[Effect of amitrol on Claviceps fusiformis, strain SD 58]

The influence of amitrole (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) on growth, alkaloid formation and on some aromatic as well as ergoline pathway specific enzymes were studied in Claviceps strain, SD 58. In a phosphate-rich medium the addition of amitrole can partially reverse the alkaloid-depressing effect of phosphate. Using a typical fermentation medium amitrole reduces the activities of ergoline specific enzymes but increases drastically tryptophan synthase activity and to a lesser extent transaminase of aromatic amino acids.