Research on microbial diversity and nutritional flavor formation of Xianju wheat paste

Abstract BACKGROUND Xianju wheat paste, a traditional condiment in Hubei Province, China, possesses nutritional value and a distinctive taste profile. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of comprehensive comprehension regarding the intricate interplay between the microbial population and its nutritional profile in Xianju wheat paste. RESULTS It was determined that Xianju wheat paste harbors predominant microbial genera such as Bacillus , Staphylococcus and Aspergillus . The findings from high‐throughput sequencing analysis revealed the presence of 11 bacterial genera in Xianju wheat paste, with relative abundances exceeding 1%. These genera included Bacillus , Staphylococcus , Brevibacterium , Lactobacillus , Allorhizobium‐Neorhizobium‐Pararhizobium‐Rhizobium , Enterobacteriaceae , Pantoea , Brachybacterium , Klebsiella , Escherichia‐Shigella and Ochrobactrum . Furthermore, six fungal genera were identified with relative abundances greater than 1%, specifically Aspergillus , Zygosaccharomyces , Cutaneotrichosporon , Candida , Millerozyma and Rhizopus. The correlation analysis indicated a significant impact of the microbial community and nutritional flavor on the second phase of fermentation in Xianju wheat paste. The predominant bacterium Bacillus in Xianju wheat paste facilitated the production of free amino acids, whereas Staphylococcus exhibited a negative correlation with free amino acid levels. The quantity of volatile compounds in Xianju wheat paste progressively increased during fermentation, with the presence of typical aroma compounds 4‐vinyl‐2‐methoxyphenol significantly associated with Bacillus . This indicated Bacillus notably enhanced the production of aromatic substances. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between Staphylococcus and the 18 volatile organic compounds, highlighting their substantial contribution to these aroma compounds. CONCLUSION This research indicates that the presence of microbial communities significantly contributes to the development of the nutritional flavor profile in Xianju wheat paste. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.