Physiological and biochemical characteristics of lactic acid bacteriaisolated from Kobresia littledalei in Tibet

Two strains of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. Mesenteroides, 11 strains of Weissella confusa and 6 strains of W. cibaria were isolated from Kobresia littledalei growing on the Tibetan Platea. The physiological and biochemical characteristics of these epiphytic lactic acid bacteria were analyzed in this study. The results of sugar fermentation patterns and salt, temperature and pH tolerance test showed that, compared with the same species strains isolated from conventional conditions, the Weissella and Leuconostoc strains could be cultured at 4～40 ℃, and a part of W. confusa strains could grow weekly at 50 ℃; Weissella strains could grow when the pH values were 3.0 and 9.5; Weissella strains could grow when the concentration of NaCl is 18%; the strains isolated from W. cibaria could ferment galactose, and strains isolated from W. confusa could ferment arabinose, melibiose andmannitol. Therefore, the lactic acid bacteria isolated from K. littledalei not only have stronger temperature, acid and alkali resistance, but also can ferment more carbohydrates than that of strains isolated under conventional conditions. The results of this study can provide scientific basis for researches on diversity of lactic acid bacteria in QinghaiTibet Plateau and their application in silage.