Numerical taxonomy of proteolytic psychrotrophs from Queensland raw milks

Eighty-seven proteolytic psychrotrophic micro-organisms were isolated from 11 bulk milk supplies of two Queensland factories from different climatic regions, before and after storage at 4 degrees C for 7 d. These isolates together with 15 reference strains formed the basis of a numerical taxonomic study involving 81 attributes. All but six isolates were pseudomonads. The strains clustered into nine groups, of which one group consisted of four yeasts. One group, containing 39 isolates, was designated as Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar 1; three groups, containing 27 isolates, as Ps. fluorescens biovar 5; and one group, containing 10 isolates, as Ps. putida biovar A. This study showed that the proteolytic psychrotrophic microflora of the 11 milks supplying the two factories was substantially different and that the proteolytic flora of 7 d refrigerated milk could not be estimated by examining the flora before storage.