Yeast biota associated to naturally fermented table olives from different Italian cultivars

Monitoring the yeasts ecology and volatiles profile throughout the spontaneous fermentation of Taggiasca cv. table olives through culture-dependent and independent methods

Taggiasca table olives are typical of Liguria, a Northwestern Italian region, produced with a spontaneous fermentation carried out by placing the raw drupes directly into brine with a salt concentration of 8-12 % w/v. Such concentrations limit the development of unwanted microbes and favor the growth of yeasts. This process usually lasts up to 8 months. Yeasts are found throughout the entire fermentation process and they are mainly involved in the production of volatile organic compounds, which strongly impact the quality of the final product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of autochthonous yeasts in brines and olives in a spontaneous process with no lye pre-treatment or addition of acids in the fermenting brine with 10 % NaCl (w/v) in two batches during 2021 harvest. Three hundred seventy-three yeast colonies were isolated, characterized by rep-PCR and identified by the D1/D2 region of the 26S rRNA gene sequencing. Mycobiota was also studied by 26S rRNA gene metataxonomics, while metabolome was assessed through GC-MS analysis. Traditional culture-dependent methods showed the dominance of Candida diddensiae, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Pichia membranifaciens and Aureobasidium pullulans, with differences in species distribution between batches, sampling time and type of sample (olives/brines). Amplicon-based sequencing confirmed the dominance of W. anomalus in batch 1 throughout the entire fermentation, while Cyteromyces nyonsensis and Aureobasidium spp. were most abundant in the fermentation in batch 2. Volatilome results were analyzed and correlated to the mycobiota data, confirming differences between fermentation stages. Given the high appreciation for this traditional food, this study helps elucidate the mycobiota associated to Taggiasca cv. table olives and its relationship with the quality of the final product.

A Preliminary Approach to Define the Microbiological Profile of Naturally Fermented Peranzana Alta Daunia Table Olives

Samples of brines from Peranzana Alta Daunia olives at the end of fermentation were analyzed; samples were taken in two different years from eight different locations (Torremaggiore, San Severo, San Paolo di Civitate, Lucera, Chieuti, Serracapriola, Gargano and Termoli in Southern Italy). Total aerobic count, enterobacteria, pseudomonads, staphylococci, lactic acid bacteria and yeasts (Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces) were assessed; moreover, presumptive lactobacilli were characterized in relation to their ability to grow with salt added, and at 10 and 45 °C. Yeasts were generally more abundant than lactic acid bacteria (LAB), but two clusters were found: one including the areas of Torremaggiore, San Severo, Apricena, Lucera and San Paolo di Civitate (area 1, A1), and another comprising Gargano, Termoli and Serracapriola (area 2, A2). Lactobacilli of A1 were more resistant to stress conditions (growth at 10% of salt and at 10 °C); moreover, A1 was characterized by a lower abundance of yeasts. In some areas (Lucera and San Severo), a higher abundance of non-Saccharomyces yeasts was found. This paper offers a first insight into the profile of Peranzana Alta Daunia olives at the end of fermentation, suggesting that some indices (technological traits of lactobacilli, ratio yeasts vs. LAB, abundance of non-Saccharomyces yeasts) could be useful to define a microbiological profile of the variety.

Interaction and Application of Molds and Yeasts in Chinese Fermented Foods

Fermentation is an ancient food preservation and processing technology with a long history of thousands of years, that is still practiced all over the world. Fermented foods are usually defined as foods or beverages made by controlling the growth of microorganisms and the transformation of raw and auxiliary food components, which provide the human body with many beneficial nutrients or health factors. As fungus widely used in traditional Chinese fermented foods, molds and yeasts play an irreplaceable role in the formation of flavor substances and the production of functional components in fermented foods. The research progress of molds and yeasts in traditional Chinese fermented foods from traditional to modern is reviewed, including the research on the diversity, and population structure of molds and yeasts in fermented foods. The interaction between fermenting mold and yeast and the latest research results and application development prospects of related industries were discussed.

