title: Newly discovered ergot alkaloids in Sorghum ergot Claviceps africana occurring for the first time in Israel.
abstract: Sorghum ergot is a disease caused commonly by C. africana. In 2015, ergot was identified for the first time in sorghum fields in Israel, leading to measures of eradication and quarantine. The aims of the study were to identify the ergot species by molecular and ergot alkaloid profile analysis, to determine the ergot alkaloid profile in pure honeydew and in infected sorghum silages and to estimate the safety of sorghum silages as a feed source. C. africana was rapidly and reliably identified by microscopical and molecular analysis. Dihydroergosine was identified as the major ergot alkaloid. Dihydrolysergol and dihydroergotamine were identified for the first time as significant ergot alkaloid components within the C. africana sclerotia, thereby providing for the first time a proof for the natural occurrence of dihydroergotamine. The sorghum silages were found to be safe for feed consumption, since the ergot alkaloids and the regulated mycotoxins were below their regulated limits.
authors.affiliation: Kimron Veterinary Institute, Department of Toxicology, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel. Electronic address: jakobshimshoni@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shimshoni
authors.affiliation: Kimron Veterinary Institute, Department of Toxicology, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cuneah
authors.affiliation: Center for Analytical Chemistry, Department for Agrobiotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sulyok
authors.affiliation: Center for Analytical Chemistry, Department for Agrobiotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krska
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 502500, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sionov
authors.affiliation: Kimron Veterinary Institute, Department of Toxicology, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barel
authors.affiliation: Plant Protection and Inspection Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, P.O. Box 78, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Meller Harel
mesh_terms: D002967:Claviceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000382:microbiology; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis*; D004879:Ergotamines / Q000032:analysis; D007557:Israel; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D045868:Sorghum / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004876:Ergot Alkaloids; D004879:Ergotamines; C476487:dihydroergosine
keywords: Claviceps africana; Dihydroergosine; Dihydroergotamine; Dihydrolysergol; Ergot sorghum