Inhibition of growth and mycotoxin production of Penicillium by Lactobacillus species

Lactic acid bacteria isolated from dairy products, vegetables and fruits were screened for their antifungal and antimycotoxigenic activities. From 420 isolates tested, four isolates were found to be inhibitory to fourPenicilliumspecies. Two of the lactic acid bacteria isolates showed the largest inhibitory activity againstPenicillum citrinumandPenicillium expansum. The two isolates were identified asLactobacillus caseispecies. Production of patulin and citrinin was also inhibited in the presence of theLactobacillisupernatants. The inhibitory activity in the twoLactobacillicell-free supernatants was shown to be unrelated to the production of lactic acid or hydrogen peroxide, and was found to be sensitive to proteolytic enzymes and to high temperature (100 °C). The antimycotoxigenic activity was not affected by the addition of glucose used byLactobacillispecies during incubation.