STUDY OF THE ALKALOID COMPOSITION OF THE FOOD-INFECTING PENICILLES

Over 30 strains of various Penicillium sp. isolated from food have bee n screened for the ability to synthesize mycotoxins of an alkaloid nat ure. The most productive were P. expansum, P. raciborskii, P, puberulu m, P. commune, P. viridicatum, P. chrysogenum, P. palitans, P. purpure scens and P. cyclopium. The separate components of the alkaloid mixtur es have been isolated and identified. The range of metabolites synthes ized by different strains of the same species was considerably expande d. New producers of aurantioclavine, meleagrin, roquefortine, rugulova sine, clavine alkaloids and some other compounds have been found. It w as shown that the alkaloid composition and content were dependent on t he medium, culture age and method of cultivation.