Assessment of the Potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria as Dried Starter Culture for Cereal Fermentation

Abstract

The kinetic growth parameters [maximal specific growth rate μ_m (h^-1), and generation time g (h)] and viability after stress treatments (dehydration with glycerol solution of increasing concentration, freezing or heating stress) of four lactic acid bacteria [Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), L. fermentum (LF), Leuconostoc spp. (M1) and Lactococcus spp. (M2)] were determined. The maximal specific growth rate (μ_m) and generation time g ranged between 0.51 h^-1 to 0.14 h^-1 and 0.61 h to 1.33 h, respectively. We observed that the strains were sensitive to a change in water activity (a_w 0.32 final), storage and incubation temperatures. The Strain LF obtained a higher cell concentration and viability, as well as a lower g compared to those obtained by the other strains. The kinetic growth parameters (μ_m, g) together with viability after stress treatments could be used for the screening of dried lactic acid starter cultures.