Screening, Identification, and Fermentation Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Pickled Potherb Mustard and Potential Applications

We identified strains of lactic acid bacteria from fermented potherb mustard that showed excellent fermentation properties. The goal was to identify superior starter cultures that would optimize the traditional fermentation process, reduce fermentation duration, and improve the quality of pickled po...

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Main Authors: Xiaoxue Kong, Jiaxin Zhang, Hui Shen, Nan Shi, Hui Zhou, Yi Li, Yuxing Guo, Haibo Luo, Lijuan Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/8/1431
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author Xiaoxue Kong
Jiaxin Zhang
Hui Shen
Nan Shi
Hui Zhou
Yi Li
Yuxing Guo
Haibo Luo
Lijuan Yu
author_facet Xiaoxue Kong
Jiaxin Zhang
Hui Shen
Nan Shi
Hui Zhou
Yi Li
Yuxing Guo
Haibo Luo
Lijuan Yu
author_sort Xiaoxue Kong
collection DOAJ
description We identified strains of lactic acid bacteria from fermented potherb mustard that showed excellent fermentation properties. The goal was to identify superior starter cultures that would optimize the traditional fermentation process, reduce fermentation duration, and improve the quality of pickled potherb mustard. Four strains were screened: <i>Weissella cibaria</i> (LAB1, LAB3) and <i>Leuconostoc mesenteroides</i> (LAB2, LAB4). Then, after in vitro tests of tolerance to low pH and salt levels as well as lactic acid production ability, nitrite degradation ability, antibacterial properties, and antioxidant activity, LAB1 and LAB2 were selected as the best strains. Next, these two strains were used as starter cultures for fermenting potherb mustard. Each was inoculated into the fermentation solution. Compared to natural fermentation, both showed beneficial effects, including reducing nitrite content, shortening fermentation time, maintaining the reducing sugar, and increasing the levels of nitrogenous amino acids. Microbial diversity analyses revealed that, prior to fermentation, the predominant microbial communities were <i>Methylobacterium</i> and <i>Sphingomonas</i>, which primarily originated from the surrounding environment. However, 30 days after inoculation with the two strains, there was a significant increase in the abundance of <i>Weissella</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i>, and <i>Weissella</i> emerged as the dominant bacterium. Inoculation of LAB1 effectively stabilized the bacterial community of the potherb mustard and significantly enhanced the content of nitrogenous amino acids in the final product, indicating that it is highly suitable as a mono-starter. On the other hand, LAB2 led to reduced nitrite content and facilitated the proliferation of <i>Weissella</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i>, indicating that it is an effective mixed starter. Due to its limited effect on acid production, it is not recommended as a mono-starter for pickled mustard production.
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spelling doaj-art-5d4b51f85d144c369f071f99e15a4d562025-08-20T03:13:31ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-04-01148143110.3390/foods14081431Screening, Identification, and Fermentation Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Pickled Potherb Mustard and Potential ApplicationsXiaoxue Kong0Jiaxin Zhang1Hui Shen2Nan Shi3Hui Zhou4Yi Li5Yuxing Guo6Haibo Luo7Lijuan Yu8Agro-Products Processing Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650221, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaAgro-Products Processing Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650221, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaAgro-Products Processing Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650221, ChinaWe identified strains of lactic acid bacteria from fermented potherb mustard that showed excellent fermentation properties. The goal was to identify superior starter cultures that would optimize the traditional fermentation process, reduce fermentation duration, and improve the quality of pickled potherb mustard. Four strains were screened: <i>Weissella cibaria</i> (LAB1, LAB3) and <i>Leuconostoc mesenteroides</i> (LAB2, LAB4). Then, after in vitro tests of tolerance to low pH and salt levels as well as lactic acid production ability, nitrite degradation ability, antibacterial properties, and antioxidant activity, LAB1 and LAB2 were selected as the best strains. Next, these two strains were used as starter cultures for fermenting potherb mustard. Each was inoculated into the fermentation solution. Compared to natural fermentation, both showed beneficial effects, including reducing nitrite content, shortening fermentation time, maintaining the reducing sugar, and increasing the levels of nitrogenous amino acids. Microbial diversity analyses revealed that, prior to fermentation, the predominant microbial communities were <i>Methylobacterium</i> and <i>Sphingomonas</i>, which primarily originated from the surrounding environment. However, 30 days after inoculation with the two strains, there was a significant increase in the abundance of <i>Weissella</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i>, and <i>Weissella</i> emerged as the dominant bacterium. Inoculation of LAB1 effectively stabilized the bacterial community of the potherb mustard and significantly enhanced the content of nitrogenous amino acids in the final product, indicating that it is highly suitable as a mono-starter. On the other hand, LAB2 led to reduced nitrite content and facilitated the proliferation of <i>Weissella</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i>, indicating that it is an effective mixed starter. Due to its limited effect on acid production, it is not recommended as a mono-starter for pickled mustard production.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/8/1431starterinoculationmicrobial communitieshigh-throughput sequencingantioxidant peptides
spellingShingle Xiaoxue Kong
Jiaxin Zhang
Hui Shen
Nan Shi
Hui Zhou
Yi Li
Yuxing Guo
Haibo Luo
Lijuan Yu
Screening, Identification, and Fermentation Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Pickled Potherb Mustard and Potential Applications
Foods
starter
inoculation
microbial communities
high-throughput sequencing
antioxidant peptides
title Screening, Identification, and Fermentation Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Pickled Potherb Mustard and Potential Applications
title_full Screening, Identification, and Fermentation Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Pickled Potherb Mustard and Potential Applications
title_fullStr Screening, Identification, and Fermentation Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Pickled Potherb Mustard and Potential Applications
title_full_unstemmed Screening, Identification, and Fermentation Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Pickled Potherb Mustard and Potential Applications
title_short Screening, Identification, and Fermentation Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Pickled Potherb Mustard and Potential Applications
title_sort screening identification and fermentation characteristics of lactic acid bacteria from pickled potherb mustard and potential applications
topic starter
inoculation
microbial communities
high-throughput sequencing
antioxidant peptides
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/8/1431
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