COST ASSESSMENT OF THE PRODUCTION OF PYRROLIZIDINE ALKALOIDS IN RAGWORT (SENECIO-JACOBAEA L)

Costs of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (Pa) production in vegetative ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) were examined under conditions in which plant growt h was limited by light, nitrogen and phosphorus. Measurable costs of P a production were demonstrated under light-limiting conditions. Plants with higher Pa concentrations grew more slowly than those with lower Pa concentration. Under nitrogen- and phosphorus-limited conditions no trade-off between Pa production and growth was observed.