Characterization of Alkaloids in Palatable and Unpalatable Clones of Phalaris arundinacea L1
Crop Science March 1, 1971 Martin L Williams, R. F. Barnes, John M. Cassady 20 citations
Reed canarygrass genotypes that differ in palatability to lambs also differ in their alkaloid profiles. Unpalatable clones contained an average of 0.78% crude alkaloids on a dry-matter basis, about three times the 0.26% found in palatable clones. The compound 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) was on average 18 times more abundant in unpalatable clones. Other identified alkaloids included gramine, hordenine, and several tryptamine derivatives. The findings suggest that alkaloid concentration, particularly of 5-MeO-DMT, contributes to the palatability differences previously observed in grazing trials.