Mycotoxins Unveiled: Analytical Detection, Toxicology and Detoxification

Abstract

Soil is a major reservoir through which fungal mycotoxins enter the food chain; however, their behavior once they leave the plant and enter the soil remains poorly characterized. This review synthesizes the pharmaceutical,
analytical, and agronomic literature on soil-borne mycotoxins to clarify their sources, environmental fate, detection, and mitigation. Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium persist between cropping seasons as sclerotia and crop debris and, under favorable temperature and moisture, synthesize aflatoxins, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A and zearalenone. These toxins bind to clay minerals and humic substances, governing their soil persistence and eventual transfer to crops, where they cause hepatocarcinogenicity, nephrotoxicity, immunosuppression, and endocrine disruption. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC MS)/MS and ultra-high-performance LC coupled with high-resolution MS remain the analytical gold standard, although humic-acid interference and inconsistent soil-extraction protocols limit reliable quantification; nanotechnology-based biosensors and precision- agriculture tools are emerging as faster alternatives. Atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus biocontrol, biochar amendment and climate-resilient cultivars each show encouraging field-scale efficacy as mitigation strategies; however, none has been validated within a fully integrated soil-management program. We conclude that standardizing soil- extraction protocols and integrating biological, agronomic, and precision-agriculture strategies are the priority steps for managing soil-mycotoxin risk to agricultural, food-safety, and pharmaceutical stakeholders.