Technological properties of the Lactobacilli isolated from traditional sourdoughs for bread making

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have an important role in agriculture and food industry. Lactic acid bacteria are characterized as Gram-positive cocci or rods, catalase negative, non-pathogenic, and non-motile bacteria. Metabolic properties of lactic acid bacteria are important for their selection as starter cultures in production of fermented products, especially bread. The aim of this study was to examine the technological properties of the sourdough Lactobacilli isolates in order to select the proper isolates for bakery industry. In this study, technological properties of 71 lactobacilli isolated from traditional sourdoughs were evaluated. The technological properties included acid production ability, proteolytic and amylolytic activities as well as exopolysaccharides production. Most of the lactobacillus isolates (91.55%) showed amylolytic activity but isolate 51 had the highest amylolytic activity. All the isolates exhibited proteolytic activity, acidifying ability, and exopolysaccharides production. The lactobacillus isolates 31, 40, 44, 47, 51, 52, 57, 64, 70, and 71 showed the highest proteolytic activity. Exopolysaccharides production was also the highest in the isolates 19, 60, 8, 34, 36, 62, 54, 48, 68, 13, 52 and 12. The lactobacillus isolate 14 was reported the best isolate in the case of acidifying ability. Some of the lactobacillus isolates had the proper technological properties for using in bakery industry. Therefore, they could be used as starter cultures in bread production after studying in baking tests.