Development of starter culture for improved processing of Lafun, an African fermented cassava food product.
OBJECTIVE
To select appropriate micro-organisms to be used as starter culture for reliable and reproducible fermentation of Lafun.


RESULTS
A total of 22 cultures consisting of yeast, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Bacillus cereus strains predominant in traditionally fermented cassava during Lafun processing were tested as potential starter cultures. In an initial screening, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 2Y48P22, Lactobacillus fermentum 2L48P21, Lactobacillus plantarum 1L48P35 and B. cereus 2B24P31 were found to be the most promising of the cultures and were subsequently tested in different combinations as mixed starter cultures to ferment submerged cassava roots. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, inoculated singly or combined with B. cereus, gave the softest cassava root after 48 h of fermentation according to determination of compression profile and stress at fracture. Overall, sensory quality testing showed that Lafun obtained from S. cerevisiae-fermented cassava gave the most preferred stiff porridge. Saccharomyces cerevisiae 2Y48P22 showed pectinase production in a model system.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that S. cerevisiae 2Y48P22 is the most efficient organism for cassava softening during the fermentation. Therefore, it could be combined with LAB and used as starter for Lafun processing.


CONCLUSIONS
Starter cultures are made available for controlled fermentation of Lafun.
Padonou
S W
SW
Département de Nutrition et Sciences Alimentaires, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
Nielsen
D S
DS
Akissoe
N H
NH
Hounhouigan
J D
JD
Nago
M C
MC
Jakobsen
M
M
D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D052197:Limosilactobacillus fermentum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002365:Manihot / Q000382:microbiology*; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000382:microbiology*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology; D015003:Yeasts / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism