Improvement of Kimchi Fermentation by Using Acid-Tolerant Mutant of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Aromatic Yeast Saccharomyces fermentati as Starters

Saccharomyces fermentati and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were isolated from a traditional kimchi, and then the Leu. mesenteroides was mutated to the acid-tolerant mutant Leu. mesenteroides M-l00. In the result of growth properties in MRS broth with various pHs adjusted with HCl and acid solution (latic acid:acetic acid=1:2), an acid-tolerant mutant Leu. mesenteroides M-100 showed more increased ability for growth than its wild strain at various temperatures. The strains were used as starters for the fermentation of kimchi. The experiments were performed with classified experimental groups (Group I, control kimchi; Group II, addition of YK-19 only; Group III, addition of M-100 only; Group IV, addition of mixture of M-100 and YK-19), and their pH, total acidity, reducing sugars content, organic acid productivity, organoleptic tests, and microfloral changes were compared. As a result, in pH and acidity, the optimal ripening period of Group IV was about 13.5 days (i.e. from the 8.5 to 22 days of fermentation). This result indicates that the optimal ripening period of Group IV was about 1.5 times longer than that of Group I. Furthermore, Group IV was edible to 28 days of fermentation. In addition, high contents of succinc acid was observed in Group IV. Group IV was also highly ranked on the organoleptic test. During the fermentation of kimchi, the number of Leuconostoc sp. in group I reduced after 7 days; however, the number of Leuconostoc sp. in Group II, III, and IV decresed after 14 days of fermentation. An especially high number of Leu. sp. was observed in Group IV, and this gave better flavor of kimchi than any other during the whole fermentation period. Citric acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, and lactic acid were detected in the kimchi, and a significant increase in the concentration of lactic acid during fermentation was observed in the all experimental groups.