Aeration, Agitation and Cell Immobilization on Corncobs and Oak Wood Chips Effects on Balsamic-Styled Vinegar Production.

Optimum fermentor conditions are essential for desired microbial growth and activity in fermentations. In balsamic vinegar fermentation systems, the microorganisms used must endure several stressful conditions including high sugar concentration, low water activity, high osmotic pressure and high acetic acid concentration. Consequently, the present study was aimed at improving the performance of a microbial consortium of non-Saccharomyces yeast and acetic acid bacteria during balsamic-styled vinegar fermentation. Cell immobilization via adsorption on corncobs and oak wood chips in combination with aeration and agitation effects, have never been tested during balsamic-styled vinegar fermentation. Therefore, fermentations were initially conducted under static conditions without aeration with successive fermentations also being subjected to low (0.15 vvm min-1) and high (0.3 vvm min-1) aeration. The results showed improved acetification rates when cells were immobilized on corncobs under static conditions. Low aeration showed better acetification rates (1.45-1.56 g·L·day-1), while only free-floating cells were able to complete fermentations (1.2 g·L·day-1) under high aeration conditions. Overall, cells immobilized on corncobs showed higher acetification rates of 1.56 and 2.7 g·L·day-1 under low aeration and static fermentations, respectively. Oak wood chips were determined to be less efficient adsorbents due to their relatively smooth surface, while the rough surface and porosity of corncobs led to improved adsorption and, therefore, enhanced acetification rates.

Grape Pomace Extracts as Fermentation Medium for the Production of Potential Biopreservation Compounds.

Microbial spoilage causes food losses in the food industry and as such, the use of synthetic chemical preservatives is still required. The current study proposes the use of agro-waste, i.e., grape pomace extracts (GPE), as production medium for biopreservation compounds. Production kinetics, subsequent to optimization using response surface methodology (RSM) for biopreservation compounds production was studied for three yeasts using GPE broth as a fermentation medium. The results showed that the highest volumetric zone of inhibition (VZI) was 1.24 L contaminated solidified media (CSM) per mL biopreservation compounds used (BCU) when Candida pyralidae Y1117 was inoculated in a pH 3-diluted GPE broth (150 g L-1) incubated at 25 °C for 24 h. Similar conditions were applied for Pichia kluyveri Y1125 and P. kluyveri Y1164, albeit under slightly elongated fermentation periods (up to 28 h), prior to the attainment of a maximum VZI of only 0.72 and 0.76 L CSM mL-1 ACU, respectively. The potential biopreservation compounds produced were identified to be isoamyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, 2-phenyl ethylacetate and 2-phenyl ethanol.

Identifying and assessing the impact of wine acid-related genes in yeast.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains used for winemaking show a wide range of fermentation phenotypes, and the genetic background of individual strains contributes significantly to the organoleptic properties of wine. This strain-dependent impact extends to the organic acid composition of the wine, an important quality parameter. However, little is known about the genes which may impact on organic acids during grape must fermentation. To generate novel insights into the genetic regulation of this metabolic network, a subset of genes was identified based on a comparative analysis of the transcriptomes and organic acid profiles of different yeast strains showing different production levels of organic acids. These genes showed significant inter-strain differences in their transcription levels at one or more stages of fermentation and were also considered likely to influence organic acid metabolism based on existing functional annotations. Genes selected in this manner were ADH3, AAD6, SER33, ICL1, GLY1, SFC1, SER1, KGD1, AGX1, OSM1 and GPD2. Yeast strains carrying deletions for these genes were used to conduct fermentations and determine organic acid levels at various stages of alcoholic fermentation in synthetic grape must. The impact of these deletions on organic acid profiles was quantified, leading to novel insights and hypothesis generation regarding the role/s of these genes in wine yeast acid metabolism under fermentative conditions. Overall, the data contribute to our understanding of the roles of selected genes in yeast metabolism in general and of organic acid metabolism in particular.