Results of the cluster analysis and species identi-fication of the 200 LAB isolates were shown in Fig. 3-5. Innaturally fermented batch, bacteria in the genus Weissellawere predominant in the beginning of the fermentation butthen quickly replaced by Lb. plantarum and Lb. fermentumon day 3. Domination and succession of several Lb.plantarum isolates (demonstrated by different fingerprintpatterns) occurred until the end of the fermentation period(Fig. 3). The result of LAB population analysis in thelow-inoculum batches is shown in Fig. 4. In both tanks,similar to the naturally fermented batch, Weissella wasthe predominant bacteria at the beginning and was quicklyreplaced by other LAB on day 3. In tank A, the starterculture was successfully grown and become the majorpopulation on day 3 and then replaced by Lb. fermentumand Lb. plantarum on day 7 and day 12 (Fig. 4a). In tankB, small portion of the starter culture was successfully