Determination of ergosterol as a measure of fungal growth using Si 60 HPLC.

In order to determine to fungal growth of Fusarium graminearum 480, a method was developed for the extraction and estimation of ergosterol, a sterol specific for fungi. This method includes the direct saponification of bound ergosterol to fungal mycelia followed by n-hexane extraction and quantification using. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV-detection. This procedure proved to be superior compared with other methods, since the yield of ergosterol yields was higher (up to 40%). n-Hexane extracts contained minor impurities which interfered with the UV-detection and the retention time of the compound was halved using Si 60 HPLC. The protein and ergosterol contents in F. graminearum cultures increased proportionally over a 3-week incubation period. The fungal formation of the mycotoxin zearalenone started at a level of 50 mg/kg ergosterol and increased rapidly in the stationary phase of growth, which was characterized by decreasing rates of ergosterol formation.