Optimization of the method to detect tenuazonic acid: Micotoxin produced by Alternaria species

In this work it is shown the optimization of the method to detect tenuazoni c acid by means of thin layer chromatography, from Alternaria alternata IMI 354942 cultures. The strain was developed in glucosed malt extract at 2%, with an incubation period of seven days at 25 degrees C. For the extraction and optimization of the analysis of tenuazonic acid, a modification of the technique described by E.E. Stinson et al. (1980) was applied. Cromatograp hy plates were developed in different eluents with the objective to optimiz e the separation and detection of micotoxin. The identification of tenuazon ic acid, produced by the studied strain, was carried out by means of a refe rence gage. This was detected as a dark spot when the plates were observed under ultraviolet light at 254 nm. The elected solvents system was formed by toluene/methanol/acetic acid int he proportion of 86:12:2.