Effect of Lactobacillus Buchneri Isolated from Tropical Corn Silage on Fermentation and Aerobic Stability

Abstract: The objectives of this study were evaluate the Lactobacillus buchneri strains isolated from tropical whole-plant corn silage for use as silage inoculant. The corn () plants with kernels at hard dough stage of maturity were harvested. The isolated strains 56.22, 56.27, 56.28, and 56.29 were evaluated and the theoretical application rate was 1.0 × 10⁶ cfu/g of fresh weight. Approximately seven kg of treated material were conditioned in plastic buckets (mini-silos), 25 cm diameter and 25 cm height, sealed with tight lids. The variance analysis and multiple comparisons of data were performed by the PROC MIXED procedures of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, US) and the means were separated by Tukey’s test (P ≤ 0.05). The L. buchneristrains did not affect the DM content, yeast and molds population, DM losses, WSC, lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and ethanol of corn silage after 90 d of ensiling (P > 0.050). The pH, LAB population, and acetic acid were affected by inoculants (P < 0.050). The 56.27, 56.28, and 56.29 strains showed lower pH values than the control silage. The LAB number was greater for the silages containing the strains 56.22, and 56.27 in comparison with the control silage (P = 0.003). The L. buchneri strains 56.22, 56.28, and 56.29 decreased the concentration of acetic acid in comparison with the control silage (P = 0.041). After seven days of air exposure, there was observed no improvement of inoculation with the L.buchneri strains in the aerobic stability of silage when compared to the control (P = 0.289). The overall mean for aerobic stability of corn silage was of 32.7 h. The treated and untreated silages showed high pH, high number of yeasts and molds, and low concentrations of WSC and organic acids. In conclusion, the isolated strains when applied in corn silage showed no beneficial effect.

Supported by Fapemig, CNPq CAPES, and INCT-CA