Study of a room temperature phosphorescence phenomenon to allow the detection of aflatoxigenic strains in culture media

A novel screening method based on room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) for the visual detection of aflatoxigenic strains from Aspergillus genus is described. Strains were cultured on media widely used in food mycology to which methyl-β-cyclodextrin plus bile salts (0.6% sodium deoxycholate) were added. Aflatoxin production was readily detectable after 3 days of incubation at 28 °C by RTP emission from the mycelium of aflatoxigenic strains observed after exposure to UV light. The method was tested on thirty-two Aspergillus sp. strains. The phosphorescence phenomenon was reproduced in vitro by immobilizing aflatoxin B1 on ion exchange resin beads.