Use of indirect conductimetry to predict the growth of spoilage yeasts, with special consideration of Zygosaccharomyces bailii

Abstract

In recent years, modeling for the purpose of predicting microbiological spoilage of foods has gained much interest. Predictive modeling requires a concentrated mathematical and experimental approach; to collect data of adequate quality is a technically demanding task when several experimental parameters are involved. Rapid, non-traditional, automated techniques are particularly useful in modeling. Of these, electrometric techniques appear to be most promising. Indirect conductimetry was used to study the effect of temperature, a w, automated Malthus 2000 instrument proved to be convenient for gathering a large amount of data that were then used to develop polynomial models describing the response of the yeasts to combinations of experimental factors in terms of conductimetric detection time and maximum rate of change in conductance. Results demonstrated that indirect conductimetry is suitable for monitoring the effect of environmental factors on the growth and activity of Z. bailii and perhaps other food spoilage yeasts.