Probiotic lactobacillus as bio-control agent of post-harvest diseases of banana and papaya fruits

In the present study, isolation of post-harvest diseases of fruit banana and papaya was carried out such as Fusarium sp., Colletotrichum sp. and Alternaria sp. based on the cultural and morphological test, the diseased pathogens were identified as Fusarium moniliforme and Colletotrichum musae from banana and Alternaria alternata from papaya. Commercially used Lactobacillus probiotic bacteria was found most effective against Fusarium moniliforme, Colletotrichum musae and Alternaria alternata. Lactobacillus was showed highest percent inhibition 37%, 42% and 48% against Fusarium moniliforme, Colletotrichum musae and Alternaria alternata respectively. In the in vivo study, the healthy Fruits of banana were infected with Fusarium moniliforme and Colletotrichum musae were remain uninfected and healthy up to 10 days when treated with Lactobacillus and in case of Alternaria alternata was infected to healthy papaya, remain in healthy condition up to 8 days when treated with Lactobacillus. A Probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus increases the shelf life of fruit such as Papaya and Banana.