VARIATION OF TOTAL NITROGEN, NONPROTEIN NITROGEN-CONTENT, AND TYPES OF ALKALOIDS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT IN ERYTHRINA-AMERICANA SEEDS

The flowers, string beans, seeds, and pods (without seeds) of Erythrin a americana were studied in connection with the protein nitrogen, non- protein nitrogen content, and type of alkaloid at different stages of development of the fruit. The protein nitrogen from flowers to mature seeds increased, while the levels of non-protein nitrogen decreased wi th maturation. The alkaloids accumulated not only at the end of matura tion in the seeds but also in young tissues. On a dried basis, a high content of alkaloids was observed in flowers and dry seeds in comparis on to low levels in dry pods. The highest concentrations were found in the mature seeds. The GC/MS analysis showed the presence of beta-eryt hroidine, which was the major alkaloid in all the tissues examined. Er ysodine and erysovine were found in the mature and dry tissues but not in flowers. N-Oxide alkaloids were only found in mature tissues.