Effect of age on amount and type of glycoalkaloids in leaves and roots ofSolanum laciniatumAit

Abstract

The changes in glycoalkaloids of field-grown Solanum laciniatum Ait. plants were determined. Leayes of young plants contained the triglycosides solasonine and solamargine and a non-polar diglycoside. Leaves of mature plants contained a large amount of a polar compound thought to be a tetraglycoside. The aglycone solasodine was present in low levels throughout the season. Glycoalkaloids were absent from young roots. Older roots contained a large amount of the suspected tetraglycoside and a small amount of solasodine. The percentage and total amount of solasodine increased during the growth of a young leaf, reached a maximum at full leaf expansion and thereafter decreased. This pattern was observed throughout the season for lateral branch and main stem leaves of field-grown plants and also for main stem leaves of plants grown in a climate laboratory.