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The ethanol production process of a Swedish alcohol production plant was dominated by Dekkera bruxellensis and Lactobacillus vini, with a high number of lactic acid bacteria. The product quality, process productivity, and stability were high; thus, D. bruxellensis and L. vini can be regarded as commercial ethanol production organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study investigated feed hygiene during airtight storage of non-dried barley grain under farm conditions. Microorganisms on the grain were sampled and quantified in seven Swedish farms throughout the storage period using culture dependent methods. The dominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts were identified by rRNA gene sequencing and moulds by morphological characterisation. Moisture content (MC) and pH of the grain were also monitored. It was difficult to obtain the optimal MC (0.30–0.45g/g) that is necessary to initiate fermentation in the grain. Feed hygiene was maintained during storage of cereals when MC below 0.17g/g. Intermediate MC (0.17–0.23g/g) of the grains was conducive to mould growth, including growth of potential producers of mycotoxins, which can diminish feed safety and nutritional value. Enterobacteriaceae were found in all barleys, even at low MC, but their numbers were substantially decreased when the number of LAB was high. True fermentation of moist crimped cereal grains was only obtained on one farm with an initial barley MC of 0.3g/g. Here, LAB reached high numbers during storage, whereas numbers of spoilage microorganisms that may reduce feed hygiene decreased considerably. However, the pH of the barley did not differ among farms. Storage stability in airtight stored barley may thus be the result of low oxygen tension, viz. airtight storage, and competition for nutrients by the microorganisms, rather than formation of lactic acid. At harvest, Enterococcus caccae dominated the LAB population in five barleys and Lactobacillus fermentum at the remaining two. The dominant yeast species were Aureobasidium pullulans, Cryptococcus wieringae, Kazachstania aerobia and Rhodotorula glutinis. After storage, L. fermentum was dominant among the LAB. The yeast species composition was highly diverse and differed among barleys. Among others, C. wieringae, Debaryomyces hansenii, K. aerobia, R. glutinis and Sporobolomyces ruberrimus were detected. This study shows that the microbial population in airtight stored moist barley is highly diverse and not predictable. Thus, it may be necessary to influence the microbial population in the storage system by adding a starter culture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Preservation of moist crimped cereal grain is made feasible through fermentation by lactic acid bacteria. Climatic variations make it difficult to harvest at moisture contents (0.30–0.45g/g) to support optimal fermentation under practical conditions. Therefore, the yeast, Pichia anomala J121, previously found to prevent mould spoilage and improve preservation of moist grain in malfunctioning airtight silos, was added to moist crimped cereal grain stored in large plastic tubes. Freshly harvested barley grain was crimped and inoculated with P. anomala (105 colony-forming units/g grain). Due to the local weather conditions, harvest was delayed and moisture content in the cereal grain had decreased to 0.16–0.18g/g. P. anomala was inoculated into three batches of barley, each comprising 16tonnes packed into large plastic tubes. Three additional sets of plastic tubes were packed with cereal grain without addition of P. anomala. The grain tubes were left closed for 5 months, after which feeding to cattle commenced. In both the P. anomala inoculated and the control barley, the population diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was very high over the duration of storage. However, the dominant LAB shifted over the course of storage to Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus paracasei, in inoculated and control barley, respectively. The yeast population in the inoculated barley was totally dominated by P. anomala during the entire storage period. In the control grain, the yeast population was more diverse, displaying shifts in the dominant species during storage. Pichia burtonii was the dominant species at the last sampling occasion. In P. anomala inoculated barley, numbers of naturally occurring moulds were reduced by about two log units, and the number of Enterobacteriaceae was reduced to below detection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]