Current Status, Recent Advances, and Main Challenges on Table Olive Fermentation: The Present Meets the Future

Table olives are among the most well-known fermented foods, being a vital part of the Mediterranean pyramid diet. They constitute a noteworthy economic factor for the producing countries since both their production and consumption are exponentially increasing year by year, worldwide. Despite its significance, olive’s processing is still craft based, not changed since antiquity, leading to the production of an unstable final product with potential risk concerns, especially related to deterioration. However, based on industrial needs and market demands for reproducible, safe, and healthy products, the modernization of olive fermentation processing is the most important challenge of the current decade. In this sense, the reduction of sodium content and more importantly the use of suitable starter cultures, exhibiting both technological and potential probiotic features, to drive the process may extremely contribute to this need. Prior, to achieve in this effort, the full understanding of table olive microbial ecology during fermentation, including an in-depth determination of microbiota presence and/or dominance and its functionality (genes responsible for metabolite production) that shape the sensorial characteristics of the final product, is a pre-requisite. The advent of meta-omics technology could provide a thorough study of this complex ecosystem, opening in parallel new insights in the field, such as the concept of microbial terroir. Herein, we provide an updated overview in the field of olive fermentation, pointing out some important challenges/perspectives that could be the key to the olive sector’s advancement and modernization.

Characterization of β-glucosidase of Lactobacillus plantarum FSO1 and Candida pelliculosa L18 isolated from traditional fermented green olive

Background

Oleuropein, the main bitter phenolic glucoside responsible for green olive bitterness, may be degraded by the β-glucosidase enzyme to release glucose and phenolic compounds.

Results

Lactobacillus plantarum FSO1 and Candida pelliculosa L18 strains, isolated from natural fermented green olives, were tested for their β-glucosidase production and activity at different initial pH, NaCl concentrations, and temperature. The results showed that strains produced extracellular and induced β-glucosidase, with a molecular weight of 60 kD. The strains demonstrated their biodegradation capacity of oleuropein, associated with the accumulation of hydroxytyrosol and other phenolic compounds, resulting in antioxidant activity values significantly higher than that of ascorbic acid. The highest production value of β-glucosidase was 0.91 U/ml obtained at pH 5 and pH 6, respectively for L. plantarum FSO1 and C. pelliculosa L18. The increase of NaCl concentration, from 0 to 10% (w/v), inhibited the production of β-glucosidase for both strains. However, the β-glucosidase was activated with an increase of NaCl concentration, with a maximum activity obtained at 8% NaCl (w/v). The enzyme activity was optimal at pH 5 for both strains, while the optimum temperature was 45 °C for L. plantarum FSO1 and 35 °C for C. pelliculosa L18.

Conclusions

L. plantarum FSO1 and C. pelliculosa L18 strains showed their ability to produce an extracellular and induced β-glucosidase enzyme with promising traits for application in the biological processing of table olives.

Deep insights into fungal diversity in traditional Chinese sour soup by Illumina MiSeq sequencing

Sour soup is a traditional condiment in Guizhou Province, China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the fungi present in 5 types of sour soup (tomato sour soup, chili sour soup, cherry tomato sour soup, spoiled tomato sour soup, and red sour soup made from blended tomato and chili sour soup subjected to secondary fermentation) and to determine the reasons for the deterioration of tomato sour soup by comparing the fungal communities in normal and deterioratedtomato sour soup. A total of 5 phyla were detected in all 5 samples, including Ascomycota (69.38%), Basidiomycota (7.63%), Zygomycota (1.59%), Chytridiomycota (0.01%) and unclassified phyla (21.39%). Ascomycota was the main phylum in each sample except the red sour soup made from blended tomato and chili sour soup subjected to secondary fermentation. That sour soup contained many unrecognized phyla. At the genus level, there were major differences among the different samples. Dekkera spp. and Pichia spp. were the main dominant fungus in tomato sour soup, Saccharomyces spp. and Pichia spp. were the dominant fungus in chili sour soup, and Pichia spp. were the dominant fungus in cherry tomato sour soup. When sour soup went bad, the fungus of sour soup changed greatly, and the unknown fungal genera, Cladospora spp., Saccharomyces spp. and Emericella spp. became the dominant fungal genera. In addition, after the secondary fermentation of tomato and chili sour soup mixed with garlic and ginger, the fungal genera of the base fermentation were replaced by unknown fungal genera. Moreover, there were various spoilage fungi in sour soup, which indicated that there were safety risks in naturally fermented sour soup and should be further controlled. This study revealed the fungal flora in sour soup made from different vegetables and compared the fungal diversity of spoiled and normal tomato sour soup and thereby provided a basis for understanding the fungal diversity of sour soup in China and guiding the production of sour soup.

The utility of iPBS retrotransposons markers to analyze genetic variation in yeast

Yeasts are one of the main organisms in the food industry and effective components of many ecosystems. The method for identifying and detecting certain yeast species or strains is a crucial step for the food industry and should be simple, reliable, fast, and inexpensive. In our study, inter-priming binding sites (iPBS) retrotransposon marker system was employed to elucidate the genetic variability at intraspecies and interspecies levels among 112 yeast strains belonging to eight species previously obtained from fermented foods. The molecular identification of yeast strains was firstly confirmed by sequencing the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA. The eight selected retrotransposon-based primers produced 278 bands, all of which were polymorphic with an average of 34.75 polymorphic fragments per primer. The averages of polymorphism information contents and the resolving power values for the iPBS marker system were 0.23 and 10.11, respectively. The genetic parameters within each yeast species obtained from iPBS markers were observed as; the percentage of polymorphic loci for each species ranging from 19.23% to 71.21%, Nei's gene diversity from 0.085 to 0.228, while Shannon's information index values ranging from 0.125 to 0.349. The value of gene flow (0.09) and genetic variation among the populations (0.85) showed higher genetic variation among the species. UPGMA analyses demonstrated considerable genetic variability in the yeast strains, clustered them according to their species, and revealed the intraspecific variation. Each of the selected iPBS primer provided enough species-discrimination. Present evaluations suggest the utility of iPBS marker system to estimate the genetic variation of yeast strains. This study is a preliminary point for further studies on the identification methodology, and population genetics of yeast species having importance in the food industry with iPBS markers.

Table Olives More than a Fermented Food

Table olives are one of the oldest vegetable fermented foods in the Mediterranean area. Beside their economic impact, fermented table olives represent also an important healthy food in the Mediterranean diet, because of their high content of bioactive and health-promoting compounds. However, olive fermentation is still craft-based following traditional processes, which can lead to a not fully predictable final product with the risk of spontaneous alterations. Nowadays, food industries have to face consumer demands for safe and healthy products. This review offers an overview about the main technologies used for olive fermentation and the role of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts characterizing this niche during the fermentation. Particular attention is offered to the selection and use of microorganisms as starter cultures to fasten and improve the safety of table olives. The development and implementation of multifunctional starter cultures in order to obtain heath-oriented table olives is also discussed.

The life and times of yeasts in traditional food fermentations

Yeasts are eukaryotic microorganisms which have a long history in the biotechnology of food production, as they have been used since centuries in bread-making or in the production of alcoholic beverages such as wines or beers. Relative to this importance, a lot of research has been devoted to the study of yeasts involved in making these important products. The role of yeasts in other fermentations in association with other microorganisms - mainly lactic acid bacteria - has been relatively less studied, and often it is not clear if yeasts occurring in such fermentations are contaminants with no role in the fermentation, spoilage microorganisms or whether they actually serve a technological or functional purpose. Some knowledge is available for yeasts used as starter cultures in fermented raw sausages or in the production of acid curd cheeses. This review aimed to summarize the current knowledge on the taxonomy, the presence and potential functional or technological roles of yeasts in traditional fermented plant, dairy, fish and meat fermentations.

Spoilage yeasts: What are the sources of contamination of foods and beverages?

