OBSERVATION OF THE SUITABILITY OF SINGLE STRAINS OF STREPTOCOCCUS THERMOPHILUS AND LACTOBACILLUS DELBRUECKII SUBSP. BULGARICUS ISOLATED FROM LOCAL DAIRY SOURCES IN TURKEY AS YOGURT STARTER COMBINATIONS

The present study investigated the suitability of combinations one Streptococcus thermophilus and five Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus isolates for industrial yogurt productions. The isolates were selected after a detailed pre-screening procedure based on acidification performances, production of volatile aroma compounds, texture developing properties and sensory evaluations of yogurts made from single cultures. The fermentation profiles of the combinations were investigated by monitoring the small oscillatory rheological parameters and pH reductions during fermentation. The variations in some physical, chemical and organoleptic characteristics of the yogurt samples were also monitored during cold storage at 4 ºC for 21 days. Results indicated that all the combinations reduced the milk acidity to pH 4.6 within 4-5 hour at 43 ºC. Gelation profiles of the samples were close to each other (close tan δ values) with different elastic (G') and loss (G") moduli, indicating that similar chemical bondings took place in gel formation with different levels. All the samples showed a shear-thinning non-Newtonian flow behavior. Total number of starter bacteria was higher than 6 log cfu/mL in each sample after 21 days of storage. The post-acidification rates were also limited (between 4.21-4.37 after 21 days of cold storage). Untrained sensory evaluation panel found no marginal differences between the samples regarding appearance, body and texture, and aroma and flavor of the samples. To conclude, the combinations examined in this study were found to be suitable for commercial yogurt productions.