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Diseased celery infected with the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum had greatly increased levels of three phytoalexin furocoumarins, namely psoralen, 5-MOP, and 8-MOP, which are responsible for skin photosensitivity. Storage of freshly harvested celery at 4 °C resulted in clear signs of fungal infection, from latent fungus, appearing within 23-29 days, with concomitant increases in total furocoumarin levels from 1.84 ppm (wet weight) to 43.82 ppm and with occasional samples as high as 95.52 ppm. Psoralen, the most active of the DNA photoalkylating furocoumarins, increased during storage from <0.06 to 14.14 ppm and on occasions 24.24 ppm. A combination of HPLC, TLC, and an extremely sensitive photobiological assay was used to obtain these results, which are discussed in relation to possible health consequences.

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