Bacterial community succession and biogenic amine changes during fermentation of fish‐chili paste inoculated with different commercial starter cultures

Summary The microbial dynamics, diversity and succession characterisation during the fermentation of fish‐chili paste, with and without starter cultures by high‐throughput sequencing, were investigated to identify the relationship between microbial composition and the accumulation of biogenic amines. Results showed that Firmicutes was the predominant phylum, and Lactobacillus and Weissella were the main genera during fermentation process, regardless of the inclusion of starter cultures. Compared with naturally fermented samples (NS; no starter cultures), Pediococcus and Staphylococcus flourished in samples inoculated with SBM‐52 starter culture ( Staphylococcus xylosus + Staphylococcus carnosus + Pediococcus pentosaceus + Pediococcus acidilactici ). Staphylococcus also accounted for a larger proportion in samples inoculated with WBX‐43 starter culture ( Staphylococcus xylosus + Staphylococcus carnosus ). Furthermore, Enterobacter was inhibited in inoculated samples. Unweighted pair‐group method with arithmetic means and principal component analyses revealed that microbiota structures were different among NS, SBM and WBX samples. In case of biogenic amines, the concentration of putrescine, cadaverine and tyramine increased to higher levels in NS samples compared with inoculated samples. Our work also investigated the relationship between core bacterial communities and biogenic amines. This study provided an improved understanding for the effects of starter cultures on the microbial community and the quality of fish‐chili paste.