High-yielding strains of Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul, grown on a defined medium, have been used for a study of the biosynthesis of the peptide ergot alkaloid, ergotamine.

No abstract

The three fungal sex hormones that have been characterized are all terpenes, but beyond this show no similarities in structure, biochemistry or biological activity. The activity ofeach one is confined to species that are closely related to the species producing it. In each case the isolation of the hormones involved has been made possible only by obtaining sexual activity in selected strains of fungi in controlled fermentations, and by reliable bioassay techniques. If these prerequisites can be met by other fungi we can expect to see the identification of their sex hormones. The author acknowledges support from the Agricultural Research Council.