Biocontrol Activity of New Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolates Against Fusaria and Fusarium Mycotoxins

As significant fungal pathogens of crops, Fusaria species contaminate various food and feed commodities. Some of the <i>Fusarium</i> spp. secondary metabolites (e.g., trichothecenes, zearalenone, and fumonisins) are widely known toxic molecules (mycotoxins) with chronic and acute effects on humans and animals. The growing demand for safer, pesticide-free food drives us to increase biological control during crop growing. Recent research suggests that lactic acid bacteria (LABs) as biocontrol are the best choice for extenuating <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxins. Newly isolated LABs were tested as antifungal agents against <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>, <i>F. graminearum</i>, and <i>F. oxysporum</i>. The characterized and genetically identified LABs belonged to <i>Limosilactobacillus fermentum</i> (SD4) and <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> (FCW4 and CB2) species. All tested LABs and their cell-free culture supernatants showed antagonism on the MRS solid medium. The antifungal activity was also demonstrated on surface-sterilized wheat and peanuts. The germination test of corn kernels proved that the LAB strains SD4 and FCW4 significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) enhanced root and shoot development in plantlets while simultaneously suppressing the outgrowth of <i>F. verticillioides</i>. Small-scale corn silage fermentation revealed the significant effects of SD4 supplementation (decreased zearalenone, lower mold count, and total reduction of deoxynivalenol) within the mixed populations.