Development and use of a screening procedure for production of α- acetolactate by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis strains

Abstract

A method was developed to screen and isolate mutagenized Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis strains accumulating α- acetolactate. This compound is accumulated by α-acetolactate decarboxylase- deficient strains and undergoes spontaneous degradation into diacetyl on agar plates. The diacetyl produced is detected by a colorimetric reaction yielding a red halo around the colonies.