3. Results and discussion
3.1. Laboratory-scale fermentation
Fig. 1 shows the fermentation kinetics of the pure and mixed fermentations
that were carried out at the laboratory scale, to evaluate
the inoculation modality of mixed fermentations according to the
yeast interactions. Differences in the fermentation kinetics among the
various mixed fermentations were evident. In particular, the fermentation
kinetics appeared to be driven by the presence of S. cerevisiae.
Indeed, the longer the time when Z. florentina acted in the absence of
Saccharomyces, the lower the fermentation kinetics. Thiswas supported
by the following observations: (i) the lower fermentation kinetics of the
trials inoculated with S. cerevisiae after 48 h, compared to S. cerevisiae
inoculation at 24 h; (ii) the lowest fermentation kinetics when
Z. florentina was in pure culture; and, in contrast, (iii) the highest
fermentation kinetics when S. cerevisiae was in pure culture.