Foods and beverages are nutrient-rich ecosystems in which most microorganisms are able to grow. Moreover, several factors, such as physicochemical characteristics, storage temperature, culinary practices, and application of technologies for storage, also define the microbial population of foods and beverages. The yeast population has been well-characterised in fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, dairy products, dry-cured meat products, and beverages, among others. Some species are agents of alteration in different foods and beverages. Since the most comprehensive studies of spoilage yeasts have been performed in the winemaking process, hence, these studies form the thread of the discussion in this review. The natural yeast populations in raw ingredients and environmental contamination in the manufacturing facilities are the main modes by which food contamination occurs. After contamination, yeasts play a significant role in food and beverage spoilage, particularly in the alteration of fermented foods. Several mechanisms contribute to spoilage by yeasts, such as the production of lytic enzymes (lipases, proteases, and cellulases) and gas, utilisation of organic acids, discolouration, and off-flavours. This review addresses the role of yeasts in foods and beverages degradation by considering the modes of contamination and colonisation by yeasts, the yeast population diversity, mechanisms involved, and the analytical techniques for their identification, primarily molecular methods.

Yeast Identification During Fermentation of Turkish Gemlik Olives

Naturally fermented black table olives of the Gemlik variety are one of the most consumed fermented products in Turkey. The objective of this work was to identify yeast strains isolated during their natural fermentation by using Restriction Fragments Lengths Polymorphism-Polimerase Chain Reaction (RFLP-PCR) and DNA sequencing methods. The study also focused on determining the effect of regional differences on yeast microflora of naturally fermented Gemlik olives. A total of 47 yeast strains belonging to 12 different species which had been previously isolated from the natural brine of Akhisar and Iznik-Gemlik cv. olives were characterized by molecular methods. Forty-two of the tested strains could be identified by RFLP-PCR to species level. These yeast species were determined as Candida mycetangi, Candida hellenica, Candida membranaefaciens, Candida famata, Candida pelliculosa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Zygosaccharomyces mrakii. Five strains were identified by DNA sequencing. These strains belonged to three different species: Aureobasidium pullulans, Kloeckera apiculate, and Cryptococcus saitoi. The most frequent species were C. famata and C. pelliculosa in both regions.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

This work studies the yeasts from Turkish table olives which could prove to be of importance to the food industry in that area. On the other hand, it compares identification by molecular and classical biochemical methods and offers an idea about the differences between the ecosystems of Gemlik olives in the Akhisar (AO) and Iznik (IO) regions. The study could be useful in characterizing a very important product and, in this way, could help to promote its marketing.

Technologies and Trends to Improve Table Olive Quality and Safety

Table olives are the most widely consumed fermented food in the Mediterranean countries. Peculiar processing technologies are used to process olives, which are aimed at the debittering of the fruits and improvement of their sensory characteristics, ensuring safety of consumption at the same time. Processors demand for novel techniques to improve industrial performances, while consumers' attention for natural and healthy foods has increased in recent years. From field to table, new techniques have been developed to decrease microbial load of potential spoilage microorganisms, improve fermentation kinetics and ensure safety of consumption of the packed products. This review article depicts current technologies and recent advances in the processing technology of table olives. Attention has been paid on pre processing technologies, some of which are still under-researched, expecially physical techniques, such ad ionizing radiations, ultrasounds and electrolyzed water solutions, which are interesting also to ensure pesticide decontamination. The selections and use of starter cultures have been extensively reviewed, particularly the characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeasts to fasten and safely drive the fermentation process. The selection and use of probiotic strains to address the request for functional foods has been reported, along with salt reduction strategies to address health concerns, associated with table olives consumption. In this respect, probiotics enriched table olives and strategies to reduce sodium intake are the main topics discussed. New processing technologies and post packaging interventions to extend the shelf life are illustrated, and main findings in modified atmosphere packaging, high pressure processing and biopreservaton applied to table olive, are reported and discussed.

