• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.441-448
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• 2023

Penicillium spp. are frequently found in meju, a Korean traditional fermented soybean brick. We isolated and identified 96 Penicillium spp. from 22 traditional meju, and their β-tubulin genes were sequenced for the genetic and taxonomic study. Penicillium Section Viridicata was the most commonly isolated group. Notably, we also isolated and identified Penicillium roqueforti, a crucial industrial strain employed in the fermentation of blue cheese. Additionally, certain strains exhibited relatively high protease and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activities, suggesting that they might contribute to the development of kokumi flavor during meju fermentation. Interestingly, all eight Penicillium spp., including P. roqueforti, were found to possess both types of MAT1 genes. This intriguing finding suggests the feasibility of strain improvement through mating, thereby offering opportunities for industrial applications. Therefore, these studies pave the way for a deeper exploration of Penicillium's role in meju fermentation, potentially leading to the development of starters for producing plant-based cheese-flavored condiments.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.23 no.2 s.73
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• pp.161-175
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• 1995

Meju is a raw material used to make Korean soy sauce (Kanjang) and soybean paste (Doenjang), both of them rich in plant protein. The twenty-nine fungal and a bacterial species were identified from twenty-three traditionally homemade meju cakes. Out of them, only a few species were found to be involved in the actual fermentation process of meju; The other species were contaminants during the improper subprocesses of meju fermentation. The fungal floral successions were observed to be related to two physical and biochemical changes of meju cakes during meju fermentation: drying and heat releasing processes. The zygomycetous fungi were first observed to exist mainly during the first stage. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis was observed to grow on the surface of meju cakes and then to coexist with Bacillus megatrium in the inner part of meju cakes during the second stage. Based on the biochemical tests, the proteases secreted by the different microorganisms were involved in the degradation of soybean proteins with a mutual relationship. Also, zygomycetous fungi were speculated to be important microorganisms for inducing the second stage in the traditional Korean homemade meju.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.247-253
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• 1996

Changes in microorganisms, enzyme activities and major components of two types of Doenjang prepared with spring Meju and autumn Meju and Kochujang were investigated during 4 months of fermentation. The viable cell counts of aerobic bacteria in Doenjang and Kochujang were increased up to 60 days of fermentation, but viable cell counts of anaerobic bacteria did not show remarkable changes during fermentation. Viable cell count of yeast showed a rapid increase up to 15 days of fermentation in Doenjang and 60 days in Kochujang. It was found that $\alpha$-amylase activity of autumn Meju Doenjang and glucoamylase activity of Kochujang were higher than the other. Acidic and neutral protease showed the highest activity during 15-30 days of fermentation. The pH of Doenjang was increased up to pH 7.0 until 60 days of fermentation, but pH of Kochujang gradually decreased during fermentation. Moisture content of spring Meju Doenjang and Kochujang decreased to 40% during ferme- ntation and reducing sugar content of Kochujang increased up to 15 days of fermentation, but decreased after that.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.524-531
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality properties of Meju prepared by inoculating two strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HJ5-2, and Aspergillus oryzae PS03. The three soybean varieties that include Daewonkong, Daechan, and Saedanbaek were used in this experiment. The fermentation temperature during the Meju aging varied at 20℃, 30℃, and 40℃, respectively. The physicochemical analysis of the soybeans, showed that the cured protein and fat contents were 34.83~43.49% and 12.91~18.90%, respectively. The pH and total acidity were 6.47~6.93 and 0.11~1.22%, respectively. The change in appearance of the Meju was that the yellow-green mold was well formed on seven days at fermentation temperature of 20℃ and 30℃, but at 40℃, there was minimal mold formation and cracking of the surface. The amino nitrogen content was highest on the Daechan Meju at 621.83 mg% for seven days. The amylase increased as the fermentation period increased in all samples, and the protease increased rapidly until the first day of the fermentation, and then gradually increased thereafter. The total number of bacteria increased or decreased as the fermentation proceeded to 6.66~10.07 log CFU/g. The mold counts increased with increasing fermentation period in the range of 6.38~8.79 log CFU/g.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.527-533
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• 2008

For preparation of high quality kochujang by the traditional fermentation method, 4 types of kochujang were prepared with brick- or grain-shaped meju fermented with different strains (Aspergillus sojae, Aspergillus oryzae+Bacillus subtilis). After 100 days of fermentation at $25^{\circ}C$, the moisture, pH, salt, and ethanol content of kochujang were 40.52-43.20%, 4.71-4.82, 8.7-9.1%, and 0.75-0.94%, respectively, showing slight differences according to the strains and shapes of meju. Titratable acidities were slightly increased for up to 60 days of fermentation. The amino-type nitrogen content of kochujang prepared with brick-shaped meju (A. oryzae+B. subtilis) was the highest (164.20 mg%) among all of the kochujang types. The redness (a) value of kochujang prepared with brick-shaped meju (A. sojae) were higher (19.08) than those of other treatments (18.37-18.59). Sensory evaluation of kochujang prepared with grain-shaped meju (A. sojae) showed the highest scores for color and overall acceptability, 'at $6.43{\pm}1.87$ and $6.29{\pm}1.44$, respectively. It was estimated that high quality kochujang could be made by using meju fermented with selected strains.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.397-406
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• 2011

To industrialize meju, four kinds of meju (Korean-style soybean koji) were made with humidity-controlled fermentation for 12 days at $28^{\circ}C$ after they were inoculated with selected strains such as Aspergillus otyzae (AO meju), Aspergillus sojae (AS meju), combined Aspergillus sojae and Bacillus subtilis (ASBS meju), and combined Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis (AOBS meju) as starter microorganisms. The changes in the quality characteristics in the four kinds of meju were investigated during fermentation. Their enzyme activities were compared with those of the traditional meju that is made in Sunchang Folk Village according to the traditional method. In the meju that were inoculated with selective strains, the aerobic bacteria counts and mold counts exceeded 8 log cfu/g and 6 log cfu/g respectively, which were the highest fermentation values after 2 days. The aerobic bacteria counts were maintained from 2-day to the 12-day fermentation. The mold counts tended to decreased gradually after the 2-day fermentation. The amino-type nitrogen contents reached 430.5-577.5 mg%, which were the highest values after 2-day fermentation. The neutral protease activities of these mejus had the highest levels in the following order: traditional meju, $1,258.0{\pm}38.8$; AS meju, $1,238.3{\pm}38.6$; AO meju. $1,204.1{\pm}24.1$; ASBS meju, $1,040.6{\pm}10.6$; and AOBS meju, $1,033.5{\pm}11.2$ unit/g. The acidic protease activities of these meju had the highest levels in the following order: AO meju, $1,030.1{\pm}19.1$, traditional meju, $1,007.7{\pm}30.5$; AS meju, $990.9{\pm}25.0$; AOBS meju, $910.9{\pm}15.3$; and ASBS meju, $888.2{\pm}15.7$ unit/g.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1654-1663
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• 2013

Rice straw is closely associated with meju fermentation and it is generally known that the rice straw provides meju with many kinds of microorganisms. In order to elucidate the origin of meju fungi, the fungal diversity of rice straw was examined. Rice straw was collected from 12 Jang factories where meju are produced, and were incubated under nine different conditions by altering the media (MEA, DRBC, and DG18), and temperature ($15^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, and $35^{\circ}C$). In total, 937 strains were isolated and identified as belonging to 39 genera and 103 species. Among these, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Eurotium, Fusarium, and Penicillium were the dominant genera. Fusarium asiaticum (56.3%), Cladosporium cladosporioides (48.6%), Aspergillus tubingensis (37.5%), A. oryzae (31.9%), Eurotium repens (27.1%), and E. chevalieri (25.0%) were frequently isolated from the rice straw obtained from many factories. Twelve genera and 40 species of fungi that were isolated in the rice straw in this study were also isolated from meju. Specifically, A. oryzae, C. cladosporioides, E. chevalieri, E. repens, F. asiaticum, and Penicillium polonicum (11.8%), which are abundant species in meju, were also isolated frequently from rice straw. C. cladosporioides, F. asiaticum, and P. polonicum, which are abundant in the low temperature fermentation process of meju fermentation, were frequently isolated from rice straw incubated at $15^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$, whereas A. oryzae, E. repens, and E. chevalieri, which are abundant in the high temperature fermentation process of meju fermentation, were frequently isolated from rice straw incubated at $25^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. This suggests that the mycobiota of rice straw has a large influence in the mycobiota of meju. The influence of fungi on the rice straw as feed and silage for livestock, and as plant pathogens for rice, are discussed as well.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.357-371
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• 2000

