Acid Production and Proteolytic Activity in Milk by Gamma-Irradiation Induced Mutants of Lactobacilli.

Biochemical changes in selected gamma-irradiation induced mutants of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus casei were examined. Cultures were tested after 24 h of incubation at 37 C for titratable and volatile acidities and proteolytic activity. The gamma-irradiation induced mutants exhibited 50-95% greater proteolytic activity than the unirradiated parent culutres. Some of the mutants produced greater titratable and volatile acidities in milk as compared to parent cultures. Two mutant cultures, Lb/G-1 from L. bulgaricus 59 and Lc/G-1 from L. casei RTS released significantly greater amounts of soluble nitrogen and amino nitrogen in whole casein and selected fractions than did parent cultures. Combining the mutant cultures with Streptococcus lactis C or Streptococcus cremoris C resulted in greater acid producing ability than that of the parent cultures mixed with the streptococci.