Sclerotium rolfsii is one of the most destructive soil-borne pathogen of chili plant (Capsicum annum) causing damping-off, stem rot, root rot, southern blight and wilt diseases. Severely infected chili plant diseases could reduce the quality and quantity of chili produce resulting in economic loss. Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) are reported to have antifungal activity. However, very little information is known on antifungal activity against S. rolfsii. Hence, the objectives of this study were to identify the LAB species isolated from fermented catfish and to determine antifungal activities of the isolated LAB against S. rolfsii. Identification of LAB from fermented catfish was done by API 50 CHL and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The identified isolates were Lactobacillus plantarum with different strains name such as JCM 1149, WCFS1 strain WCFS1 and strain NRRL B-14678. In this study, nine cultures of Cell Free Supernatant (CFS-LAB) were tested for antifungal activity on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). Results showed that four of Lb. plantarum strains from fermented catfish showed greater inhibitory activity (60% to 64.7%) against S. rolfsii after incubation at 28�C for three days compared with the control treatment (S. rolfsii growth in PDA without CFS-LAB). Active compound present in the crude supernatant was partially purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation method were tested at different temperatures, pH and enzymes. The proteins of LAB bacteriocins were analysed by electrophoresis and band of interest were identified by Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based on peptide sequencing. Findings of study confirmed that the antifungal activity of Lb. plantarum was chitin-binding protein and was effectively acted as biocontrol agent against fungal infection in chili plant. � 2018, Malaysian Society of Applied Biology. All rights reserved.

Colletotrichum capsici are ubiquitous fungal pathogens that cause anthracnose disease of chilli plant. Although chemical fungicide can be used to manage the disease, excessive use of the fungicide can lead to development of fungicide resistant as well as human health concern. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are Gram positive, mostly anaerobic, non-sporulating and acid-tolerant bacteria, which produce antifungal compounds. Many LAB strains have been isolated from fermented foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, but very limited study was done on antifungal potential of LAB isolated from agricultural soils. The objectives of this study were to isolate and identify LAB from sandy clay loam soil and sandy loam soil in Terengganu and to perform in vitro evaluation of their antifungal activities against C. capsici. Results showed that 7 out of 40 presumptive LAB cultures isolated from both soils collected from rice fields and roselle cultivation areas using cultural method (M17 agar and Tomato juice agar) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions were identified as Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis using 16S rDNA gene sequencing. All the seven strains of Lc. lactis subsp. lactis exhibited antifungal activities against C. capsici with minimum inhibition concentrations at 10% (v/v) and inhibition zones which ranged from 6.03 mm to 6.30 mm while mancozeb which act as positive control exhibited antifungal activities as low as 1% (w/v) and inhibition zones which ranged between 12.00 mm to 22.00 mm. These results show an important step in order to control fungal growth in chilli by approaching biological control in chilli cultivation area. � 2018, Malaysian Society of Applied Biology. All rights reserved.