Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of lactic acid bacteria isolated from exotic naturally fermented milk (cow and yak) products of Arunachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Exotic naturally fermented milk of cow and yak products of Arunachal Pradesh in India such as mar, chhurpi and churkam were analysed for identification of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The pH of samples was 5.32 ± 0.01 to 6.62 ± 0.01 with viable LAB count of 6.27 ± 0.01 to 6.49 ± 0.02 log cfu g−1. A total of 307 LAB isolates were isolated from 30 samples, and out of which 76 isolates were randomly grouped on the basis phenotypic characteristics, and were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis into 9 species of LAB from cow-milk products, and 5 LAB species from yak-milk products, respectively. Enterococcus durans was the predominant species along with Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lc. lactis subsp. cremoris, Lc. lactis subsp. hordniae, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans, Levilactobacillus brevis, Loigolactobacillus coryniformis subsp. torquens and Lentilactobacillus parabuchneri. Chhurpi (cow-milk) showed the higher species richness and diversity among the products.