SECONDARY METABOLITES OF PENICILLIUM-BILAII STRAIN-PB-50

A phosphate-solubilizing strain of Penicillium bilaii was tested for t he production of gliotoxin and other toxic compounds. The strain was f ermented under five different conditions to allow the expression of va rious metabolites, including gliotoxin. These included Czapek-yeast ex tract medium under both shaken and still conditions as well as Czapek- yeast extract/malt extract/peptone medium and sucrose/glycerol medium in shake flasks. In addition, culture filtrate from an industrial ferm entation of the fungus was examined. No gliotoxin was produced in any of the media. No other expected P. bilaii metabolites were found. Thre e compounds were identified in all samples: dibutyl phthalate, 1-(4-hy droxy-phenyl)ethanone and 4-hydroxy-3,6-dimethyl-2H-pyran-2-one. The p roduction of other metabolites was dependent on the culture conditions . Two hyalodendrin derivatives were found in some fermentations and tw o related compounds were tentatively identified. None of the compounds found have been reported as toxic. The identity of the culture was co nfirmed by comparison with the ex-type culture of P. bilaii.