Advances in detecting mycotoxin contamination in wheat

Authors: Opoku, Joseph; Whitaker, Briana; Pokoo-Aikins, Anthony; Busman, Mark; Vaughan, Martha

Submitted to: Taylor and Francis Group
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/3/2026
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Mycotoxins are harmful chemicals made by certain fungi that can contaminate wheat and other grains. The main fungi that cause problems in wheat are Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. They produce toxins such as aflatoxins, fumonisins, DON, T 2 and HT 2 toxins, zearalenone, and ochratoxin A, which can affect food safety and grain quality. Testing wheat for mycotoxins is important, but the most accurate laboratory methods take time, money, and trained experts. Faster screening tools exist, and they can be used in the field, but they are not always sensitive enough and can sometimes give unclear results. This review looks at new and improved ways to detect mycotoxins in wheat. Quick tests such as fluorescence methods, thin layer chromatography, lateral flow strips, and ELISAs can give fast results. More advanced methods like GC MS, LC MS/MS, immunoaffinity cleanup, and stable isotope techniques are still needed for official and highly accurate measurements. New technologies are also being developed. These include biosensors, aptamer based tests, electrochemical sensors, near infrared spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, optical sorting, and MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. These tools can make testing faster and less destructive to the grain. As technology improves in areas like materials science, micro devices, data analysis, and sensor design, we can expect better systems that detect many toxins at once and give results in real time. These advances will help protect the wheat supply and improve food safety.

Technical Abstract: Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by certain fungi that contaminate different cereals, grains, nuts and their products. Contamination in wheat is driven mainly by toxigenic species of Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. These fungi continue to threaten grain quality, food safety, and international trade by infecting and producing mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes ( i.e. deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 / HT-2 toxin), zearalenone (ZEN), and ochratoxin A (OTA). Routine monitoring of these toxins is challenged by time, cost, and expertise required for confirmatory laboratory methods. Rapid screening tools offer speed and portability, but they often lack sensitivity and can be affected by matrix interference. The objective of this review is to evaluate advances in detecting mycotoxin contamination in wheat and to compare the performance and suitability of current and emerging technologies. Rapid screening approaches such as fluorescence assays, thin layer chromatography, lateral flow immunoassays, and ELISAs provide fast, on-site evaluation. Confirmatory methods, including GC MS, LC MS/MS, immunoaffinity cleanup, and stable isotope dilution assays remain essential for regulatory accuracy. Recent improvements in UHPLC–MS/MS, ionization strategies, and isotopically labeled standards have strengthened analytical reliability. Newer technologies, including biosensors, aptamer-based platforms, electrochemical sensors, near infrared spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, optical sorting, and MALDI TOF MS, are enabling faster and more nondestructive detection. Continued innovation in materials science, microfabrication, chemometrics, and sensor integration is expected to support real time, multi toxin detection systems. These advances will enhance surveillance capacity and improve mycotoxin risk management throughout the wheat supply chain.