Evalution of liquid media for fumonisin production byFusarium moniliforme MCR 826.

Production of fumonlsins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) by 5 lyophillzation batches ofFusarium moniliforme strain MRC 826 was studied in several liquid media and vermlculite supplemented with liquid media. In addition the effect of different parameters including pH, Inert material, shake versus stationary cultures as well as different carbon sources on the production of the fumonlsins were investigated. Fumonlsin production in liquid cultures was significantly (P<0.01) correlated (r=0.92-0.98) with fungal growth, which in turn is affected by the pH of the medium as well as the carbon source utilized. The highest FB1 yields (approximately 40 mg/l) over the incubation period of 14 days were produced in a chemically defined medium with glucose as carbon source set at an initial pH value of 4. FB1 production in "corn patty" cultures (approximately 1 to 3 g/kg), however, by far exceeded that obtained in the liquid media, while poor fungal growth and fumonlsin production was obtained in vermlculite supplemented cultures. From these studies it became clear that the ability of a culture to produce fumonlsins is determined by the interaction of a variety of physiological and nutritional factors regarding the inoculum and the culture medium.