Some Biological Properties of Trichothecin, an Antifungal Substance from Trichothecium roseum Link

Abstract

Summary: The production of trichothecin by strains of Trichothecium roseum was greatly increased wnen nutrients such as yeast extract, malt extract or corn-steep liquor were added to Czapek-Dox medium containing 5 % (w/v) glucose. Ammonium salts, especially ammonium tartrate, were better than nitrate as source of nitrogen, and high trichothecin titres were also obtained with asparagine or glycine as source of nitrogen. Maximum yields of the order of 100 mg./l. were obtained on a modified Czapek-Dox medium containing ammonium tartrate instead of sodium nitrate and including 5 % (w/v) glucose and 1 % (v/v) of corn-steep liquor, in about 30 days, with 4 cm. depth of medium. Trichothecin had no antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis or Bacterium coli. It was active against each of the twenty-seven species of fungi examined. The growth of Penicillium digitatum, the most sensitive species investigated, was completely inhibited at 0·64 mg./l., and 50 yo germination of its spores took place at trichothecin concentrations between 0·30 and 0.75 mg./l., according to the age of the spores and other factors.