Culture medium based on whey permeate for biomass production of lactobacilli with technological aptitudes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to formulate a culture medium to produce lactobacilli biomass using cheese whey permeate, as well as to study its effect on the metabolic activity of both Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus 73 (L73) and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 90 (L90) when grown under controlled or free pH conditions. The optimised media demonstrated to be efficient in obtaining high levels of L73 and L90, being also suitable to grow other lactobacilli strains with great potential as adjunct cultures for cheeses. The pH control enhanced biomass production for L73 but not for L90. In general, the peptidase activities and the metabolism of lactose and organic acids were influenced by the control of pH. Similarly, both L73 and L90 showed different volatile compound profiles depending on the pH condition. The diverse flavour-forming abilities of these strains might be of great value to cheese industries, by providing cheese with novel flavour profiles.