ABSTRACT:

The global cost and health effects of mycotoxins contamination puts a lot of pressure on the need to urgently develop cheaper and reliable presumptive alternatives for the detection of mycotoxins in foods. This study attempted to develop a one-stop cultural characterization for the detection of mycotoxins-producing fungi in cowpea and maize grains. A comparative analysis of the structural chemistry of surfactin obtained from the supplied FTIR spectra and the standard was carried out. Thermodynamic stress tests are done to determine freeze-thaw cycles and low and high-temperature stability. Phyto-toxicity rating, distribution coefficient, soil organic carbon coefficient, and 14-day stability test, were also assessed. The capacity of the formulation for cultural characterization of mycotoxins-producing fungi was evaluated. In the FTIR spectra, peaks observed at 1651.5cm- and 1 1 3479.90cm- for –C=C-and N-H stretch vibrations, respectively confirmed the presence of aliphatic primary amide, indicating peptide, a surfactin. The test formulation at 3.2 ml/0.12L showed no observable effect(s) or symptomatic sign, except for stunting with a phytotoxicity rating of 1 in maize grain. The formulation and modified sample showed Kd and Koc values of 2.34 and 4.9 respectively. The decomposition rates measured for both the test and modified formulation based on electrical conductivity were 2.17 and 1.23% respectively. Isolates on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar used for presumptive test for identification of mycotoxins- producing fungi showed an average of 25, 13, and 5 colonies for TFP (Test Formulation Biopesticide); SCP (Synthetic Chemical Pesticide) and TM (Traditional Method) after 12 months storage. No colony of any fungus was formed in CN (Negative Control) due to the accumulation of toxic secondary metabolites from fungal growth (Plate 1). Developing of a rapid and sensitive presumptive protocol for qualitative detection of mycotoxins devoid of clean-up process associated with the conventional detection methods.