LYSOGENY OF OENOCOCCUS-OENI (SYN. LEUCONOSTOC-OENOS) AND STUDY OF THEIR INDUCED BACTERIOPHAGES

A large number of strains of Oenococcus oeni (formerly Leuconostoc oen os) that had been isolated from wines were checked for lysogeny with m itomycin C as inducer. As a result of this test, 45% of the strains pr oved to be lysogenic, suggesting that lysogeny is widespread among bac teria isolated from wines during malolactic fermentation. The sensitiv ity of bacteria to phages was very different, depending on the strain. All the lysogenic strains were resistant to infection by the temperat e phage they released. Some phages infected none of the strains. Phage s of Oenoc. oeni had a classical morphology, an isometric head, and a long striated tail. With the broadest host strain as an indicator, pha ges were detected in wines after malolactic fermentation.