Changes of Microflora, enzyme activity, and contents of several taste compounds in traditional Kanjang(Korean Soy Sauce) with the variation of fermentation jars and Meju(fermented soybean brick)concentration were studied. Substitution possibilities of clay jar with glass jar and improvement possibilities of taste and nutritional value with increased Meju concentration were examined. (1) Aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria were enumerated during fermentation and ripening period. But yeast and molds were hardly isolated. The number of viable cells showed small changes during fermentation and ripening period. (2) Isolated Aerobic bacteria were identified as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus lichenformis, and lactic acid bacteria were identified as Lactlbacillus lactis lactis and lactobacillus brevis. (3) The activities of $\alpha$-amylase and $\beta$-amylase increased during fermentation period, but did not show any trend by fermentation jars or Meju concentrations. Protense activity showed small difference among four samples, and increased during the fermentation period.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2000

Quality characteristics of kochujang prepared with meju, koji and mixture of the two(meju+koji) were investigated during fermentation to improve quality of kochujang. During fermentation of kochujang, moisture content was in the range of $53.4{\sim}66.5%$, salt was $8.3{\sim}10.1%$, crude protein was $8.3{\sim}19.3%$ and pH of kochujang was $4.6{\sim}5.4$. Amino-nitrogen content increased during fermentation and the levels were $230{\sim}270\;mg%$ after 150 days of fermentation. The highest amino-nitrogen content was found in mixed kochujang at the beginning stage of fermentation, but in koji kochujang after 30 days of fermentation. Maximum reducing sugar content was $15.0{\sim}19.5%$ at 60th day of fermentation. The highest amino acid content of kochujang protein was found in meju kochujang followed by koji kochujang at the first stage of fermentation. The content of glutamic acid, a major amino acid was $1.38{\sim}3.66%$ of total amino acid content. High levels of aspartic acid, leucine, arginine, alanine and phenylalanine were found in the kochujangs. Mixed kochujang showed the highest L value among the samples until 30 days of fermentation. After that, the highest L value was found in meju kochujang. The highest degree of redness was observed in meju kochujang until 60 days of fermentation and in koji kochujang during $90{\sim}120$ days of fermentation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.654-662
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• 2024

To investigate the effect of the predominant fungal species from Korean traditional meju and doenjang on soybean fermentation, the enzymatic activity and amino acid production of twenty-two fungal strains were assessed through solid- and liquid-state soybean fermentation. Enzymatic activity analyses of solid-state fermented soybeans revealed different enzyme activities involving protease, leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), carboxypeptidase (CaP), glutaminase, γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and amylase, depending on the fungal species. These enzymatic activities significantly affected the amino acid profile throughout liquid-state fermentation. Strains belonging to Mucoromycota, including Lichtheimia, Mucor, Rhizomucor, and Rhizopus, produced smaller amounts of total amino acids and umami-producing amino acids, such as glutamic acid and aspartic acid, than strains belonging to Aspergillus subgenus circumdati. The genera Penicillium and Scopulariopsis produced large amounts of total amino acids and glutamic acid, suggesting that these genera play an essential role in producing umami and kokumi tastes in fermented soybean products. Strains belonging to Aspergillus subgenus circumdati, including A. oryzae, showed the highest amino acid content, including glutamic acid, suggesting the potential benefits of A. oryzae as a starter for soybean fermentation. This study showed the potential of traditional meju strains as starters for soybean fermentation. However, further analysis of processes such as the production of G-peptide for kokumi taste and volatile compounds for flavor and safety is needed.