Effects of tryptophan on ergot alkaloids concentrations of Achnatherum inebrians-Neotyphodium gansuense association

Pot experiments in greenhouse were carried out to study the effects of tryptophan on ergot alkaloids concentrations of Achnatherum inebrians associated with Neotyphodium gansuense. The results showed that fresh weight,height and tiller number of A.inebrians seedings significantly decreased (P0.05) with the addition of tryptophan. Ergine and ergonovine concentrations significantly increased (P0.05) with 500 mg·L-1 and 750 mg·L-1 tryptophan treatments compared with control. With 250 mg·L-1 tryptophan treatment, ergine concentration was highest compared with other treatments which showed that this treatment had great benefits to ergine accumulation. The treatment with 500 mg·L-1 tryptophan had more benefit to ergonovine accumulation compared with other treatments.