Fermentation of yam: microbiology and sensory evaluation of cooked fermented yam tissues

The microflora of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata L.) slices fermented anaerobically in 1.5 percent brine for five days at room temperature were studied. The hydrolysis of the carbohydrate and the subsequent conversion of sugars and minerals by the fermenting microbes contributed much to the increased microbial load especially within the first 72 hours of fermentation. The organisms implicated in the fermentation include the species of Pediococcus, Lactobacillus and Pseudomonas, Bacillus subtilis and two other Gram negative coccal cells, yet to be identified. The decrease in microbial counts at the latter stage of fermentation was attributed to the high total acidity of the medium, which was about 2.67 times the initial value of 0.027% lactic acid. Meanwhile, the lactic acid bacteria increased continuously throughout the period of fermentation.