RAPID-DETERMINATION OF THE MYCOTOXIN LOLITREM-B IN ENDOPHYTE-INFECTEDPERENNIAL RYEGRASS BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY - A VALIDATED ASSAY

A method based on high-performance thin-layer chromatography with UV d etection, is described for the rapid determination of the mycotoxin lo litrem B in perennial ryegrass infected with the endophytic fungus Acr emonium lolii. The method, which requires a clean-up of the crude extr act on C-18 Sep-Pak prior to chromatographic analysis, has been valida ted according to the criteria established by the Journal of Chromatogr aphy B. Its preliminary application to samples of seven perennial ryeg rass cultivars infected with A. lolii and cultivated in France, reveal ed the presence of lolitrem B at concentrations ranging between 0.1 an d 0.94 mu g/g dry mass. These results are of epidemiological importanc e for studying the ''ryegrass staggers'', a neurotoxic syndrome which is induced in herbivorous animal species mainly by lolitrem B.