STUDY ON ANTAGONISM OF THE BENEFICIAL Lactobacillus plantarum CC6 AND Lactobacillus fermentum DC2 AGAINST THE FUNGAL CAUSAL AGENTS OF DRAGON FRUIT ROT AT POSTHARVEST STAGE

Fungi inhibition by Lactobacillus plantarum CC6 and Lactobacillus fermentum DC2 in-vitro was evaluated at the Southern Horticultural Research Institute (SOFRI) from Nov., 2013 to Oct., 2015. The objective of the study aimed to have initial materials as well as scientific information for further studies on use of Lactobacillus bacteria as a bioapproach in postharvest diseases for control of dragon fruit. Inhibition evaluation of isolated fungi by Lactobacillus plantarum CC6 and Lactobacillus fermentum DC2, were tested by two methods as dual culture and double layer methods. In the dual culture method, it indicated that three strains of C. trumcatum, A. alternate and B. cactivora were completely inhibited and about 50 percentage of inhibition for F. dimerum, F. equiseti. However, a complete inhibition was observed for all of the trial fungi by Lactobacilus as tested by using double layers. The results showed that both L. plantarum CC6 and L. fermentum DC2 showed their promise for further development as biological products for the control of postharvest diseases on dragon fruit.