COLOR DEVELOPMENT BY RED-SMEAR SURFACE BACTERIA

Development of red-brown pigments typical for Tilsit cheese by smear b acteria was studied in milk-based model systems. The yellow pigmented Arthrobacter strain CA12 was found to be essential. Pure milk cultures of strain CA12 developed an extracellular yellow color. Addition of c asein hydrolysate led to a production of red brown color by the same s train. The production of red-brown pigments could not be reproduced by the addition of single amino acids. In mixed culture of Arthrobacter strain CA12 with proteolytic Brevibacterium linens strains, the same r ed-brown color was produced. This was independent of the pigmentation of the Brevibacterium strain used for the experiments. Absorbance spec tra showed that the red-brown color was related to the original Arthro bacter yellow pigments.