One of the important problems in traditional Nata de Coco (Nata) fermentation is production inconsistency
due to strain or genetic variability reflecting mixed microbial communities involved in this process. This research
was aimed at examine the population dynamics of the bacterial community during the fermentation processes.
Samples were collected daily for six days from fermentation media derived from “good” and “bad” Nata
fermentation. We compared the levels of bacterial diversity through amplified 16S-rRNA (ARDRA). DNA was
extracted directly from the fermentation media and 16S-rRNA gene was amplified employing Universal Bacterial
Primers. The amplicons were cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector, and restriction enzymes HaeIII and RsaI were used
to generate ARDRA profiles. ARDRA phylotypes of DNA extracted from the fermentation medium obtained from
different Nata qualities were compared. Phylotype profiles demonstrated unique bacterial community profiles
for different conditions of Nata quality, which could be developed as a parameter to monitor Nata quality during
fermentation. In this research we found that the dynamics of the bacterial population involved in Nata fermentation
were a crucial factor for determining traditional Nata quality.