Abstract

The aims of this study were to isolate and characterize peptides present in chilli pepper seeds and evaluate their antifungal activities. An isolated peptide closer to 9 kDa showed high sequence homology to the antimicrobial peptide lipid transfer protein. The peptide fraction containing the LTP inhibited the growth of the fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrium lindemunthianum, the yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia membranifaciens, Candida tropicalis, Candida albicans, inhibited glucose-stimulated acidification of the medium by yeast cells of S. cerevisiae and caused several morphological changes in P. membranifaciens.

Keywords: LTP, Capsicum annuum, plant antimicrobial peptides, yeast, filamentous fungi