Major alkaloids of a Claviceps isolated from toxic Bermuda grass.

in terms of evaluation of Pu hazards in the environment because (i) root crops directly consumed by man may contain Pu a t levels exceeding those found in other crop plants in which the tops are consumed, (ii) Pu, considered largely immobile in soil (Francis, 1973), may be distributed much further down the soil profile than previously expected due to its mobility in the plant root system, and (iii) the potential exists that decomposing roots may represent a significant source of Pu of different solubility and plant availability than the Pu directly entering the soil environment. The possibility exists that observed (Romney et al., 1970) increases with time in uptake of Pu by successive crops of ladino clover grown on soil contaminated with fallout resulted from this latter phenomenon. In order to provide a better understanding of the fate and hazard of Pu in the environment, it is essential that research be directed toward determination of (i) the uptake of Pu by a broad range of plants from representative soil types containing Pu a t environmental levels with emphasis on root crops, (ii) the potential for recycling of Pu present in plant roots, and (iii) the form and behavior of PU in soils and plants. ACKNOWLEDGMENT