title: Degradation of the potato glycoalkaloids--alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine in groundwater.
abstract: The potato glycoalkaloids alpha-chaconine and alpha-solanine are produced in high amounts in potato plants from where release to soil takes place. Degradation of the compounds in groundwater was investigated, as their fate in the terrestrial environment is unknown. Abiotic and microbial degradation were followed in groundwater sampled from below a potato field and spiked with the glycoalkaloids (115 nmol/l). Degradation was primarily microbial and the glycoalkaloids were degraded within 21-42 days. The metabolites beta(1)-solanine, gamma-solanine, and solanidine were formed from alpha-solanine, while beta-chaconine, gamma-chaconine and solanidine were detected from alpha-chaconine. Thus, indigenous groundwater microorganisms are capable of degrading the glycoalkaloids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Life Sciences (Life), University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg, Denmark. pia.haugaard.jensen@mail.dk
authors.forename: Pia H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Ole S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Trine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Henriksen
authors.forename: Bjarne W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Strobel
authors.forename: Hans Christian B
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001711:Biotransformation; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism; D012992:Solanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants; C514919:alpha-solanine; D012992:Solanine; C011860:alpha-chaconine