ANALYSIS OF THE ENDOGENOUS SUGARS AND POLYOLS OF CLAVICEPS PURPUREA (FR.) TUL. BY CHROMATOGRAPHY ON ION EXCHANGE RESINS

Abstract

A method has been developed for the quantitative analysis of sugars and polyols accumulated in the mycelium of fungi. The constituents of the neutral, water-soluble material extracted from the cells with hot water were separated as their borate complexes on a column of strongly basic anion exchange resin. Alternate fractions were analyzed for sugars and the rest for polyols. The separation of polyols on a sulphonic acid type of cation exchange resin was also examined.Cultures of two strains of Claviceps purpurea grown on a variety of nutrient media always stored trehalose and mannitol in the mycelium. The accumulation of other carbohydrates depended upon the medium in which the fungus was grown and the strain used.