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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296766
Title: Galegine content in Goatsrue (Galega officinalis) varies by plant part and phenological growth stage

Author
item OLDHAM, MICHELLE - Utah State University
item RANSOM, COREY - Utah State University
item Ralphs, Michael
item Gardner, Dale

Submitted to: Weed Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/13/2011
Publication Date: 9/1/2011
Citation: Oldham, M., Ransom, C.V., Ralphs, M.H., Gardner, D.R. 2011. Galegine content in Goatsrue (Galega officinalis) varies by plant part and phenological growth stage. Weed Science. 59(3): 349-52.

Interpretive Summary: Goatsrue is a toxic plant native to Europe and western Asia and now found in the US. It contains the toxic alkaloid galegine. In this study we measured the toxin concentration in aboveground plant parts over the growth stages of the plant. Twenty plants at four locations were selected and plant parts were freeze-dried, ground, and analyzed. Galegine concentration was significantly different in plant tissues; with the flowers (7 mg/g galegine), leaf (4 mg/g) and finally stem (1 mg/g) in order of highest to lowest concentration. Total galegine content per stalk was lowest at the vegetative growth stage (2 mg/stalk) and increased until reaching a maximum at the immature pod stage (91 mg/stalk). The increased levels of galegine at the immature pod stage corresponds with the time of meadow hay harvest, implying that goatsrue is potentially most toxic at this stage when it is likely to be harvested as a contaminant in meadow hay.

Technical Abstract: Goatstrue is a member of the abaceae family, native to Europe and western Asia. It contains the toxic alkaloid galegine. The objective of the study was to describe galegine concentration in aboveround goatsrue plant parts and total galegine pools over phenological growth stages. Twenty goatsrue plants at four locations were selected and a stalk was harvested from each at five stages of phenological development and separated into parts. Plant parts were freeze-dried, ground, and analyzed with liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometry. Galegine concentration was significantly different in plant tissues; reproductive tissues had the highest levels of galegine followed by leaf and finally stem tissues. Galegine concentration and pools varied over plant tissues and phenological growth stages. Galegine pools (dry weight by competition) or the total amount of galegine per stalk were lowest at the vegetative growth stage and increased until reaching a maximum at the immature pod stage. The oils decreased nearly in half by the mature seed stage. Like galegine pools, galegine concentration also reached a maximum at the immature pod stage, and decreased by nearly half by the mature seed stage. The increased levels of galegine pools at immature pod stage corresponds with the time of meadow hay harvest, implying that goatsrue is potentially most toxic at the phenological stage when it is likely to be harveested as a contaminant in meadow hay.