Detection of fumonisins produced in Fusarium moniliforme cultures by HPLC with electrospray MS and evaporative light scattering detectors.

A variety of toxic secondary metabolites including fumonisins, can be produced by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme and closely related species in section Liseola in large amounts (g/kg in laboratory cultures). Underivatized fumonisins were detected by HPLC using either an evaporative light scattering detector or electrospray MS. Electrospray MS used together with NMR and GC/MS was used to identify a new fumonisin, fumonisin C4, which corresponds in structure to fumonisin B4 with the C-1 terminal methyl group missing. Several novel strains of F. moniliforme mating population A were identified that produced little or no fumonisin B1, but large amounts of either fumonisin B2, or B3 together with fumonisin B4 and C4. These strains which do not produce fumonisin B1 should prove useful in purification of fumonisin B2, B3, C4, and B4 for toxicology studies.