Pyrosequencing vs. culture-dependent approaches to analyze lactic acid bacteria associated to chicha, a traditional maize-based fermented beverage from Northwestern Argentina.

The diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) associated with chicha, a traditional maize-based fermented alcoholicbeverage from Northwestern Argentina, was analyzed using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches.Samples corresponding to 10 production steps were obtained from two local producers at Maimará(chicha M) and Tumbaya (chicha T). Whereas by culture-dependent approach a few number of species(Lactobacillus plantarum and Weissella viridescens in chicha M, and Enterococcus faecium and Leuconostocmesenteroides in chicha T) were identified, a higher quantitative distribution of taxa was found in both beveragesby pyrosequencing. The relative abundance of OTUs was higher in chic…