Elimination of ergoline alkaloids following treatment of Ipomoea asarifolia (Convolvulaceae) with fungicides

• Published in: Planta 2004-08, Vol.219 (4), p.619-625
• Main Authors: Kucht, S, Gross, J, Hussein, Y, Grothe, T, Keller, U, Basar, S, Konig, W.A, Steiner, U, Leistner, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaloids; Amides; benomyl; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; chanoclavine; Convolvulaceae; elymoclavine; Endosymbionts; ergoline alkaloids; Ergolines - analysis; Ergolines - chemistry; Essential oils; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Fungicides; Fungicides, Industrial - pharmacology; Hyphae; Ipomoea; Ipomoea - chemistry; Ipomoea - drug effects; Ipomoea asarifolia; isolysergic acid amide; lysergic acid amide; Metabolism; Metabolism. Physicochemical requirements; Models, Chemical; Oils, Volatile - analysis; Oils, Volatile - chemistry; phytochemicals; plant extracts; plant fats and oils; Plant glands; Plant Leaves - anatomy & histology; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant physiology and development; Plants; tebuconazole; Triazoles - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0032-0935; 1432-2048
• DOI: 10.1007/s00425-004-1261-2

Ergoline alkaloids are constituents of Clavicipitaceous fungi living on Poaceae plants. Ergoline alkaloids as well as volatile oil are also present in Ipomoea asarifolia Roem. & Schult (Convolvulaceae). Treatment of this plant with two fungicides (Folicur, Pronto Plus) eliminates the ergoline alkaloids but not the volatile oil. Elimination of ergoline alkaloids occurs concomitantly with loss of fungal hyphae associated with secretory glands on the upper leaf surface of the Ipomoea plant. Our observations suggest that accumulation of ergoline alkaloids in the Convolvulaceae may depend on the presence of a plant-associated fungus.