*3.2. Analysis of the Protective Potential of L. plantarum UFG 121 in Artificially Contaminated Bread*

With the aim to evaluate the potential of *L. plantarum* UFG 121 as a culture protective against typical molds on bakery products, bread samples were artificially contaminated by spraying a concentrated spore suspension onto the bread slices. After one week of storage, the in vivo antagonistic activity against each tested mold was qualitatively determined by comparing the area covered by the spoilage fungi in the two tested experimental modes: (1) bread fermented with the commercial *S. cerevisiae* and (2) co-fermented with *L. plantarum* UFG 121 (Figure 3). As shown in Figure 3, after one week of storage the surface of the control bread artificially contaminated were always wholly covered by the molds. In contrast, different scenarios were observed when bread samples were co-fermented with *L. plantarum* UFG 121. In particular, no inhibition was found in bread samples artificially inoculated with *A. niger* and *P. roqueforti* that appeared completely contaminated by both the molds (Figure 3A,B). A moderate in vivo antagonistic activity was detected against *P. chrysogenum* and *P. expansum* whose growth was limited in samples obtained with UFG 121 strain (Figure 3C,D). In contrast, a higher protective effect was observed in samples contaminated by *A. flavus* in which only approximately 20% of the bread surface was covered by the spoilage (Figure 3E). Interestingly, no development of *F. culmorum* was observed, suggesting that the employment of *L. plantarum* UFG 121 during bread fermentation was a successful strategy to thoroughly inhibit *F. culmorum* growth (Figure 3F).

"Lievital" (left pictures) or co Antifungal activity was expressed as no/low (−), moderate (+), high (+ +), and very high (+ + +), when – – – – **Figure 3.** Bread obtained by fermentation with *S. cerevisiae* "Lievital" (left pictures) or co-fermented with *L. plantarum* UFG 121 (right pictures) after one week of storage at room temperature and artificially contaminated with *A. niger* CECT 2805 (**A**); *P. roqueforti* CECT 20508 (**B**); *P. chrysogenum* CECT 2669 (**C**); *P. expansum* CECT 2278 (**D**); *A. flavus* CECT 20802 (**E**); *F. culmorum* CECT 2148 (**F**). Antifungal activity was expressed as no/low (−), moderate (+), high (+ +), and very high (+ + +), when the contaminated area was reduced in the ranges 0–25%, 25–50%, 50–75%, and 75–100%, respectively.
