Ergosterol content in selected grasses on the end of vegetation period
Ergosterol is a natural compound with steroidic structure produced mainly by fungi. Due to this, it is considered as a marker of fungal spoilage. In this work, the content of ergosterol was monitored in samples of three forage crops (Festuca arundinacea x Lolium multiflorum, Dactylis glomerata, Arrhenatherum elatius) during period October–December 2005 and different term of summer harvesting (June or July). There were adapted and applied liquid chromatographic method with fotometric detection in ultraviolet region for determination of this compound. It was found, that the content of ergosterol strongly increased in all december’s samples with small variations between all three forage crops. Samples, where the summer harvest was performed in July had significantly lower content of ergosterol. Obtained results showed that level of monitored compounds was under limits in all samples.