Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Fruits and Vegetables for their Antibacterial Activity

Lactic acid bacteria are known for their antagonistic activity against closely related species. Lactic acid bacteria produce various bacteriocins possessing antimicrobial activity. Ripened aged fruits and vegetables were selected for isolating lactic acid bacteria group of organisms which were grouped into different species using standard procedure. The isolated species of Lactobacilli, Lactococci, Pediococci and Leuconostoc species were tested for antimicrobial activity against micrococci as an indicator organism. The antimicrobial activity of Lactobacilli species isolated from cabbage showed maximum (94.28 sq.mm), Lactococci species showed maximum (74.64 sq.mm) in cabbage isolate, Pediococci species showed maximum (74.00 sq.mm) activity in banana isolate whereas Leuconostoc species showed maximum (90.01 sq.mm) antimicrobial activity in tomato isolate.