Fig. 1 shows the growth of yeasts and bacteria during the fermentation
of cocoa beans in the absence and presence of 500 ppm Nisaplin
(beans harvested in March 2011). For fermentations not treated with
nisin, yeasts (approximately 103
–104 CFU/g) and bacteria (102 CFU/g)
were present at the commencement of fermentation and grew to populations
of 107
–108 CFU/g within 48–72 h before declining. LAB were first
detected at 24 h, after which they grew to populations of 106 CFU/g and
then decreased to about 103 CFU/g at the end of fermentation (Fig. 1a).