Monitoring of Leuconostoc population during sauerkraut fermentation by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

A real-time PCR assay method was established to monitor Leuconostoc spp. populations via specific amplification of the dextransucrase gene. Quantification of L. mesenteroides B-512F using both genomic DNA and cell suspensions yielded a log-linear correlation spanning approximately 5 log units. By using this method, monitoring changes of Leuconostoc spp. during sauerkraut fermentation was successfully accomplished with accuracy after inoculation of starter and sugars (sucrose and maltose).