Dehydrogenase Activity of Lactobacillus Species

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Abstract
The quantities of acetaldehyde and ethanol produced by single-strain cultures of Lactobacillus brevis L. casei L. lactis and L. plantarum were determined by a gas-liquid chromatographic technique after incubation at both their optimum growth temperature and at 8[degree]C. Significant differences in the production of these compounds were noted both between species and between strains within a species. Growth and production of these compounds were very slow at 8[degree]C. All organisms were capable of reducing added acetaldehyde and pro-pionaldehyde to the corresponding alcohol. In addition, L. brevis strains reduced added butanone to 2-butanol. A strain of L. brevis produced n-propanol as a normal metabolite when grown in milk cul-tures.
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