Evaluating the Potential of Korean Mudflat-Derived Penicillium nalgiovense SJ02 as a Fungal Starter for Manufacturing Fermented Sausage.

The objective of this study was to isolate, identify, and evaluate novel Korean starter cultures for use in fermented sausages. A total of 72 strains were isolated from various indigenous sources, including Nuruk, Jeotgal, and mudflats on the west coast of South Korea. Two strains were identified as Penicillium nalgiovense (SD01 and SJ02), a traditional starter used in the production of fermented sausages. A comparative analysis was performed between SD01 and SJ02 using the commercial starter culture (M600). Strain SJ02 exhibited superior lipolytic and proteolytic activities, as well as an enhanced growth rate at the optimal salinity level of 2% NaCl compared to M600. No significant differences were observed in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values, sausage colors, and texture properties between SJ02 and M600 fermented sausages, except for adhesiveness. Profiles of mycotoxin-related genes were similar for both strains. Electronic nose analysis revealed distinct aroma profiles between SJ02 and M600 fermented sausages, with a relatively higher levels of propan-2-one and butyl butanoate in SJ02, and a higher level of ethanol and propanal in M600. In electronic tongue analysis, there was no significant differences in taste characteristics between SJ02 and M600. These results indicate that P. nalgiovense SJ02 is a potential starter culture to produce dry fermented sausages, enhancing Korean style cured meat processing industry.

Penicillium salamii strain ITEM 15302: A new promising fungal starter for salami production.

Traditional sausages are often considered of superior quality to sausages inoculated with commercial starter cultures and this is partially due to the action of the typical house microflora. Penicillium nalgiovense is the species commonly used as starter culture for dry-cured meat production. Recently a new species, Penicillium salamii, was described as typical colonizer during salami seasoning. In order to understand its contribution to the seasoning process, two different experiments on curing of fresh pork sausages were conducted using P. salamii ITEM 15302 in comparison with P. nalgiovense ITEM 15292 at small and industrial scale, and the dry-cured sausages were subjected to sensory analyses. Additionally, proteolytic and lipolytic in vitro assays were performed on both strains. P. salamii ITEM 15302 proved to be a fast growing mould on dry-cured sausage casings, well adapted to the seasoning process, with high lipolytic and proteolytic enzymatic activity that confers typical sensory characteristics to meat products. Therefore, P. salamii ITEM 15302 was shown to be a good candidate as new starter for meat industry.