Effects of water activity, NaCl and smoke concentrations on the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 12315

The effect of water activity (aw), NaCl and liquid smoke concentrations on the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum, was studied in MRS broth under anaerobic conditions. A complete 23 factorial design was used to determine influential factors and interactions among these factors. NaCl concentration and aw had a major effect on the maximum biomass obtained but no interaction influenced this response. Smoke did not affect either biomass nor acidifying capacities.