Isolation and characterization of kimchi starters leuconostoc mesenteroides pbio03 and leuconostoc mesenteroides pbio104 for manufacture of commercial kimchi

Abstract

This study was focused on developing and obtaining a kimchi starter for use in commercial kimchi production. Kimchi varieties made with selected starters are of high quality, have high levels of mannitol, and extended shelf life. The starters were screened for properties such as mannitol production, low gas/acid production, and acid resistance. Finally, kimchi fermentation testing was performed using selected LAB starters. Kimchi samples were prepared with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starters, including Leuconostoc mesenteroides PBio03 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides PBio104. The LAB starters are isolated from kimchi and can grow under pH 3.0 and low temperature conditions of 5C. Four kimchi samples were fermented and stored for 28 days at 5C. The kimchi samples made with starters (PBio03 and PBio104) had better quality (production of mannitol and maintenance of heterofermentative LAB dominance) than the non-starter kimchi samples. In the starter kimchi, Leu. mesenteroides was the dominant LAB, comprising 80% and 70% of total LAB counts at 7 and 21 days, respectively. Mannitol content of the kimchi with Leu. mesenteroides PBio03 was 1,423 19.1 mg/ 100 g at 28 days, which was higher than that of the non-starter kimchi sample (1,027 12.2 mg/100 g). These results show the possibility of producing kimchi with improved qualities using Leu. mesenteroides PBio03 and PBio104 as starters.