Characterization of Alkaloids in Palatable and Unpalatable Clones of Phalaris arundinacea L1
Crop Science March 1, 1971 Martin 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.