ABSTRACT

Antifungal activities of Lactobacillus plantarum against some selected fungal pathogens were studied. Lactobacillus plantarum was isolated from decaying tomato fruit while the fungal isolates  Apergillus spp, Rhizopus spp  and Candida spp were isolated from decaying foods and ogi. Identification of the isolates were based on existing taxa in standard manuals. The Lactobacillus plantarum was found to demonstrate antimicrobial activity against all the test organisms but to varying extents. Candida was the least inhibited with inhibition diameter average of 5mm while Rhizopus has an inhibition diameter of 10mm and Aspergillus has the highest inhibition of 12mm.  The demonstrated antifungal activity of the Lactobacillus plantarum was attributed to possible production of organic acid which had adverse effect on the test fungi. The successful use of the Lactobacillus plantarum to control the growth of the fungal pathogens was seen as showing its potential for use in food preservation against spoilage fungi.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certificate ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

Table of Contents v

List of Tables vii

Abstract viii

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 3

2.1 Lactic Acid Bacteria 3

2.2 Nature of L. plantarum 5

2.3 Metabolism 6

2.4 Uses 6

2.5Antagonistic Nature of L. plantarum 8

2.6 Fungal Pathogens 9

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods 12

3.1 Materials 12

3.2  Methods                                                            12

3.2.1 Media Used and Preparation         12

3.2.2 Preparation of Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA)   12

3.2.3 Preparation of Man Rogosa Sharp Agar (MRSAgar) 13

3.2.4 Isolation of Test Organisms (Rhizopus, Candida and Aspergillus). 13

3.2.5 Identification of Fungi 14

3.2.6 Isolation of Lactobacillus plantarum 14

3.2.7 Characterization and Identification of Lactobacillu s plantarum 15

3.2.8 Test for Antifungal Ability of L. plantarum 19

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0  Results 20

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0  Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation 24

5.1 Discussion 24

5.2  Conclusion 25

5.3 Recommendation 25

REFERENCES    26

APPENDIX 35

LIST OF TABLES 

Tables Title Pages

 1 -  Characterization of L. plantarum 21

 2. - Characterization of Fungal Isolates 22

 3. - Zone of Inhibition (mm)  of Lactobacillus plantarum

 on Aspergillus spp, Rhizopus spp and Candida spp. 23