The production of total mycotoxins by four strains (3, 5, 8, and 18) of Bipolaris sorokiniana was analyzed using ethyl acetate and ethyl ether as solvents. Physiologically, strain 3 was the best one for the production of mycelium, whereas strain 5 was the best one for the production of total mycotoxins. According to HAT-FTIR spectroscopy, the composition of ethyl ether was more complex, allowing for the identification of OH and CO axial stretching and CH3 angular deformation present in prehelminthosporol and prehelminthosporolactone. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.