Sterol composition of ungerminated and germinated spores of the Vesicular‐Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungus,Glomus caledonius

The sterol composition of spores of the Vesicular‐Arbuscular Mycorrhiza,Glomus caledonius, have been examined by combined gas liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GLC‐MS). The sterols identified were cholesterol, 24‐methylcholesterol, 24‐methylenecholesterol and 24‐ethylcholesterol. The sterols 24‐methylcholesterol, 24‐methylenecholesterol and 24‐ethylcholesterol have not previously been reported as components of fungi in the Zygomycotina. The spores were germinated on agar and the major changes in sterol esters, free and bound sterols were studied over a period of 21 days. The total sterol content continually increased during the growth period; 24‐methylcholesterol and cholesterol were shown to be the major sterols.