The genus Pediococcus, with notes on the genera Tetratogenococcus and Aerococcus

Abstract

Pediococci are the only lactic acid bacteria that divide alternately in two perpendicular directions to form tetrads (Figure 5.1). They are invariably spherical and produce lactic acid, but no gas, from glucose. The genus is heterogeneous and includes organisms able to grow in beer and those active during soya sauce manufacture. A number of papers address various aspects of the genus (Pederson, 1949; Pederson et al., 1954; Nakagawa and Kitahara, 1959; Sakaguchi and Mori, 1969; Garvie, 1974, 1986a; Eschenbecher and Back, 1976; Back, 1978a; Rainbow, 1981; Bergan et al., 1984; Priest, 1987; Raccach, 1987; Weiss, 1991; Teuber, 1993) which currently contains eight species. Information on the genus Aerococcus can be found in the review by Weiss (1991).