Investigation of exopolysaccharide producing bacteria isolated

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The deterioration of harvested sugarcane as a result of bacterial growth causesmajor losses of sucrose and a build-up of exopolysaccharides (EPS).Polysaccharides present during production increase the massecuite viscosity, whichnegatively influences evaporation and crystallisation. In this study 38 culturable EPSproducingbacteria were isolated from milled sugarcane. Analysis of the EPS showedthe ubiquitous presence of glucose, however, 14 polysaccharides also containedmannose, fructose or galactose. In vitro treatment using Chaetomium erraticumdextranase to evaluate is effectiveness indicated that 37 of the EPS were hydrolysedto some extent. There were 21 polysaccharides that were only partially digested. Thecapacity of the isolates to produce EPS on different sugars indicated a correlationbetween sucrose and polysaccharide formation in 37 isolates. The results indicatethere are more species involved in EPS production than previously thought as wellas the presence of non-dextran polysaccharides.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University