Flavor production in fermented chayote inoculated with lactic acid bacteria strains: Genomics and metabolomics based analysis

In this study, genomics and metabolomics were combined to reveal possible bio-synthetic pathways of core flavor compounds in pickled chayote via lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation. The Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Levilactobacillus brevis, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei were selected as core LAB strains with better flavor-producing ability for chayote fermentation. The genomic results showed L. plantarum contained the largest number of metabolism annotated genes, while L. brevis had the fewest. Besides, the largest number of volatile compounds was detected in chayote fermented by L. plantarum, followed by L. brevis and L. paracasei. Some unique odor-active compounds (aldehydes, esters, and alcohols) and taste-active compounds (amino acids and dipeptides) were produced by different LAB strains. Accordingly, phenylalanine metabolic pathway (M00360), amino acid metabolic decomposition pathway (the Ehrlich pathway) and the anabolic pathway (the Harris pathway), and fatty acid biosynthesis pathway (M00061) were the main biosynthesis pathway involved in the flavor formation via LAB fermentation.