Effects of salt and drought stress on alkaloid production in endophyte-infected drunken horse grass (Achnatherum inebrians)

An evaluation was made of the influence of salt stress (0, 100, 200 or 300 mmol/l) and drought stress (60% Water-Holding Capacity, 40% WHC or 20% WHC) on the levels of ergot alkaloids (ergonovine and ergine) formed in drunken horse grass (Achnatherum inebrians) grown under greenhouse conditions. Samples were collected and randomized, both at the beginning of the treatment and after treatment, and the alkaloids were extracted and analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC. Higher alkaloid levels were recorded for plants under salt or drought stress, with levels of ergonovine being higher than those of ergine. Concentrations of both alkaloids increased over the plant growing period. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.