to 25 degrees C to induce necrotic reaction, a rapid saturation of microsomal phospholipid-bound fatty acids was observed. Lipoxygenase activity increased to four times that of the control activity prior to the observed changes in both the fatty acid saturation and the increase in permeability.