Effect of dominant specie of lactic acid bacteria from tomato on natural microflora development in tomato puree

The dominant lactic acid bacteria specie from tomatoes surface and its effect, as competitive microflora, on tomato puree during storage at 30 degrees C was investigated. Four genera were found Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides being the dominant group. Leuc. mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides Tsc when inoculated on tomato puree, pH 4.1, grew approximately 2 log cycles in 48 h, inhibiting natural bacterial development and delaying the growth of yeasts. The faster organic acids production by inoculated microorganism contributed to the diminution in the natural microffora cells number. This microorganism could be considered to help to control the contaminates proliferation on tomato puree during storage at abusive temperature. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.