Aims
To evaluate the capacity of Lactobacillus hilgardii and Lactobacillus buchneri on modifying the bacterial community and improving fermentation and aerobic stability of high‐moisture corn (HMC).
Methods and Results
High‐moisture corn was untreated (CTR), treated with L. hilgardii (LH) or L. buchneri (LB) at 600 000 CFU per gram fresh weight, or with L. hilgardii and L. buchneri at 300 000 CFU per gram fresh weight each (LHLB), and stored for 10, 30 or 92 days. Compared to CTR, inoculated silages had higher Lactobacillaceae relative abundance, lower yeasts numbers and higher aerobic stability. Treatment with LHLB resulted in a higher acetic acid concentration than LH and higher 1,2 propanediol concentration than LB, such differences were numerically greater at 10 and 30 days but statistically greater at 92 days. At 10 days, all inoculated silages were more stable than CTR, but LHLB was even more stable than LB or LH.
Conclusions
The combination of L. hilgardii and L. buchneri had a synergistic effect on yeast inhibition, leading to greater improvements in aerobic stability as early as 10 days after ensiling.
Significance and Impact of the Study
Lactobacillus hilgardii, especially in combination with L. buchneri, can improve the aerobic stability of HMC after a very short period of ensiling.
We evaluated the effects of a chemical additive on the microbial communities, fermentation profile, and aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage with or without air stress during storage. Whole-plant corn was either untreated or treated with a chemical additive containing sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and sodium nitrite at 2 or 3 L/t of fresh forage weight. Ten individually treated and replicated silos (7.5 L) were made for each treatment. Half of the silos remained sealed throughout a 63-d storage period, and the other half was subjected to air stress for 2 h/wk. The composition of the bacterial and fungal communities of fresh forage and silages untreated or treated with 2 L/t of fresh forage weight was analyzed by Illumina Miseq sequencing. Treated silage had greater (P < 0.05) aerobic stability than untreated, even when subjected to air stress during storage, but the numbers of yeasts culturable on selective agar were not affected. However, the additive reduced the relative abundance of the lactating-assimilating yeast Candida tropicalis (P < 0.01). In air stressed silages, untreated silage had a greater (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Pichia kudriavzevii (also a lactate assimilator) than treated silage, whereas treated silage was dominated by C. humilis, which is usually unable to assimilate lactate or assimilates it slowly. The additive improved aerobic stability by specifically preventing the dominance of yeast species that can consume lactate and initiate aerobic spoilage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that identifies the specific action of this additive on shifting the microbial communities in corn silage.
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