Potential of lactic acid bacteria in biocontrol of Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum and Fusarium graminearum in culture media and natural substrate

Abstract

Adverse storage conditions impair the quality of stored grain, contribute to the growth and propagation of the fungi leading to an even greater deterioration of the grain quality. Antifungal biopreparations can help preserve grain quality. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their metabolites with antifungal properties can potentially be used in storage conditions or for the decontamination of stored products. The aim of this study was to determine the antifungal activity of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus brevis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides on the inhibition of mycelial growth of pathogenic fungi Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum and Fusarium graminearum. The biocontrol potential of LAB against fungi was tested under laboratory conditions in culture media as an ideal substrate for fungal growth and wheat grains as a model of natural substrate. A liquid culture media (MRS broth) was inoculated with cells or cell-free supernatants (CFS) of each LAB species and the fungal spores. The fungal growth was evaluated by measuring the increase in mycelial biomass after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of incubation. The second antifungal assay was performed on the wheat grain treated with LAB CFS and inoculated with fungal spores. Biopreparation containing cells or CFS of all LAB species significantly inhibited the fungal growth of P. chrysogenum (mean inhibition 69-75% LAB cells and 80-81% LAB CFS) and F. graminearum (mean inhibition 60-83% LAB cells and 83-88% LAB CFS) in the culture media. In the treatment with wheat grain, the CFS of all the tested LAB species significantly inhibited only the growth of F. graminearum (83-90% mean inhibition). There is inconsistency in the efficiency of LAB preparations when comparing assays. The results indicate that media used in the experiment affect the activity or tolerance of the tested bacteria and fungi. L. casei, L. brevis and L. mesenteroides proved their antifungal properties in the culture media and natural substrate. F. graminearum was the most susceptible, and A. niger was the most tolerant to treatments with LAB cells and LAB CFS. More research is needed to reveal the mode of action of the LAB against phytopathogenic fungi in different conditions for their application on stored grains.

Effects of Aspergillus niger on cyanogenic glycosides removal and fermentation qualities of ratooning sorghum

“…However, some LAB species such as L. lactis , Lactococcus and Weissella-oryzae from 7 to 15 days of fermentation and L. brevis and L. dextrinicus from 30 to 60 days of fermentation, were negatively influenced by adding A. niger. The pH level and oxygen amount reduced with the prolongation of silage fermentation, which would significantly influence the propagation and enzyme productions of A. niger ( Dong et al, 2014 ; Kanizai Saric et al, 2021 ), finally altering its influence of silage fermentation as well as the activities of other microbes.…”

Neoteric Biofilms Applied to Enhance the Safety Characteristics of Ras Cheese during Ripening

“…Also, L. plantarum MiLAB 393 was reported to produce three antifungal compounds that revealed antifungal effects against various fungi [83]. The fungal strain of A. niger was the most tolerant to treatments with LAB cells and CFSs [84].…”

Impact of Weissella cibaria BYL4.2 and its supernatants on Penicillium chrysogenum metabolism

“…Studies indicated that LAB can produce a variety of antifungal metabolites during the growth process. Many of the antifungal substances of LAB have been proven to have antifungal properties, such as organic acids, ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, bacteriocins, etc., these antifungal and bacterial substances have a synergistic effect, making the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of LAB has a very good inhibitory effect on pathogenic bacteria and fungi ( Kanižai Šaric et al, 2021 ; Wang et al, 2021 ). Currently, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is a powerful and valuable emerging tool for analyzing the metabolites of microorganisms ( Wang and Xie, 2020 ).…”