The effect of Propionibacterium acidipropionici, with or without Lactobacillus plantarum, on the fermentation and aerobic stability of wheat, sorghum and maize silages.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of Propionibacterium acidipropionici, alone or in combination with Lactobacillus plantarum, on the fermentation and aerobic stability of wheat, sorghum and maize silages.


RESULTS
The inoculants were applied at 1.0 x 10(6) CFU g(-1). Silages with no additives served as control. Fresh forages were sampled prior to ensiling. Three jars per treatment were sampled on days 2, 4, 8, 16 and 60 after ensiling, for chemical and microbiological analysis. At the end of the ensiling period, the silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test. The P. acidipropionici-inoculated silages had significantly higher levels of acetic and propionic acid than the L. plantarum or P. acidipropionici + L. plantarum-inoculated silages (P < 0.05). Therefore, yeast activity was impaired in the P. acidipropionici-inoculated silages. As a result, P. acidipropionici decreased CO(2) production and improved aerobic stability of wheat, sorghum and maize silages. However, the combination of P. acidipropionici + L. plantarum did not improve aerobic stability of the silages.


CONCLUSIONS
The P. acidipropionici was very effective in protecting the wheat, sorghum and maize silages exposed to air under laboratory conditions, probably because the acidic environment under ensiling conditions is favourable for this micro-organism.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of P. acidipropionici, as a silage inoculant can improve the aerobic stability of silages by inhibition of yeast activity.
Filya
I
I
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey. ifilya@uludag.edu.tr
Sucu
E
E
Karabulut
A
A
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000332:Aerobiosis / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis; D005285:Fermentation / Q000502:physiology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000378:metabolism*; D011422:Propionates / Q000032:analysis; D011424:Propionibacterium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012820:Silage / Q000382:microbiology*; D045868:Sorghum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D014908:Triticum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*
D011422:Propionates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000431:Ethanol; C029658:propionic acid; D019342:Acetic Acid