MIXED INOCULATION USING FERULIC ACID ESTERASE-PRODUCING LACTOBACILLI IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL, FERMENTATIVE AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF CORN STOVER SILAGE

ANDRADA E; SUAREZ, N; ABEIJÓN-MUKDSI, MC; MEDINA, R

San Miguel de Tucumán

Simposio; VI International Symposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria - I Argentinean-Japanese Lactic Acid Bacteria ?Tohoku Forum for Creativity? Meeting; 2024

Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos

Mixed inoculants combine different species of lactic acid bacteria to potentiate its effects, and currently dominate the silage market. Ferulic acid esterase producing (FAE+)-inoculants can potentially enhance the fiber digestibility by ruminants, therefore enhancing their productive performance. Up to date, mixed FAE+ inoculants are scarcely studied. We have previously studied three FAE+ lactobacilli that induced positive and different fermentative and nutritional modifications in cornstover when used as single-strain inoculants. In this work, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the mixed inoculation of these strains. Therefore, an uninoculated control (UN) group was compared to the inoculation of two formulae: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CRL2241 and Levilactobacillus brevis CRL2239 (MixLPB), or these strains plus the addition of Lactobacillus johnsonii CRL2240 (MixLPBJ). Inoculants were applied (10^6 CFU/g fresh matter) and vacuum-sealed. In 60-day cornstover silos, fermentative (soluble carbohydrates, organic acids and ethanol), nutritional (fiber digestibility) and functional (total phenolic compounds, concentration of hydroxycinnamic acids, antiradical activity) parameters were determined. Likewise, a metagenomic analysis of the bacterial community was carried out. The studies showed that both mix formulae reduced dry matter losses (2% LPB vs UN), and increased the free ferulic acid content (10X vs UN) and antioxidant activity of cornstover. Metagenomic analysis revealed a strong lactobacilli dominance in the inoculated silages. When compared to LPB, LPBJ further reduced dry matter loss (4% vs UN), and cellulose content (2% vs UN). In conclusion, beneficial modifications were induced by mixed inoculants when considering their fermentative, nutritional and functional parameters.