The effects of selected factors on measured ergot alkaloid content in Claviceps purpurea-infected hexaploid and durum wheat

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A. Tittlemier ◽  
D. Drul ◽  
M. Roscoe ◽  
J.G. Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Ergot Alkaloid ◽  
Ergot Alkaloids ◽  
Alkaloid Content ◽  
Claviceps Purpurea ◽  
Wheat Line ◽  
Hard Red Spring Wheat ◽  
Plant Line

Four wheat genotypes, including the ergot-susceptible durum ‘AC Avonlea’ and hard red spring wheat ‘AC Cadillac’, as well as the resistant durum wheat line 9260B-173A and the hard red spring wheat line ‘Kenya Farmer’ wereinoculated with different Claviceps purpurea isolates. Honeydew and sclerotia were collected and analysed for 10 ergot alkaloids. Total concentrations of the 10 ergot alkaloids ranged from 16 µg/kg in honeydew to 1,798 mg/kg insclerotia. Ergonovine and ergosine were the predominant alkaloids in honeydew obtained from plants inoculated with various isolates, whereas ergocristine and ergocryptine were the main alkaloids observed in sclerotia. Bothhost plant and C. purpurea isolate were significant factors affecting total ergot alkaloid concentrations in sclerotia. Irrespective of host plant line, all mean total ergot alkaloid concentrations were higher in sclerotia produced from the EI-2 isolate (695-1,010 mg/kg), as compared to EI-4 (255-594 mg/kg). The mass of total ergot alkaloids was alsopositively correlated with the mass of individual sclerotia produced from these two C. purpurea isolates, with the slope of the regression higher for the EI-2 isolate. The total ergot alkaloid concentrations in sclerotia from various plants inoculated with the same C. purpurea isolate differed; however, the resistance of host plant line did notappear to be consistent with ergot alkaloid content in sclerotia. Concentrations of total ergot alkaloids were highestand lowest in sclerotia from the two lines that are both classified as ‘resistant’, suggesting that the mechanism ofresistance for these lines is not restriction on the production of ergot alkaloids in sclerotia.

scholarly journals Ergot Alkaloids in Wheat and Rye Derived Products in Italy

Foods ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Debegnach ◽  
Simona Patriarca ◽  
Carlo Brera ◽  
Emanuela Gregori ◽  
Elisa Sonego ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Plant Pathogen ◽  
Ergot Alkaloids ◽  
Cereal Grains ◽  
Wheat Bread ◽  
Claviceps Purpurea ◽  
Eu Commission ◽  
Ongoing Monitoring ◽  
The Eu

Genus Claviceps is a plant pathogen able to produce a group of toxins, ergot alkaloids (EAs), whose effects have been known since the Middle Ages (ergotism). Claviceps purpurea is the most important representative specie, known to infect more than 400 monocotyledonous plants including economically important cereal grains (e.g., rye, wheat, triticale). EAs are not regulated as such. Maximum limits are in the pipeline of the EU Commission while at present ergot sclerotia content is set by the Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 in unprocessed cereals (0.05% as a maximum). This study aimed to investigate the presence of the six principal EAs (ergometrine, ergosine, ergocornine, α-ergocryptine, ergotamine and ergocristine) and their relative epimers (-inine forms) in rye- and wheat-based products. Of the samples, 85% resulted positive for at least one of the EAs. Wheat bread was the product with the highest number of positivity (56%), followed by wheat flour (26%). Rye and wheat bread samples showed the highest values when the sum of the EAs was considered, and durum wheat bread was the more contaminated sample (1142.6 μg/kg). These results suggest that ongoing monitoring of EAs in food products is critical until maximum limits are set.

scholarly journals Assessment of ergot (Claviceps purpurea) exposure in pregnant and postpartum beef cows

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 688-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Grusie ◽  
V. Cowan ◽  
J. Singh ◽  
J. McKinnon ◽  
B. Blakley
Keyword(s):  
Ergot Alkaloid ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Ergot Alkaloids ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Plasma Prolactin ◽  
Claviceps Purpurea ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Beef Cow ◽  
The Impact

