Laboratory production of ergot alkaloids by species of balansia

Four species of Balansia (clavicipitaceous systemic grass pathogens) isolated from pastures where cattle showed signs of ergot toxicity were grown in culture. Balansia epichloë, one isolate of B. claviceps, B. henningsiana and two isolates of B. strangulans produced conidia in submerged culture during the first stage of a two-stage fermentation procedure. When tranferred to a glucose/sorbitol/inorganic salts medium during the second stage, these four species produced ergot alkaloids in stationary cultures. The transfer of fungi cultured in the first medium to the second medium was necessary for alkaloid biosynthesis. One isolate of B. claviceps did not produce alkaloids. Balansia epichloë produced chanoclavine (I), agroclavine, penniclavine, elymoclavine, ergonovine and ergonovinine. Balansia claviceps produced chanoclavine (I), ergonovine and ergonovinine. This is the first report of isolating ergonovine and ergonovinine, two lysergic acid derivatives, from fungi outside the genus Claviceps. Only chanoclavine (I) was identified from extracts of B. strangulans and B. henningsiana. Chanoclavine (I) and ergonovine were identified from smut grass (Sporobolus poiretii) parasitized by B. epichloë, indicating that this endophyte produces alkaloids both in vivo and in vitro.