Isolation, screening, and identification of lactic acid bacteria from sugarcane sheaths

Twenty strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated from sugarcane sheaths packed in silage for 0–90 d and fermented by traditional culture. The isolated and purified strains were identified by morphological observation, API 50CH biochemical kit identification, and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and their acid production capacity was determined. The results showed that strain Y42 was Lactobacillus casei, strains Y32 and Y59 were L. paracasei, and all other strains were L. plantarum. After fermentation for 18 h, the strains’ fermented liquid pH values can be reduced to less than 3.70. The pH of strain Y67 was the lowest at 3.57. The 20 strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from sugarcane sheaths showed a strong capacity for producing acid and good silage potential. These strains could be used for preparing fermentation agents for silage.