Genotypic and technological characterization of Leuconostoc isolates to be used as adjunct starters in Manchego cheese manufacture.
Twenty-seven Leuconostoc (Ln.) isolates from Manchego cheese were characterized by phenotypic and genotypic methods, and their technological abilities studied in order to test their potential use as dairy starter components. While phenotypic diversity was evaluated by studying the biochemical characteristics of technological interest (i.e. acidifying and aminopeptidase activities), genotypic diversity was evidenced by using Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RAPD-PCR). Additional technological abilities such as lipolytic, proteolytic and autolytic activities, salt and pH tolerance and production of dextran, flavour compounds and biogenic amines, were investigated. The marked differences among strains reflected the existing biodiversity in naturally fermented products. After statistically evaluating their performance, strains C0W2, belonging to Ln. lactis, and C16W5 and N2W5, belonging to Ln. mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum, revealed the best properties to be used in mixed dairy starter cultures. This study evidences the fact that natural environments can be considered as a proper source of useful strains, for the dairy industry.
Nieto-Arribas
Pedro
P
Departamento de Química Analítica y Tecnología de Alimentos, Facultad de Químicas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela s/n, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
Seseña
Susana
S
Poveda
Justa M
JM
Palop
Llanos
L
Cabezas
Lourdes
L
D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002417:Cattle; D002611:Cheese / Q000382:microbiology*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005285:Fermentation; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D005838:Genotype; D007934:Leuconostoc / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique