Development of sensitive bacterial tests, exemplified by two mycotoxins.

For a sensitive bacterial test for mycotoxins the cup plate assay, based on growth inhibition, was optimised with Bacillus thuringiensis as test strain. Bacillus thuringiensis allowed the detection of 1.25 microgram kojic acid. A minimal amount of 12.5 micrograms kojic acid or 1.25 micrograms patulin was detectable by means of pigment suppression with isolated mutants of Serratia marcescens, whereas the wild type of this strain was insensitive.