ARS | Publication request: YEAR TO YEAR VARIATION IN ALKALOID CONCENTRATION IN LUPINUS LEUCOPHYLLUS GROWING ON THE SCABLANDS OF CENTRAL WASHINGTON

Submitted to: Poisonous Plant Global Research and Solutions
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: May 31, 2006
Publication Date: June 20, 2007
Citation: Gay, C.C., Motteram, E.S., Panter, K.E., Wierenga, T.L. 2007. Year to year variation in alkaloid concentration in lupinus leucophyllus growing on the scablands of central washington. Poisonous Plants Global Research and Solutions, Chpt. 70, pp. 414 - 419.

Interpretive Summary: Year to year variation in the incidence and severity of "crooked calf" syndrome could result from year to year variation in alkaloid content of lupines. Alkaloid concentrations were determined for lupines collected at GPS identified transects located on four range pastures in the scabland region of eastern Washington state with high historic risk for "crooked calf" syndrome in an ongoing prospective study. At each site there was marked year to year variation in the proportion of total alkaloids represented by anagyrine. The results from collections made in mid May of each of 5 years – a time when lupines in this area are in bud and early flower. There was a modest increase in the incidence of "crooked calf" syndrome in this scabland region in the year 2000 representing pastures consumed in 1999. At all sites, lupines in 1999 had the lowest concentration of total alkaloids but the highest percentage (62 to 84%) of anagyrine compared with other years.

Technical Abstract: There was substantial year to year variation in total alkaloid concentration of lupines at all sites. Total alkaloid concentration over the 5 year period varied from two-fold to eight-fold at the individual sites. In any one year the change-trend in total alkaloid concentration was the same at each site and there were years where all sites had high alkaloid concentration in lupines and years where all sites had low alkaloid concentrations. At each site there was a marked year to year variation in the proportion of total alkaloids represented by anagyrine. Percent anagyrine in total alkaloid varied from 8 to 62%, 22 to 84%, 31 to 67% and 15 to 70% at the four sites over the five years. There was a modest increase in the incidence of "crooked calf" syndrome in this scabland region in the year 2000 representing pastures consumed in 1999. At all sites, lupines in 1999 had the lowest concentration of total alkaloids but the highest percentage (62 to 84%) of anagyrine compared with other years.