Fluoroacetate content of some species of the toxic Australian plant genus, <i>gastrolobium</i>, and its environmental persistence

Abstract

Gas chromatography confirmed the relatively high concentrations of fluoroacetate found in toxic Gastrolobiums, a genus of indigenous Australian plants. Fluoroacetate concentration in these plants ranged from 0.1 to 3875 micrograms/g (ppm) dry weight, with young leaves and flowers containing the highest concentrations. However, there was considerable intrastand variation between individual plants of at least two species with coefficients of variation ranging from 94% to 129%. Despite the high concentrations of fluoroacetate in many species, only one of nine soil samples collected from beneath these plants contained fluoroacetate. None of the 16 water samples collected from nearby streams and catchment dams contained fluoroacetate. This suggests that fluoroacetate does not persist in this environment. Fluoroacetate was also found in the genus Nemcia, and very low levels of fluoroacetate (ng/g) were detected in the foodstuffs, tea and guar gum. The latter indicates that other plant species may produce biologically insignificant amounts of fluoroacetate.