Cows were fed ration for 9 wk containing 5, 48, 201, and 822 μg kg−1 ergot alkaloids. The objective was to evaluate the impact of ergot consumption in beef cow–calf operations. Ergot alkaloids up to 822 μg kg−1 did not alter the weight of peripartum and postpartum beef cows (P = 0.93) or nursing calves (P = 0.08), rectal temperature (P = 0.16), or plasma prolactin concentrations (P = 0.30) at moderate ambient temperatures. Ergot did not influence the time (>1 ng mL−1; P = 0.79) or the progesterone concentration (P = 0.38) at the time of first postpartum rise or the size of the first (14 ± 0.6 mm; P = 0.40) and second (13 ± 0.5 mm; P = 0.41) follicles to ovulate. The maximum size of the first postpartum corpus luteum (CL) was 4 mm larger in the 822 μg kg−1 ergot group compared with the control (P = 0.03) for the first ovulation post partum, but not for the second (P = 0.11). There was no effect of ergot exposure on the number of days until the appearance of the first (43 ± 4 d; P = 0.95) or second (52 ± 4 d; P = 0.98) CL post partum. Ergot alkaloid concentrations up to 822 μg kg−1 did not affect pregnancy rates (X2 = 0.36). In conclusion, ergot alkaloid exposure for 9 wk to concentrations as high as 822 μg kg−1 did not alter performance in pregnant and postpartum beef cattle at moderate ambient temperatures.

NATURE OF PROTEINS IN TRITICALE AND ITS PARENTAL SPECIES: I. SOLUBILITY CHARACTERISTICS AND AMINO ACID COMPOSITION OF ENDOSPERM PROTEINS

1970 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. CHEN ◽  
W. BUSHUK
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Amino Acid Composition ◽  
Acid Composition ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
The Other ◽  
Hard Red Spring Wheat ◽  
Endosperm Proteins ◽  
Spring Wheat Cultivar

Solubility characteristics and amino acid composition of the endosperm proteins of one line of Triticale, its durum wheat and rye parent cultivars, and one cultivar of hard red spring wheat were compared. Quantitative distribution of the soluble protein fractions and amino acid compositions showed that the proteins of Triticale are intermediate in these properties between analogous properties of the proteins of its durum wheat and rye parents. The major differences between the hard red spring wheat and the other three species were its lower content of water-soluble proteins and higher content of insoluble or gluten proteins. This appears lo be the main reason for the superior breadmaking quality of the hard red spring wheat cultivar compared with the other species used in this study.

RAPID DETERMINATION OF MOISTURE IN GRAIN: III. CALIBRATION AND COMPARISON OF ELECTRICAL MOISTURE METERS WITH VACUUM OVEN FOR AMBER DURUM WHEAT, BARLEY AND OATS

1934 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 547-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Cook ◽  
J. W. Hopkins ◽  
W. F. Geddes
Keyword(s):  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Rapid Determination ◽  
Limited Range ◽  
Oven Method ◽  
Vacuum Oven ◽  
Hard Red Spring Wheat ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Moisture Basis ◽  
Limited Moisture

The previous study has been extended to include durum wheat, barley and oats. The hand-operated Tag-Heppenstall meter was found to be unsatisfactory with these grains, as they would not feed into the roller electrodes in a suitable manner. The Burton-Pitt gave erratic results with these grains and it was only possible to calibrate this meter over a limited moisture range, and even over this range it was more inaccurate than the other meters. Qualitatively the calibration curves for these three grains, in the Limbrick and motor Tag-Heppenstall, were similar to those previously obtained with hard red spring wheat. The actual resistance and the slope of the curves were, however, somewhat different for the different grains. The standard error of prediction shows that the motor-operated Tag-Heppenstall was the most accurate meter for use with durum wheat and barley, while the Limbrick was superior with oats. With the limited number of samples available it was impossible to detect any significant difference between the temperature coefficients, in any particular meter, of the different grains. When converted to a moisture basis the correction factors were practically the same as for hard red spring wheat.The results from the entire investigation show that the Brown-Duvel method is more accurate than the 130 °C. air oven method with all grains studied. The motor-operated Tag-Heppenstall meter is as accurate as the Brown-Duvel with hard red spring wheat, over the moisture range 11.0 to 17.0%, and is superior to the air oven method over this limited range. Otherwise the rapid analytical methods are more accurate than any of the moisture meters tested with any of the grains. The meters fall in the following order of decreasing accuracy over the moisture range 11.0 to 17.0%:–with hard red spring wheat; motor Tag-Heppenstall, Limbrick, hand Tag-Heppenstall, Burton-Pitt and Davies: with durum wheat and barley; motor Tag-Heppenstall, Limbrick and Burton-Pitt: and with oats; Limbrick, Burton-Pitt and motor Tag-Heppenstall. Where a meter is not mentioned no tests were made, the instrument having been omitted because it gave no promise of practical utility.

