Microbiological assay of patulin, using Bacillus megaterium.

Bacillus megaterium NRRL 1368 was found to be sensitive to patulin and a suitable test organism for an accurate, quantitative bioassay of the toxin. The optimum conditions for the test were determined. The response of the organism to patulin was found to be linear between 2 and 80 mug. When compared to thin layer chromatographic and spectrophotometric assay methods, the bioassay was found to be comparable in accuracy, but less sensitive. The test was found to be sensitive to 1.7 mug patulin. The assay is rapid (12-15 hr), simple, and inexpensive and can be used to verify the toxicity of samples, as well as to quantitatively measure patulin in samples of liquid media, apple juice, and corn.