The accumulation pattern of quinolizidine alkaloids during development of seedlings and young plants of Lupinus angustifolius and L. luteus are described. The enzymes catalysing the syntheses of the cinnamic acid O-ester of 13-hydroxylupanine and hydroxycinnamic acid O-esters of lupinine (4-coumaroyl- and feruloyllupinine) are characterized and classified as cinnamoyl-CoA: 13-hydroxylupanine O-cinnamoyltransferase (EC 2.3. 1.-) and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA: lupinine O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (EC 2.3. 1.-). © 1991.