Proportions of predominant Ergot alkaloids (Claviceps purpurea) detected in Western Canadian grains from 2014 to 2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Grusie ◽  
V. Cowan ◽  
J. Singh ◽  
J. McKinnon ◽  
B. Blakley
Keyword(s):  
Ergot Alkaloid ◽  
Ergot Alkaloids ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Claviceps Purpurea ◽  
Total Alkaloids ◽  
Relative Composition ◽  
Equivalence Factor ◽  
Total Alkaloid Content ◽  
Toxicological Significance

Ergot alkaloids, produced by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, are contaminants of cereal crops. Depending on various factors, the relative composition of individual ergot alkaloids can differ among samples. The objective was to determine if the percentage of individual ergot alkaloids were similar across different cereal grains (barley n=39, rye n=7, triticale n=9, wheat n=94) collected in Western Canada over different years. Ergocristine was the predominant alkaloid accounting for half of the total alkaloids in all grain types. This study documented that barley, rye, triticale and wheat collected across Western Canada had similar percentages of ergocornine (6±1%, P=0.201), ergocristine (48±2%, P=0.939), ergocryptine (17±2%, P=0.302) and ergosine (5±0.5%, P=0.239). There were differences between grain types for ergometrine (P=0.027) and ergotamine (P=0.011), which ranged between 6 to 13% and 11 to 24%, respectively, of the total alkaloid content in different cereals. Both barley and wheat alkaloid percentages were similar between 2015 and 2016; ergocornine (7±1%, P=0.969), ergocristine (47±2%, P=0.680), ergocryptine (18±2%, P=0.572), ergometrine (8±1%, P=0.080), ergosine (15±1%, P=0.119) and ergotamine (P=0.189). The ergocornine percentage was higher in wheat (P=0.017) as compared to barley for 2015/2016 samples. Ergometrine was higher in barley (P=0.002) as compared to wheat for 2015/2016 samples. While two of the alkaloid proportions varied statistically, overall proportions of the six ergot alkaloids were comparable among the four grain types collected across Western Canada. If proportions of ergot alkaloids are similar across a region, then it may be deemed acceptable to recommend a maximum total ergot alkaloid concentration for that region. However, areas that exhibit variation among the ergot alkaloid proportions, individual ergot alkaloid guidelines based on a toxic equivalence factor, may be more appropriate. In contrast, since major differences were not seen between years or grain type, from a producer perspective there may be limited biological/toxicological significance for individual alkaloid guidelines.

RAPID DETERMINATION OF MOISTURE IN GRAIN: I. COMPARISON OF 130 °C. AIR OVEN AND BROWN-DUVEL METHODS WITH VACUUM OVEN METHOD

1934 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 264-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Cook ◽  
J. W. Hopkins ◽  
W. F. Geddes
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Standard Error ◽  
Systematic Bias ◽  
Consistent Estimate ◽  
Sampling Errors ◽  
Oven Method ◽  
Vacuum Oven ◽  
Hard Red Spring Wheat

Some 300 samples of hard red spring wheat, 50 of amber durum wheat and 75 each of oats and barley, covering the entire moisture range of commercial importance, were employed in the comparisons. Provision was made for statistical estimation of sampling errors, errors of method and errors of observation. A two-stage drying procedure was employed for the vacuum oven determinations which were taken as the reference standard. Sampling errors, average difference between identical ovens and errors due to daily fluctuations were all larger than the standard deviation of duplicates ("experimental error"), the sampling error being the largest.A comparison of the Hobart and Wiley grinders shows the latter to be superior for preparing wheat for the 130 °C. air oven determination. The air oven consistently underestimates the moisture content of all the grains tested, as compared with the vacuum oven, the deficit increasing with the actual moisture content. This systematic bias may be eliminated by means of a linear correction equation. After allowing for the observed sampling errors and errors of the vacuum oven determination, the net standard error of prediction with the air oven using a Wiley mill is, with hard red spring wheat 0.24%, with amber durum wheat 0.12%, with barley 0.20% and with oats 0.20% moisture.The Brown-Duvel method also underestimates the moisture content, this deficit also increasing with the actual moisture content in the case of spring and amber durum wheat. After applying a correction equation to eliminate the systematic bias, the net standard error of prediction of moisture by this method was found to be: with hard red spring wheat 0.16%, with durum wheat 0.09%, with barley 0.12% and with oats 0.13%. The Brown-Duvel method, therefore, when carefully operated makes possible a more consistent estimate of the actual moisture content, as determined by the vacuum oven, than does the 130 °C. air oven method. As with the vacuum oven, both the 130 °C. air oven and the Brown-Duvel appear to be subject to slight variations affecting all the determinations made on any particular day.

scholarly journals An Old Yellow Enzyme Gene Controls the Branch Point between Aspergillus fumigatus and Claviceps purpurea Ergot Alkaloid Pathways

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
pp. 3898-3903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M. Coyle ◽  
Johnathan Z. Cheng ◽  
Sarah E. O'Connor ◽  
Daniel G. Panaccione
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Ergot Alkaloid ◽  
Ergot Alkaloids ◽  
Aldehyde Group ◽  
Ring Structure ◽  
Ring Closure ◽  
Claviceps Purpurea ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Old Yellow Enzyme ◽  
Clavicipitaceous Fungi