Evolution of Yeast Consortia during the Fermentation of Kalamata Natural Black Olives upon Two Initial Acidification Treatments

The objective of this study was to elucidate the yeast consortia structure and dynamics during Greek-style processing of Kalamata natural black olives in different brine solutions. Olives were subjected to spontaneous fermentation in 7% (w/v) NaCl brine solution (control treatment) or brine acidified with (a) 0.5% (v/v) vinegar, and (b) 0.1% (v/v) lactic acid at the onset of fermentation. Changes in microbial counts, pH, acidity, organic acids, sugars, and alcohols were analyzed for a period of 187 days. Yeast consortia diversity was evaluated at days 4, 34, 90, 140, and 187 of fermentation. A total of 260 isolates were characterized at sub-species level by rep-PCR genomic fingerprinting with the oligo-nucleotide primer (GTG)5. The characterization of yeast isolates at species level was performed by sequencing of the D1/D2 domain of 26S rRNA gene. Results showed that yeasts dominated the process presenting a relatively broad range of biodiversity composed of 11 genera and 21 species. No lactic acid bacteria (LAB) or Enterobacteriaceae could be enumerated after 20 and 10 days of fermentation, respectively. The dominant yeast species at the beginning were Aureobasidium pullulans for control and vinegar acidification treatments, and Candida naeodendra for lactic acid treatment. Between 34 and 140 days the dominant species were Candida boidinii, Candida molendinolei and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the end of fermentation the dominant species in all processes were C. boidinii and C. molendinolei, followed by Pichia manshurica and S. cerevisiae in lactic acid acidification treatment, P. manshurica in vinegar acidification treatment, and Pichia membranifaciens in control fermentation.

Enhancement of the Knowledge on Fungal Communities in Directly Brined Aloreña de Málaga Green Olive Fermentations by Metabarcoding Analysis

Nowadays, our knowledge of the fungal biodiversity in fermented vegetables is limited although these microorganisms could have a great influence on the quality and safety of this kind of food. This work uses a metagenetic approach to obtain basic knowledge of the fungal community ecology during the course of fermentation of natural Aloreña de Málaga table olives, from reception of raw material to edible fruits. For this purpose, samples of brines and fruits were collected from two industries in Guadalhorce Valley (Málaga, Spain) at different moments of fermentation (0, 7, 30 and 120 days). The physicochemical and microbial counts performed during fermentation showed the typical evolution of this type of processes, mainly dominated by yeasts in apparent absence of Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillaceae. High-throughput barcoded pyrosequencing analysis of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region showed a low biodiversity of the fungal community, with the presence at 97% identity of 29 different fungal genera included in 105 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The most important genera in the raw material at the moment of reception in the industry were Penicillium, Cladosporium, Malassezia, and Candida, whilst after 4 months of fermentation in brines Zygotorulaspora and Pichia were predominant, whereas in fruits were Candida, Penicillium, Debaryomyces and Saccharomyces. The fungal genera Penicillium, Pichia, and Zygotorulaspora were shared among the three types of substrates during all the course of fermentation, representing the core fungal population for this table olive specialty. A phylogenetic analysis of the ITS sequences allowed a more accurate assignment of diverse OTUs to Pichia manshurica, Candida parapsilosis/C. tropicalis, Candida diddensiae, and Citeromyces nyonensis clades. This study highlights the existence of a complex fungal consortium in olive fermentations including phytopathogenic, saprofitic, spoilage and fermentative genera. Insights into the ecology, identification and quantification of fungi species in olive fermentation will facilitate the design of new strategies to improve the quality and safety of this fermented vegetable.

Distribution of tannin-'tolerant yeasts isolated from Miang, a traditional fermented tea leaf (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) in northern Thailand

Miang is a fermented food product prepared from the tea leaves of Camellia sinensis var. assamica, and is traditionally produced in mountainous areas of northern Thailand. Although Miang has a long history and reveals deep-rooted cultural involvement with local people in northern Thailand, little is known regarding its microbial diversity. Yeasts were isolated from 47 Miang samples collected from 28 sampling sites, including eight provinces in upper northern Thailand. A hundred and seven yeast isolates were recovered and identified within 14 species based on the comparison of the D1/D2 sequence of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene. Candida ethanolica was determined to be the dominant species that was frequently found in Miang together with minor resident yeast species. All yeast isolates demonstrated their tannin-tolerant capability when cultivated on yeast malt agar (YMA) containing 50g/l tannin, but nine isolates displayed clear zones forming around their colonies, e.g., Debaryomyces hansenii, Cyberlindnera rhodanensis, and Sporidiobolus ruineniae. The results obtained from a visual reading method of tannase revealed that all yeast isolates were positive for methyl gallate, indicating that they possess tannase activity. It is assumed that a tannin-tolerant ability is one of the most important factors for developing a yeast community in Miang. This research study is the first report to describe tannin-tolerant yeasts and yeast communities in traditionally fermented tea leaves.

