Abstract
By using a synthetic medium simulated on the amino acid composition of soybeam, the effect of salt concentrations on the production of volatile organic acid by the strains of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii So-3101, a soy sauce yeast, was studied at the concentrations of 12.5, 18.0, 22.0 and 28.5% NaCl. The growth, consumption of glucose, and production of alcohol, total acid and volatile organic acid, showed the highest values at a concentration of 12.5% NaCl, and those values were decreased with an increase in the salt concentration. The ratio of volatile organic acid to total organic acid was remained at approximately the same level within the range of salt concentrations between 12.5~22.0%, whereas the ratio was decreased at a salt concentration of 28.5%. After incubation for 16 days, 8 volatile organic acids, i.e. acetic, propionic, n-butyric, isobutyric, isovaleric, isocaproic, n-caproic, and heptanoic acids, were detected by gas chromatography. Among the volatile organic acids, acetic acid was produced in the appreciable amiunt and its ratio to the other volatile acids was increased with an increase in the salt concentration.A small amount of isocaproic, propionic, isobutyric and isovaleric acids were produced, and n-caproic, n-butyric and heptanoic acids were detected only at the lower salt concentration.
