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The effect of glucose oxidase on the preservation of grass silage
Author(s) -
Rauramaa A. L.,
Setälä J. J.,
Tommila A. E. A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1991.tb02395.x
Subject(s) - silage , microbial inoculant , chemistry , food science , glucose oxidase , zoology , dry matter , autoclave , horticulture , biology , biochemistry , enzyme , organic chemistry , inoculation
Five experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of glucose oxidase (GO) on the preservation of grass silage in the absence of micro‐organisms. In the first experiment, GO was tested in a 3% glucose solution. At the level of 1190 U GO l ‐1 the pH value decreased to 3·94 in 1 h and to 3·02 in 24 h. At the level of 11·9 U l ‐1 the pH decreased to 3·45 in 24 h. The second experiment was performed by packing chopped grass into glass jars, sterilizing in an autoclave and adding GO. One day later the pH value had decreased to 4·65; 1·60% gluconic acid was found in the dry matter. In the other three experiments grass was sealed in polythene bags and sterilized by gamma‐irradiation. GO was found to cause a faster decrease in pH. Removing air from the silage by compaction decreased the GO activity. The addition of cellulase delayed the GO functioning for one day. Lactobacillus inoculant had no effect. Evidence was obtained that GO may affect the profile or activity of the original microflora of grass silage.