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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #279412
Title: Detection of swainsonine and isolation of the endophyte Undifilum from the major locoweeds in Inner Mongolia

Author
item GAO, XINLEI - Inner Mongolian Agriculture University
item Cook, Daniel
item RALPHS, MICHAEL - Collaborator
item YAN, LING - Inner Mongolian Agriculture University
item Gardner, Dale
item Lee, Stephen
item Panter, Kip
item HAN, BING - Inner Mongolian Agriculture University
item ZHAO, MENG-LI - Inner Mongolian Agriculture University

Submitted to: Biochemical Systematics and Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2012
Publication Date: 12/1/2012
Citation: Gao, X., Cook, D., Ralphs, M., Yan, L., Gardner, D.R., Lee, S.T., Panter, K.E., Han, B., Zhao, M. 2012. Detection of swainsonine and isolation of the endophyte Undifilum from the major locoweeds in Inner Mongolia. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 45: 79-85.

Interpretive Summary: Locoweeds are Astragalus and Oxytropis species that contain the toxic alkaloid swainsonine, causing widespread poisoning of livestock in Inner Mongolia. Taxa suspected of causing locoism and/or poisoning in Inner Mongolia were surveyed for swainsonine and Undifilum, the fungal endophyte responsible for the production of swainsonine. Swainsonine was detected in A. variabilis and O. glabra. The endophyte Undifilum was detected by culturing and PCR in these samples. Additionally, contrary to previous reports the quinolizidine alkaloids, thermopsine, anagyrine, and lupanine, were not detected in O. glabra and O. ochrocephala, however the quinolizidine alkaloids, sophoridine, sophocarpine, and sophoramine were detected in Sophora alopecuroides as previously reported.

Technical Abstract: Locoweeds are Astragalus and Oxytropis species that contain the toxic alkaloid swainsonine, causing widespread poisoning of livestock in Inner Mongolia. Taxa (Astragalus, Oxytropis, Sphaerophysa, and Sophora species) suspected of causing locoism and/or poisoning in Inner Mongolia were surveyed for swainsonine and Undifilum, the fungal endophyte responsible for the production of swainsonine. Swainsonine was detected at concentrations greater than 0.01% in Astragalusvariabilis and Oxytropisglabra. The endophyte Undifilum was detected by culturing and PCR in samples containing swainsonine concentrations greater than 0.01%. In some specimens of A. variabilis and O. glabra swainsonine was not detected or concentrations were less than 0.01%. In these samples the endophyte could not be cultured, but was detected by PCR. Additionally, contrary to previous reports the quinolizidine alkaloids, thermopsine, anagyrine, and lupanine, were not detected in O. glabra and Oxytropisochrocephala, however the quinolizidine alkaloids, sophoridine, sophocarpine, and sophoramine were detected in Sophora alopecuroides as previously reported.