SummarySuccinic acid is an important C4‐building chemical platform for many applications. A novel succinic acid‐producing bacterial strain was isolated from goat rumen. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA sequence and physiological analysis indicated that the strain belongs to the genus Enterobacter. This is the first report of a wild bacterial strain from the genus Enterobacter that is capable of efficient succinic acid production. Co‐fermentation of glycerol and lactose significantly improved glycerol utilization under anaerobic conditions, debottlenecking the utilization pathway of this valuable biodiesel waste product. Succinic acid production reached 35 g l−1 when Enterobacter sp. LU1 was cultured in medium containing 50 g l−1 of glycerol and 25 g l−1 of lactose as carbon sources.

The stability of the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of yoghurts during refrigerated storage is important for industry and the consumer. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional value, microbiological quality, sensory properties, and structure of natural probiotic yoghurts made with the addition of sea buckthorn fruit mousse during refrigerated storage. In this study, we produced natural, probiotic organic yoghurts with the addition of superfoods, i.e., sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) fruit mousse, using ABT-1 probiotic yoghurt starter culture based on Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5, Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12, and Streptococcus thermophilus. Physico-chemical (acidity, nutritional value, and structure) as well as microbiological and sensory changes occurring during 21-day refrigerated storage were determined. The yoghurts were characterized by high sanitary and hygienic quality during the whole refrigerated storage. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra were also used in the analyses of the obtained yoghurt samples. The applied yoghurt additive was visible at the spectral level as an increase in the intensity of the characteristic bands for vibrations related to protein, fat, and polysaccharide structures. Sea buckthorn can be used as a modern and unconventional addition to yoghurts with health-promoting properties. Micrographic studies have shown that the addition of sea buckthorn mousse significantly changes the microstructure of the yoghurt. The structure of sea buckthorn to yoghurt seems to be more susceptible to the influence of damaging factors, which is also confirmed by the FTIR test conducted during the storage.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether the wines produced in France, Italy, Spain, and Poland differ in composition of volatile compounds, and whether red wines from Poland can be distinguished from those of other European countries. Thirty-five aroma compounds belonging to several groups -13 alcohols, 9 acids, 3 aldehydes, 7 esters, 2 ketones, and 1 volatile phenolwere identified in the examined wines. The proportions of volatile compounds in wines from the four selected countries were similar. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between French, Italian, Spanish, and Polish wines for 3-methylbutan-1-ol, butane-2,3-diol, phenylmethanol, 2-phenylethanol, dodecan-1-ol, propane-1,2,3-triol, diethyl butanedioate, 3-hydroxybutan-2-one, and 4-ethylphenol. In addition, diethyl butanedioate distinguished Polish wines from the other wines. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed that the Polish wines were well separated from the other wines. ARTICLE HISTORY

The ability of Rhizopus oryzae to produce fumaric acid in the presence of glycerol and/or various monosaccharides as carbon sources was examined for seventeen different strains of this fungi. These strains were tested in shake-flask cultures on media containing glycerol and seven different carbohydrates, including glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, and rhamnose. An interesting and applicationally useful phenomenon was observed. This work presents a new approach to the conventional microbiological method of producing fumaric acid. In the presence of 40 g/l glycerol as the sole carbon source, fumaric acid production reached 0.16–6.1 g/l after 192 h. When monosaccharides were used as a single carbon source, the maximum fumaric acid concentration was much higher; for example, 19.8 g/l was achieved when 40 g/l xylose was used. In the co-fermentation of xylose (40 g/l) and glycerol (20 g/l), post-culture broth contained approx. 28.0 g/l of fumaric acid with a process yield of 0.90 g/g after 168 h. The production of fumaric acid by Rhizopus oryzae was also increased in the dual presence of glycerol and monosaccharides like fructose, galactose, and mannose. However, results obtained on glucose-glycerol-based medium did not follow this trend, showing instead complete utilization of glucose with significant glycerol consumption, but unexpectedly low final amounts of fumaric acid and process yields. Understanding how Rhizopus oryzae utilize various carbon sources may provide alternative avenues of fumaric acid fermentation.

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Food can be a rich source of nutrients that are required for optimal health. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects cells and bodily fluids against oxidative stress. Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) is widely recognized for its health benefits, taste and qualitative attributes. It is a source of biologically active compounds, including vitamin C. The determination of the vitamin C content of new ecotypes of cornelian cherry supported the identification of the most cost-efficient and accurate analytical method. The results of this study revealed that new ecotypes of cornelian cherry differed significantly with respect to their vitamin C content. Ecotypes 5, 10, 12 and 14 had the highest concentrations of vitamin C, which were determined at 201.61-210.75 mg·100 g -1 by the titration (Tillmans) method and 70.90-82.30 mg·100 g -1 by the spectrophotometric method. Ecotype 6 had the lowest vitamin C content which ranged from 177.19 mg·100 g -1 (titration method) to 54.68 mg·100 g -1 (spectrophotometric method). The vitamin C content of cornelian cherry fruit, measured by HPLC, reached 63.1 mg·100 g -1 and it was 4-fold higher than in other analyzed fruits.Kostecka, M., Szot, I., Czernecki, T., Szot, P. (2017). Vitamin C content of new ecotypes of Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) determined by various analytical methods. Acta Sci. Pol. Hortorum Cultus, 16(4), 53-61.

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Arabitol is a polyalcohol which has about 70% of the sweetness of sucrose and an energy density of 0.2 kcal/g. Similarly to xylitol, it can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as a natural sweetener, a texturing agent, a dental caries reducer, and a humectant. Biotechnological production of arabitol from sugars represents an interesting alternative to chemical production. The yeast Scheffersomyces shehatae strain 20BM-3 isolated from rotten wood was screened for its ability to produce arabitol from L-arabinose, glucose, and xylose. This isolate, cultured at 28°C and 150 rpm, secreted 4.03 ± 0.00 to 7.97 ± 0.67 g/l of arabitol from 17-30 g/l of L-arabinose assimilated from a medium containing 20-80 g/l of this pentose with yields of 0.24 ± 0.00 to 0.36 ± 0.02 g/g. An optimization study demonstrated that pH 4.0, 32°C, and a shaking frequency of 150 rpm were the optimum conditions for arabitol production by the investigated strain. Under these conditions, strain 20BM-3 produced 6.2 ± 0.17 g/l of arabitol from 17.5 g/l of arabinose after 4 days with a yield of 0.35 ± 0.01 g/g. This strain also produced arabitol from glucose, giving much lower yields, but did not produce it from xylose. The new strain can be successfully used for arabitol production from abundantly available sugars found in plant biomass.