ANALYSIS OF ERGOT ALKALOIDS IN ENDOPHYTE-INFECTED TALL FESCUE BY LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY ELECTROSPRAY-IONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Previous investigators have identified a number of ergot alkaloids (EA s) in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) infected by the endoph ytic fungus, Neotyphoidium coenophialum [(Morgan-Jones & W. Gams) Glen n, Bacon & Hanlin comb. nov.]. Their results, however, may have been c onfounded by the presence of the related parasitic ergot fungus (Clavi ceps purpurea [Fr.:Fr.] Tul.), which also produces EAs. Semipreparativ e HPLC was used to separate fractions giving a high fluorescence respo nse in a sample of endophyte-infected (EI) tall fescue seeds, carefull y examined to eliminate the possibility of Claviceps infection. Analyt ical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and LC/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) were used to identify EAs after isolation. Clearly identified in the spectra were ergine, ergovaline, ergosine, ergonine, and previously undescribed EAs, didehydroergovali ne and aci-ergovaline, including their epimers. Several additional EAs may have been present, but structures could not be confirmed by their spectra. Not found in the isolated fractions were ergonovine, ergotam ine, or lysergylmethylcarbinolamide. The developed HPLC method was use d to determine the alkaloids in plants, culms, and seeds of EI tall fe scue.