Food borne bacterial models for detection of benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts formation using RAPD-PCR

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR is a feasible method to evaluate genotoxin-induced DNA damage and mutations. In this study, Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14917T, Enterococcus faecium DSMZ 20477T, Escherichia coli PQ37 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae S441 were screened for DNA genetic alterations by DNA fingerprinting using M13 and LA1 primers after treatment with three compounds forming covalent adducts with DNA [benzo[a]pyrenediol epoxide (BPDE), methyl methanesulfonate and 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB)]. M13 RAPD fingerprinting revealed that the total number of bands decreased in all treated DNA compared to control samples and generally the lost bands were characterized by high molecular weight. Some extra bands were detected for L. plantarum and E. faecium, while in E. coli and S. cerevisiae DNAs BPDE and DEB treatments did not result in new extra bands. Besides qualitatively analysis, cluster analysis based on Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Average algorithm was performed to compare DNA fingerprints before and after treatments. This analysis confirmed the absence of significant differences between negative controls and treated DNA in S. cerevisiae and E. coli however the disappearance of some bands can be detected. The data indicate that this approach can be used for DNA damage detection and mutations induced by genotoxic compounds and highlighted the possible use of L. plantarum and E. faecium M13 based fingerprinting as reference for hazard identification in risk assessment.

Effect of the mechanical harvest of drupes on the quality characteristics of green fermented table olives

BACKGROUND

Because of damage caused by mechanical harvesting, the drupes for table olive production are traditionally hand harvested. Until now, no data have been available on the microbiological and chemical features of mechanically harvested drupes during fermentation.

RESULTS

Drupes mechanically harvested and inoculated with Lactobacillus pentosus OM13 were characterized by the lowest concentrations of potential spoilage microorganisms. On the other hand, drupes mechanically harvested and subjected to spontaneous fermentation showed the highest concentration of Enterobacteriaceae and pseudomonads during transformation. The lowest decrease of pH (4.20) was registered for the trials inoculated with the starter culture. Differences in terms of volatile organic compounds were estimated among trials. Multivariate analysis showed that the olives processed from the drupes mechanically harvested and inoculated with starter were closely related to control production (drupes manually harvested) in terms of microbiological and pH values. Sensory analysis evidenced negative evaluations only for the uninoculated trials.

CONCLUSION

Drupes mechanically harvested and subjected to a driven fermentation with Lactobacillus pentosus OM13 determined the production of table olives with appreciable organoleptic features. Thus mechanical harvesting performed using a trunk shaker equipped with an inverse umbrella and the addition of starter lactic acid bacteria represents a valuable alternative to manual harvesting for table olive production at the industrial level.

Effect of zinc formulations, sodium chloride, and hydroxytyrosol on the growth/no-growth boundaries of table olive related yeasts

This study uses a mathematical approach to assessing the inhibitory effect of Zn(2)(+)(0-10 mM, obtained from ZnCl2 and ZnSO4) in presence of NaCl (0-8%) and hydroxytyrosol (0-2588 mg/L), on a yeast cocktail formed by species Pichia galeiformis, Pichia kudriavzevii, Pichia manshurica and Candida thaimueangensis obtained from spoilt green olive packages. The logistic/probabilistic models were built in laboratory medium using a total of 1980 responses (1188 for NaCl and 792 for hydroxytyrosol). ZnCl2 showed significantly higher inhibitory effect than ZnSO4 in the presence of both NaCl (p < 0.033) and hydroxytyrosol (p < 0.009). NaCl did not interfere the effect of Zn(2)(+)while hydroxytyrosol, at high levels, had a slight antagonistic effect. According to models, Zn(2)(+)inhibits (p = 0.01) the yeast cocktail in the range 4.5-5.0 mM for ZnCl2, or 8.5-9.5 mM for ZnSO4. Therefore, this work confirms the fungicidal activity of zinc compounds (mainly ZnCl2) in synthetic medium, and also shows that the loss of zinc effectiveness in real green Spanish-style olive packaging is not due to the presence of NaCl or hydroxytyrosol, two of the most abundant chemical compounds in the product.

