title: Antifungal activities of two Lactobacillus plantarum strains against Fusarium moulds in vitro and in malting of barley.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Lactobacillus plantarum strains VTT E-78076 (E76) and VTT E-79098 (E98) were studied for their antifungal potential against Fusarium species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro screening with automated turbidometry as well as direct and indirect impedimetric methods clearly showed Lact. plantarum cell-free extracts to be effective against Fusarium species including Fusarium avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. graminearum and F.oxysporum. However, great variation in growth inhibition was observed between different Fusarium species and even between strains. The antifungal potential of Lact. plantarum E76 culture, including cells and spent medium, was also examined in laboratory-scale malting with naturally contaminated two-rowed barley from the crops of 1990-96. The growth of the indigenous Fusarium flora was restricted by the addition of Lact. plantarum E76 to the steeping water. However, the antifungal effect was greatly dependent on the contamination level and the fungal species/strains present on barley in different years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lactobacillus plantarum strains E76 and E98 had a fungistatic effect against different plant pathogenic, toxigenic and gushing-active Fusarium fungi.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates that Lact. plantarum strains with known and selected characteristics could be used as a natural, food-grade biocontrol agent for management of problems caused by Fusarium fungi during germination of cereals.
authors.affiliation: VTT Biotechnology, Espoo, Finland. arja.laitila@vtt.fi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laitila
authors.forename: H-L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Alakomi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raaska
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mattila-Sandholm
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haikara
mesh_terms: D000898:Antibiosis; D003470:Culture Media; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D001467:Hordeum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development*; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned