PERENNIAL STABILITY OF TOTAL QUINOLIZIDINE ALKALOID CONTENT IN ALKALOID-POOR WASHINGTON LUPIN (LUPINUS-POLYPHYLLUS LINDL)

Total content of quinolizidine alkaloids (QA) in shoots, leaves and se eds of alkaloid-poor Washington lupin (Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl) grow n in Finland was studied from 1992 to 1994. The results show that duri ng these years the amount of alkaloids in shoots decreased from 202 to 101 mg kg(-1) DM. The reduction of QA in seeds was observed as follow s: in multicoloured seeds (from 349 to 285 mg kg(-1)) and in grey seed s (from 218 to 165 mg kg(-1)) as well as in figured seeds (from 372 to 331 mg kg-l DM). No reduction of QA in black seeds (change from 249 t o 248 mg kg(-1)) was observed. Total content of QA in leaves averaged 296 mg kg(-1) DM. In comparison with the total content of QA of the sa me plant material grown at the same location in the years 1988-1991, a successive decrease in QA content was observed in shoots and seeds of alkaloid-poor WL. Leaves of unbred lupin also showed a discrete decre ase in total QA content. In leaves of alkaloid-poor WL no change in al kaloid level was found. In seeds of unbred WL an increase in QA conten t was observed. The present data do not confirm the hypothesis that to tal content of QA in leaves, shoots and seeds of bred (alkaloid-poor) WL increases from year to year. (C) 1998 SCI.