Oenococcus oeni Lifestyle Modulates Wine Volatilome and Malolactic Fermentation Outcome

In this study, nine Oenococcus oeni strains were tested for their ability to adhere to polystyrene using mMRS and wine as culture media. Moreover, planktonic and biofilm-detached cells were investigated for their influence on malic acid degradation kinetics and aroma compound production. Three strains were able to adhere on polystyrene plates in a strain-dependent way. In particular, MALOBACT-T1 and ISO359 strains mainly grew as planktonic cells, while the ISO360 strain was found prevalent in sessile state. The strain-dependent adhesion ability was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Planktonic and biofilm detached cells showed a different metabolism. In fact, biofilm-detached cells had a better malic acid degradation kinetic and influenced the aroma composition of resulting wines, acting on the final concentration of esters, higher alcohols, and organic acids. Oenococcus oeni in biofilm lifestyle seems to be a suitable tool to improve malolactic fermentation outcome, and to contribute to wine aroma. The industrial-scale application of this strategy should be implemented to develop novel wine styles.

The oenological interest of fumaric acid: Stop malolactic fermentation and preserve the freshness of wines

One of the problems related to the increase in average temperatures in the wine-growing regions is the lower accumulation of organic acids in the berries. Wine freshness depends to a great extent on its acidity. Herein, the effectiveness of fumaric acid to inhibit malolactic fermentation or to stop it once initiated is evaluated in order to preserve the malic acid content. Different doses of fumaric acid and SO2 were tested. The ability of these compounds to inhibit bacterial development and stop the malic acid degradation was tested on a red wine of the variety Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo whose malic acid content was set at 1.5 g/L. The control wine inoculated with 6 log CFU/mL of Oenococcus oeni finished the malolactic fermentation in 12 days. However, the use of doses equal to or greater than 300 mg/L of fumaric acid delayed the onset of malolactic fermentation for more than 50 days with little degradation of malic acid. In addition, fumaric acid proved to be effective in stopping malolactic fermentation already started where the bacterial count was 7 log CFU/mL. Fumaric acid can be considered as a potent inhibitor of malolactic fermentation.

Simultaneous and Sequential Fermentations with Saccharomyces cerevisiae DJ02 and Lactobacliius acidophilus WS in Pear Wine

The two controlled inoculation procedures of simultaneous and sequential fermentations with Saccharomyces Cerevisiae DJ02 and Lactobacliius acidophilus WS were studied in pear wine. The sugar consumption and ethanol product were delayed in the course of simultaneous fermentation contrary to the single fermentation. However in the sequential fermentation the effect was less than the simultaneous fermentation. In this work the function of malic acid degradation in the sequential fermentation was better than the simultaneous fermentation. The pH value of the pear wine came to 3.9 after the sequential fermentation. The change tendency of the yeast population after adding Lactobacliius acidophilus WS was similar to the yeast single fermentation in the simultaneous and sequential fermentation. But the cell population was went down in the course of the fermentation. The population of Lactobacliius acidophilus WS in the course of the two kinds of fermentation methods showed no significantly differences.

Development of a reliable and easy method for screening Oenococcus carbohydrate consumption profile

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Aims</strong>: The aim of this study was to develop a colorimetric test to determine <em>Oenococcus</em> carbohydrate consumption profile.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods and results</strong>: A semi-defined growth medium which enabled efficient bacterial growth and medium acidification in the presence of glucose was developed. The inoculum size and the presence of citrate in the medium were optimized. Acidification of the medium was revealed by adding bromocresol green and was shown to be perfectly correlated with D-glucose, D-fructose, L-arabinose, D-xylose, L-rhamnose, D-cellobiose or D-trehalose consumption by 23 distinct <em>O. oeni</em> strains and one <em>O. kitaharae</em> strain (confirmed with HPLC analysis).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Significance and impact of the study</strong>: Efficient bacterial growth is essential before malic acid degradation occurs in wine. The method developed here will facilitate the comparison of numerous <em>O. oeni</em> strains and their ability to grow by using the various carbohydrates present in wine prior to malolactic fermentation.</p>

Identifying Flavor Metabolites Under Ethylene Regulation in Apples

To understand the role of ethylene in overall flavor of apple fruits, ethylene production, and action were reduced using apple trees lines transformed for suppressing activity of ACC-synthase or ACC-oxidase enzymes, and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an ethylene action inhibitor. A major reduction in ethylene biosynthesis and respiration rates was measured in fruits from these treatments. As expected, we found differential levels of dependence of flavor components on ethylene biosynthesis and action. Regarding aroma production, an ethyleneassociated event, headspace analysis showed a reduction in ester production in the ethylene-suppressed lines and in the apples treated with 1.0 μL·L-1 1-MCP for 20 hours at 20 °C. However, no major differences were observed in concentrations of alcohol and aldehyde volatiles. Other flavor metabolites that showed an ethylene-dependent pattern were organic acids and sugars. Malic acid degradation was significantly reduced under ethylene suppressed conditions, showing a recovery after exposing the fruit to ethylene. Sucrose and fructose concentrations were influenced by suppression or enhancement of ethylene. Total phenolics and individual phenolics showed an ethylene-dependent behavior only when ethylene biosynthesis was reduced, but not when ethylene action was affected. These results suggest that the regulatory mechanisms of aroma biosynthesis in apple are under partial ethylene regulation. Therefore, we are using the ethylene suppressed apple fruits study the channeling and regulation of other metabolic pathways that lead to the manifestation of a complex trait like fruit quality.

Stimulation de la fermentation malolactique par l'addition au vin d'enveloppes cellulaires de levure et différents adjuvants de nature polysaccharidique et azotée

<p style="text-align: justify;">L'addition au vin d'écorces de levure (0,2 g par litre) permet une stimulation de la fermentation malolactique. Leur action s'exerce en augmentant la population bactérienne et surtout en retardant et atténuant la phase de déclin. Le traitement du vin par des polysaccharides (alginates, polysaccharides extraits de vin) ou par l'extrait de levure accelere aussi le processus de dégradation de l'acide malique. Ces adjuvants agissent probablement en limitant l'action inhibitrice de certains métabolites levuriens tels les acides gras.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">+++</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Addition of yeast ghosts to wine (0,2 g per liter) stimulates the malolactic fermentation. The bacterial population is increased furthermore the declin phase is delayed. Addition of polysaccharides to wine (alginate, polysaccharides extracted from wine) or yeast extract also accelerate the malic acid degradation. These additions probably limit the inhibition by some products of the yeast metabolism like fatty acids.</p>