Changes in solasodine content during the development of Solanum laciniatum Ait

Abstract A method for routine determination of solasodine‐containing glycosides has been developed. The method was used to determine alkaloid concentrations in Solanum laciniatum plants during one season's growth. For 10 weeks after germination, all parts of the plant had low concentrations of alkaloid, but thereafter high concentrations of solasodine developed in the immature and mature leaves. Roots and stems had much less alkaloid. Immature berries contained the highest solasodine concentrations, but their contribution to the total per plant was small. Implications of this work are that breeders should select candidate plants on the basis of solasodine content of mature leaves in midseason, rather than on the basis of the entire plant at an autumn harvest. Both cultural conditions and harvest methods should aim to maximise coIIection of leaves rather than stems.