Silage Bacteriology II. Influence of Temperature Differences on the Composition of the Lactic Microflora

Abstract

At temperatures upwards of 36°C pediococci become increasingly prominent among the lactic microfiora of ryegrass silage and at 44°C lactobacilli are rarely found. This effect is not peculiar to the silage environment since it has been demon-strated in common laboratory media also. It may be explained simply on the basis of the greater capacity of pediococci for growth at the higher temperatures within the range studied. A possible significance of this phenomenon in relation to practical silage making is not presently apparent.