Variability in the content and composition of alkaloids found in canadian ergot. I. Rye

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Abstract
Total alkaloid content and individual alkaloid composition were determined by colorimetry and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively, for Canadian rye ergot sclerotia. Total alkaloid content was highly variable between sclerotica from the same head, field or region and ranged from 0.011-0.452% (average 0.249%). Levels were lowest in ergot from Prince Edward Island [Canada]. Individual alkaloid composition was uniform throughout a single sclerotium or in different sclerotia from the same head, somewhat uniform for averages in different fields throughout a region but highly variable from head to head in a given field. On a regional basis, ergotamine followed by ergocristine were the major alkaloids observed in the east. The order was reversed in the west. Ergometrine, ergosine, ergocornine and ergocryptine were also observed to a lesser degree; ergostine was not observed. Isomerization of ergometrine increased from near 0% in the east to about 40% in the west but was relatively constant (about 30%) for peptide alkaloids in all regions.

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