Degradation of fructans by epiphytic and inoculated lactic acid bacteria during ensilage of normal and sterile ryegrass

摘要

It is generally accepted that the entire water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) fraction of grasses is readily available for fermentation in the silo by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and other silage bacteria. This includes the polymer fructan which can be a major component of the WSC fraction of temperate grasses. However, recently it was suggested that the majority of LAB on grasses may not possess fructan hydrolase activity (Muller and Lier, 1994, J Appl Bact 76, 406-411), which has implications for theireffective ensilage.