Analysis of the fungi community in multiple- and single-grains Zaopei from a Luzhou-flavor liquor distillery in western China

The fungi communities of both multiple-grains and single-grains Zaopei were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and traditional identification methods. The results of the DGGE fingerprint and the dendrogram based on banding patterns showed the diversified community structure and the phylogenetic affiliation of different Zaopei samples. The results indicated that the fungi community was affected by both raw materials and fermentation location. The genera of Debaryomyces, Pichia and Candida were dominant communities in multiple-grains Zaopei suggested by the results of both DGGE and the traditional methods, the DGGE result suggested Candida dominant in single-grains Zaopei was much different from the results by traditional method. Additionally, DGGE results showed the existence of thermophilic fungi (Thermomyces lanuginosus and Thermoascus aurantiacus) which were not detected by the traditional method. This work may contribute to further understanding of the brewing in Chinese Luzhou-flavor liquor.