The effect of NaCl reduction in the microbiological quality of cracked green table olives of the Maçanilha Algarvia cultivar

The present work aimed at studying the effect of the partial replacement of NaCl with KCl and CaCl2 of the fermenting brines on the microbiological quality of natural cracked green Maçanilha Algarvia table olives. Olives were fermented in different salt combinations (Brine 1-8% NaCl, Brine 2-4% NaCl 4% KCl, Brine 3-4% NaCl 4% CaCl2, Brine 4-4% KCl 4% CaCl2, and Brine 5-2.7% NaCl 2.7% KCl 2.7% CaCl2) and the abundance of yeasts and enterobacteria was determined. At the end of fermentation, the main microbial safety parameters were evaluated. Samples were analyzed according to standard methodologies and using Chromocult Agar (coliforms and Escherichia coli). The yeasts collected were grouped by restriction analysis of the ITS-5.8S rRNA gene and identified by partial sequencing of the 26S rRNA. Throughout the study, a decrease of the enterobacteria population was observed in all the fermentations, which was greater and faster in brines containing potassium and calcium. The main yeasts identified were Pichia membranaefaciens, Candida boidinii, Zygosaccharomyces mrakii, Priceomyces carsonii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wickerhamomyces anomalus and the yeast-like fungus Galactomyces geotrichum. The highest yeast diversity was found in olives produced in Brines 1, 2 and 3 and the lowest in Brines 4 and 5, where only the species P. membranaefaciens, C. boidinii and G. geotrichum were identified. No Pseudomonas, E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes were found in the table olives produced.

New process for production of fermented black table olives using selected autochthonous microbial resources

Table olives represent one important fermented product in Europe and, in the world, their demand is constantly increasing. At the present time, no systems are available to control black table olives spontaneous fermentation by the Greek method. During this study, a new protocol for the production of black table olives belonging to two Italian (Cellina di Nardò and Leccino) and two Greek (Kalamàta and Conservolea) cultivars has been developed: for each table olive cultivar, starter-driven fermentations were performed inoculating, firstly, one selected autochthonous yeast starter and, subsequently, one selected autochthonous LAB starter. All starters formulation were able to dominate fermentation process. The olive fermentation was monitored using specific chemical descriptors able to identify a first stage (30 days) mainly characterized by aldehydes; a second period (60 days) mainly characterized by higher alcohols, styrene and terpenes; a third fermentation stage represented by acetate esters, esters and acids. A significant decrease of fermentation time (from 8 to 12 months to a maximum of 3 months) and an significant improvement in organoleptic characteristics of the final product were obtained. This study, for the first time, describes the employment of selected autochthonous microbial resources optimized to mimic the microbial evolution already recorded during spontaneous fermentations.

Selection of yeasts with multifunctional features for application as starters in natural black table olive processing

Yeasts are unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms with a great importance in the elaboration on many foods and beverages. In the last years, researches have focused their attention to determine the favourable effects that these microorganisms could provide to table olive processing. In this context, the present study assesses, at laboratory scale, the potential technological (resistance to salt, lipase, esterase and β-glucosidase activities) and probiotic (phytase activity, survival to gastric and pancreatic digestions) features of 12 yeast strains originally isolated from Greek natural black table olive fermentations. The multivariate classification analysis carried out with all information obtained (a total of 336 quantitative input data), revealed that the most promising strains (clearly discriminated from the rest of isolates) were Pichia guilliermondii Y16 (which showed overall the highest resistance to salt and simulated digestions) and Wickerhamomyces anomalus Y18 (with the overall highest technological enzymatic activities), while the rest of strains were grouped together in two clearly differentiated clusters. Thus, this work opens the possibility for the evaluation of these two selected yeasts as multifunctional starters, alone or in combination with lactic acid bacteria, in real table olive fermentations.