Biocontrol potential of Lactobacillus spp. against postharvest mango (Mangifera indica L.) anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Abstract

Anthracnose is an important disease of mango both in the field and storage which is caused by C. gloeosporioides. This research was conducted at Microbiology laboratoryof Bahir Dar University from September 2020 to May 2021, to isolate and characterize Lactobacillus spp. with antagonistic effect against C. gloeosporioides and to determine their antagonistic effect against the pathogen. Lactobacillus isolates were screened from fresh, healthy- looking unripe mango using MRS agar plates and tested against C. gloeosporioides using dual culture overlay methods. Forty- eight Lactobacillus isolateswere screened out of which seven of them showed inhibitory activity above (40%) against C. gloeosporioides. In vitro evaluation of the antifungal and lytic activity of Lactobacillus isolates against C. gloeosporioides revealed that the isolates produced antifungal compounds and lytic enzymes as a mechanism of antagonism. Based on cultural, morphological, physiological andbiochemical characteristics, all the isolates were characterized to be Lactobacillus acidophilus. As to our knowledge, this is the first report of Lactobacillusacidophilus efficiency for the biocontrol of C. gloeosporioides, which can have an important implication of their effectiveness as biocontrol agent as part of integrated management of anthracnose diseasesof mango.