Production of Leuconostoc oenos Biomass under pH Control

Leuconostoc oenos was grown on apple juice-based media. The effect of pH control on metabolism and biomass production was studied. Without pH control, L. oenos acidified the apple juice media to approximately pH 3.6. More than 75% of the malic acid was used under these conditions, but less than half of the carbohydrates was assimilated. Under pH control, biomass yields increased by 60%; most of the malic acid was used, but high levels of unfermented carbohydrates remained. The addition of tomato juice, vitamins, nucleotides, Mn, and malic acid did not permit further increases in the cell counts; however, malic acid did induce further acidification. Growth without pH control favored a more homofermentative metabolism. Biomass production was higher in filter-sterilized apple juice media compared with that in the autoclaved media.