ANTIFUNGAL EFFICACY OF FERMENTED ALOE EXTRACT WITH Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YU2404 AND Limosilactobacillus fermentum YU2405 AGAINST Botrytis cinerea

Abstract

Aloe vera extract fermented by lactic acid bacteria demonstrated antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, the causative agent of postharvest strawberry fruit rot. The study revealed that Aloe vera extract fermented with Limosilactobacillus fermentum YU2404 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YU2405, particularly when simultaneously combined, exhibited enhanced antifungal activity. Specifically, the extract in TN3 achieved a fungal spore inhibition rate of 81.00 ± 1.23%, a mycelial inhibition rate of 59.26 ± 5.61% and a fruit rot control rate of 82.10 ± 1.71% against B. cinerea. Additionally, supplementing the extract with nutrient sources - OP2 (glucose and skimmed milk) and OP3 (refined table sugar and commercial skimmed milk powder); further improved antifungal activity, with mycelial inhibition rates reaching 70.83 ± 3.67% (OP2) and 69.44 ± 5.56% (OP3), and spore germination inhibition rates of 81.67 ± 2.52% (OP2) and 81.17 ± 2.25% (OP3). For practical applications, the extract fermented with both strains and supplemented with 5% (w/v) refined table sugar and 5% (w/v) skimmed milk powder offers economic efficiency. However, further in-depth studies are needed to explore potential applications of the OP3-fermented aloe vera extract.