Fermentation of fructans by epiphytic lactic acid bacteria

摘要

A total of 712 strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from forage grasses were studied for their ability to ferment fructans of phlein‐ as well as inulin‐type. Only 16 strains utilized phlein and eight of these also fermented inulin. They were identified asLactobacillus paracaseisubsp.paracasei, Lact. plantarum, Lact. brevisandPediococcus pentosaceus. In the speciesLact. paracaseisubsp.paracasei, all strains gave positive results, whereas the other positive strains possessed unique properties within their own species. In all but two cases (strains of the speciesLact. plantarum), the phlein was more intensively fermented than the inulin, as indicated by a lower pH and a higher lactic acid concentration. On the basis of the outcome of this study it seems worthwhile to inoculate grasses of low sugar content before ensiling with an active strain that can ferment fruct