Malt sprout extract medium for cultivation ofLactobacillus plantarumprotective cultures.

a. laitila, m. saarela, l. kirk, m. siika-aho, a. haikara, t. mattila-sandholm and i. virkajärvi. 2004.The aim was to develop a cheap cereal-based alternative medium for the large-scale production of biopreservativeLactobacillus plantarumVTT E-79098. We examined the effect of growth medium and pH control on the cell yield ofLact. plantarumE-79098 and the antimicrobial activity of the cell-free extracts.Fermentations using a novel Malt Sprout Extract Medium (MSE) were performed with different pH regimes. The antimicrobial activity of the cell-free extracts againstPantoea agglomeransVTT E-90396 andFusarium avenaceumVTT D-80147 was assessed with automated turbidometry.When compared with MRS, the MSE medium cultures produced equal growth yields ofLact. plantarumVTT E-79098 and enhanced antimicrobial potential against the Gram-negative bacteriumP. agglomeransand aFusariumfungus. The MSE medium can be used as a low-cost alternative to MRS for producing high cell yields and good antimicrobial activity ofLact. plantarum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]