Effects of rust infection with Puccinia lagenophorae on pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Senecio vulgaris.

The pyrrolizidine alkaloid pattern of Senecio vulgaris, infected with the obligate fungal pathogen Puccinia lagenophorae was analysed quantitatively in comparison to noninfected controls. The fungal infection did not significantly affect the plant's total PA contents and concentrations. In comparison to the controls the fungal-infected plants showed significantly lower PA concentrations in the capitula and roots but not the shoots which contain 90% of total PAs. There was little effect on the PA composition.