Microbial synergy between YS201 and BS38 improves pulp degradation and aroma production in cocoa pulp simulation medium.

Interactions between two major microorganisms from Ivorian cocoa fermentation, namely BS38 and YS201, were investigated during fermentation in cocoa pulp simulation medium. The strains were mutually inhibitory, with being more susceptible to this antagonistic effect than . However, both strains yielded different pulp-degrading enzymes, namely polygalacturonase (PG) from and pectate lyase (Pel) from , that cooperate to efficiently breakdown pectin and vegetable pulp. The quantification of aromas from microbial cultures using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) coupled with headspace microextration (SPME) method, showed that produce mainly alcohols such as ethanol (63.165 g/L), phenylethanol (1.005 g/L), methylbutanol (0.138 g/L) and esters, notably ethyl acetate (0.037 g/L) and isoamyl acetate (0.032 g/L). The volatile fraction produced by was dominated by butanediol (5.707 g/L), acetoin (1.933 g/L), phenylethanol (0.035 g/L) and acetic acid (0.034 g/L). In co-culture, produced low levels of aroma compounds whereas a moderate decrease in the production of these compounds was observed in the yeasts strain. Thus, the dominant aromas present in the co-culture were mainly those from the yeasts strain; however, a 1.37 fold increase of ethanol production was observed in co-culture indicating a synergy between the strains. This study showed that cooperation between BS38 and YS201 leads principally to increasing pulp degradation and ethanol production, known as desirable properties for a well processing of cocoa fermentation.