Characterization of Lactobacillus plantarum from wine must by PCR species-specific and RAPD-PCR

AIMS: Physiological and molecular analysis such as PCR species-specific and randomly amplified polymorphic PCR (RAPD-PCR) have been used for typing of Lactobacillus plantarum strains from typical wine must. METHODS AND RESULTS: Phenotypic tests such as API 50CH and evaluation of D-L-lactate production from glucose were used to perform a preliminary characterization of lactobacilli. Furthermore, 18 strains of lactobacilli were analyzed by PCR species-specific oligonucleotides based on short sequences of the recA gene. CONCLUSIONS: Four strains were identified as belonging to the L. plantarum species and were further analysed by RAPD-PCR. The RAPD-PCR profiles were similar in all strains that had positive results for species-specific PCR, suggesting that the four L. plantarum strains were closely related. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Using PCR species-specific as a preliminary screening test and then RAPD-PCR can be as considered the most reliable method of performing a rapid and correct typing of L. plantarum from wine must.