ABSTRACT Ergot fungi in the genus Claviceps and several related fungal groups in the family Clavicipitaceae produce toxic ergot alkaloids. These fungi produce a variety of ergot alkaloids, including clavines as well as lysergic acid derivatives. Ergot alkaloids are also produced by the distantly related, opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. However, this fungus produces festuclavine and fumigaclavines A, B, and C, which collectively differ from clavines of clavicipitaceous fungi in saturation of the last assembled of four rings in the ergoline ring structure. The two lineages are hypothesized to share early steps of the ergot alkaloid pathway before diverging at some point after the synthesis of the tricyclic intermediate chanoclavine-I. Disruption of easA, a gene predicted to encode a flavin-dependent oxidoreductase of the old yellow enzyme class, in A. fumigatus led to accumulation of chanoclavine-I and chanoclavine-I-aldehyde. Complementation of the A. fumigatus easA mutant with a wild-type allele from the same fungus restored the wild-type profile of ergot alkaloids. These data demonstrate that the product of A. fumigatus easA is required for incorporation of chanoclavine-I-aldehyde into more-complex ergot alkaloids, presumably by reducing the double bond conjugated to the aldehyde group, thus facilitating ring closure. Augmentation of the A. fumigatus easA mutant with a homologue of easA from Claviceps purpurea resulted in accumulation of ergot alkaloids typical of clavicipitaceous fungi (agroclavine, setoclavine, and its diastereoisomer isosetoclavine). These data indicate that functional differences in the easA-encoded old yellow enzymes of A. fumigatus and C. purpurea result in divergence of their respective ergot alkaloid pathways.

Correlation and variability between weighing, counting and analytical methods to determine ergot (Claviceps purpurea) contamination of grain

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Grusie ◽  
V. Cowan ◽  
J. Singh ◽  
J. McKinnon ◽  
B. Blakley
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Ergot Alkaloid ◽  
Total Alkaloid ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Ergot Alkaloids ◽  
Sample Volume ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Claviceps Purpurea ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽  
The Impact

Ergot alkaloid mycotoxins produced by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, are contaminants of cereal crops and grasses. The objectives of this study were to determine the correlation between number of ergot sclerotia and weight compared to the total ergot alkaloid concentration, to evaluate the effect of grinding process (i.e. particle size (PS)) on ergot alkaloid analysis using high performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry, and to determine the impact of sample volume on analytical variability. This study demonstrated that correlations exist between both ergot sclerotia count (R2=0.7242, P<0.001) and ergot sclerotia weight (R2=0.9618, P<0.001) compared to the total alkaloid concentration of 6 ergot alkaloids. However, at alkaloid ergot concentrations below 350 µg/kg grain, ergot sclerotia count (R2=0.0002, P=0.956) and ergot sclerotia weight (R2=0.0064, P=0.769) were not correlated to the total alkaloid concentration. A lower variability (P=0.041), defined by coefficient of variation (CV), was observed using a commercial UDY cyclone sample mill (PS=192 µm, CV=9 µg/kg) as compared to a household coffee grinder (PS=516 µm, CV=66 µg/kg). Total amount and concentration of individual ergot alkaloids varied (P<0.05) among sclerotia of similar weight. For the analytical method, CV was numerically reduced as sample volume increased (97% CV for 75 ml to 64% CV for 1000 ml; mean of all concentrations) but increased as sample concentration declined (17% CV for 81,678 µg/kg to 284% for 35 µg/kg; mean of all sample volumes). This implies that analysis of small sample volumes at low ergot alkaloid concentrations may result in highly variable and potentially misleading results. In conclusion, number of ergot sclerotia and weight are unreliable indicators of alkaloid content at ergot concentrations below 350 µg/kg and particle size influences the variability. An analytical approach with fine grinding (mean PS<200 µm, 85% particles <400 µm) of a large sample should be used to assess low-level ergot contamination.

SOME ASPECTS OF PHOSPHATE METABOLISM OF CLAVICEPS PURPUREA (FR.) TUL.: II. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUCLEIC ACIDS SYNTHESIS AND ERGOT ALKALOID PRODUCTION

1961 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 883-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. de Waart
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Ergot Alkaloid ◽  
Ribonucleic Acid ◽  
Ergot Alkaloids ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Claviceps Purpurea ◽  
Phosphate Metabolism ◽  
Alkaloid Production ◽  
Phosphorus Containing ◽  
Insoluble Phosphate

A study was made of the distribution of the phosphorus-containing compounds in the phosphate pool of stationary cultures of Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul. Exogenous KH2PO4 was mainly converted to ribonucleic acid. Conditions favorable to increased nucleic acid synthesis increased the yield of ergot alkaloids. The proportion of nucleic acid and acid-insoluble phosphate fraction appeared to be an important factor influencing the ergot alkaloid production.

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