IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF TUBER MELANOSPORUM VITT STEROLS

The sterol composition of Tuber melanosporum was examined by medium-pr essure liquid and high-performance liquid chromatography nuclear magne tic resonance spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy. Ergosterol (ergosta -5,7,22-trienol) and brassicasterol (ergosta-5,22-dienol) were identif ied as the major components (90%). Their quantities and their relative concentrations, probably good indicators for differentiating mature t ruffles from immature colored ones, were determined during the maturat ion of the fungus. The results show that the total quantity of sterols decreased with the age of the fungus, but that the ergosterol/brassic asterol ratio remained relatively constant. (C) 1996 by Elsevier Scien ce Inc.