Open AccessComparative analysis of amylolytic lactobacilli and Lactobacillus plantarum as potential silage inoculants
Author(s) -
Fitzsimons Aidan,
O'Connell Michael
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1994.tb06692.x
Subject(s) - microbial inoculant , lactobacillus plantarum , silage , lactobacillus , lactic acid , food science , fermentation , lactobacillaceae , starch , amylase , biology , chemistry , bacteria , biochemistry , enzyme , genetics
Two starch‐degrading Lactobacillus strains, Lactobacillus amylovorus NRRLB4540 and Lactobacillus amylophilus NCIB11546, were assessed for their potential as silage inoculants. Lactobacillus amylovorus was considered suitable as a silage inoculant for crops which are low in water‐soluble carbohydrate, but contain starch, which is unavailable to most conventional silage inoculants. This was on the basis of it exhibiting similar growth characteristics to an inoculant strain of Lactobacillus plantarum and secreting an amylase which was optimally active in the silage pH range. Lactobacillus amylophilus was found to be intolerant of low acid conditions but displayed considerable potential for the industrial production of lactic acid from inexpensive starch‐based substrates as it fermented sugars to the desirable L(+) isomer of lactic acid only.