The aim of the present study was to characterize the aroma and volatile profiles of milk fermented by wild Lactococcus lactis NRRL B-50571 (FM-571) and NRRL B-50572 (FM-572) and co-fermented with both strains (co-FM). Milks fermented by these strains have been reported to have an antihypertensive effect, yet their sensory characteristics, which are of great importance for consumer acceptance of functional foods, have not been studied. In the study, volatiles were determined using solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) and aroma was determined by quantitative descriptive sensory analysis (QDA). Volatile compounds identified in FM-571, FM-572, and co-FM were mainly acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones. FM-571 showed higher total relative volatile abundance than FM-572 or co-FM. Furthermore, the concentrations of specific amino acids (aa) were lower in FM-571 and co-FM than in FM-572. Thus, these results suggested that FM-571 or co-FM are more efficient in transforming specific aa into the corresponding volatiles than FM-572. Indeed, several alcohols and aldehydes, associated with the catabolism of these aa, were found in FM-571 and co-FM, but not in FM-572. Additionally, QDA showed that FM-571 and co-FM presented higher yeasty and cheesy aroma descriptors than FM-572. Also, total aroma intensity scores for FM-571 were higher than those for co-FM or FM-572. Thus, results suggested that the combination of these two specific wild L. lactis strains may complement amino acid catabolic routes that resulted in the enhancement or attenuation of aroma production of single strains, presenting new possibilities for the preparation of custom-made starter cultures.
Keywords: Lactococcus lactis; amino acids; aroma; proteolysis; volatile compounds.