Phosphonothrixin, a novel herbicidal antibiotic produced by Saccharothrix sp. ST-888. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological properties.

A novel herbicidal compound, phosphonothrixin, was found in the fermentation broth of Saccharothrix sp. ST-888 cultured on a vegetable juice medium. The compound exhibiting acidic and hydrophilic properties was obtained when the fermentation broth of ST-888 was subjected to ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and ion-pair chromatography. Phosphonothrixin significantly inhibited germination of gramineous and broadleaf weeds. Foliar application of this antibiotic gave rise to chlorosis in all of the plants tested.