Microbial network and fermentation modulation of Napier grass and sugarcane top silage in southern Africa

Microbiol Spectr. 2024 Jan 11;12(1):e0303223. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.03032-23. Epub 2023 Dec 12.

Abstract

Feed shortage in the tropics is a major constraint to the production of livestock products such as milk and meat. In order to effectively utilize of local feed resources, the selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain was used to prepare Napier grass and sugarcane top silage. The results showed that the two silages inoculated with LAB formed a co-occurrence microbial network dominated by Lactiplantibacillus during the fermentation process, regulated the microbial community structure and metabolic pathways, and improved the silage fermentation quality. This is of great significance for alleviating feed shortage and promoting sustainable production of livestock.

Keywords: PacBio SMRT; fermentation modulation; lactic acid bacteria screening; microbial co-occurrence network; tropical silage.

MeSH terms

  • Africa, Southern
  • Animals
  • Fermentation
  • Lactobacillales*
  • Lactobacillus / genetics
  • Lactobacillus / metabolism
  • Livestock
  • Saccharum*
  • Silage / analysis
  • Silage / microbiology

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