Characterization of the indigenous fermenters for the production of fermented condiments from soybean seeds

Iheukwumere CM 1, *, Umeaku CN 2, Chukwura EN 2 and Iheukwumere IH 2

1 Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Microbiology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022, 14(02), 423–434
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2022.14.2.0410
 
Publication history: 
Received on 13 April 2022; revised on 16 May 2022; accepted on 19 May 2022
 
Abstract: 
Several studies have shown that most condiments consumed in Nigeria today are produced from allochtonous microorganisms, and these organisms are usually associated with diseases or create negative impacts into the condiments. Several attempts have been made in order to control this ugly situation but there is still controversial thought in the choice of microorganism to be used in order to produce a non-toxic and palatable condiment. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize the indigenous fermenters for the production of fermented condiments from soybean seeds. Soybean (Glycine max) sample were gotten from the market and were transferred aseptically to the laboratory for further analysis, the samples were prepared and fermented in a wrapped Thaumatococcus danielli leaves (called Uma in Igbo and Ewe eran in Yoruba). The specific microbial genera were enumerated on appropriate selected media and identified using standard identification parameters with the aid of identification and taxonomic manuals. Soybean sample was fermented with indigenous microorganisms isolated from 7 days old fermented soybean sample. This was oven-dried, pulverized and packaged in a cleaned sterile screw capped container. Lactobacillus plantarum strain ZS 2058 (L), Bacillus subtilis strain 168 (B) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain YJM555 (Y) were the indigenous microbes isolated from the 7 days locally fermented soybean and these were used for the production of light to dark brown condiments with water activity ranging from 0.27 – 0.37 for the fermented soybean in the plate and 0.22 - 0.36 for the fermented soybean wrapped with Thaumatococcus danielli leaves (called “uma” in Igbo and “ewe eran” in Yoruba). It was observed that the condiments produced using indigenous consortium of BLY was significantly (p<0.05) more preferable to the ones produced from single strain. Therefore this study has shown indigenous B, L, Y, BL and BLY produced good and palatable condiments from fermented soybean.
 
Keywords: 
Indigenous fermenters; Soybean; Lactobacillus; Bacillus subtilis; Glycine max.
 
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