No abstract

Chemical analyses of extracts of cultures ofS. chartarum show that this fungus has two chemotypes: producers of the potent cytotoxic macrocyclic trichothecenes (e. g. satratoxins) and those that produce the diterpenoid atranones and the simple trichothecenes, trichodermol and trichodermin. All isolates ofS. chartarum produce the immunosuppressant spirocyclic drimanes.

Fast methods for screening for production of simple and macrocyclic trichothecenes, produced on solid substrates were developed. Crude extracts fromFusarium cultures grown on yeast extract sucrose agar (approx. 0.3 cm(2) culture) were derivatised using pentafluoropropionic anhydride and analysed by GC - tandem mass spectrometry using a Finnigan GCQ(+) ion trap. The MS was operated in the EI(+) multiscan mode allowing simultaneous full scan and MS/MS of 3-4 parent ions. Production of acetyl T-2 toxin (AT-2), T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin (HT-2), T-2 triol (T-2TR), T-2 tetraol (T-2TE), neosolaniol (NEO), iso-neosolaniol (I-NEO), scripentriol (SCR), 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), 15-acetoxyscripentriol (15MAS), 4-acetoxyscripentriol (4MAS), nivalenol (NIV), fusarenon-X (F-X), deoxynivalenol (DON), 15-acetoxy-DON (15DON) and 3-acetoxy-DON (3DON) was studied for severalFusarium species. In hydrolysed crude extracts ofStachybotrys albipes, Trichoderma harzianum, andMemnoniella echinata trichodermol was detected, in cultures ofS. chartarum both verrucarol and trichodermol were detected as the heptafluorobuturyl esters after derivatisation with a imidazole based reagent.