Alkaloid Production in Diploid and Autotetraploid Plants of Datura stramonium

A comparative investigation of alkaloid production and accumulation in the roots and leaves of diploid (2n = 24), and C 4 generation of induced autotetraploid (4n = 48) Datura stramonium L. plants was performed. Fifteen alkaloids have been determined in the roots and two in the leaves, at a level of 1% or more of the crude alkaloid fractions in both ploidy levels. Two 3-tigloyloxy-6-isovaleryloxy-7- hydroxytropane isomers were detected for the first time in genus Datura. In the conditions of the prolonged photoperiod, hyoscyamine was the main alkaloid in the roots whereas scopolamine was the main alkaloid in the leaves of both ploid forms. In comparison to diploids, the roots and leaves of tetraploids had a higher alkaloid content and scopolamine/hyoscyamine ratio.