Inhibition of Fungal Growth and Fusarium Toxins by Selected Cultures of Lactic Acid Bacteria

Abstract

Two species of Lactobacilli (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus paracasie subsp. paracasie) were tested for their ability to inhibit growth and mycotoxins production by three species of Fusarium, (F. graminearum, F. culmorum and F. proliferation) which are the main producers of mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisin B1, respectively. L. paracasie subsp. paracasie was found to be effective in reducing the amount of toxins produced, although fungal growth was not affected. The inhibition levels of Deoxynivalenol, Zearalenone and Fumonisin B1 production reached to 56.8, 73.0 and 76.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, L. rhamnosus showed the highest inhibitory activity against both fungal growth and mycotoxins production. It completely suppressed mycelium growth of all the studied Fusarium species and consequently, no toxin was produced in the presence of this bacterium. The obtained results confirm that, selected species of Lactic acid bacteria may be successfully used as a biological control agent of food contamination with molds and mycotoxins. This bio-preservation action has interesting technological possibilities for a variety of fermented food and dairy products.