Temporal variation in quality characteristics of nutritional constituents and bacterial community during dry salt-fermentation of hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha)

Abstract

AbstractNutritional constituents and bacterial community of hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) at different stages of dry salt-fermentation; namely, F1 (after 2 days of salting), F2 (after 5 days of salting) and F3 (ripe product after 15 days of salting) was studied. Dry salt-fermentation did not negatively affect proximate biochemical composition. Total protein content in F1, F2 and F3 was 10.14, 22.30 and 16.21 mg/ml, respectively. With progression of ripening process, protein solubility gradually decreased. In all stages, about 98% protein digestibility was found. TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) values at F1, F2 and F3 stages was 0.30, 0.41 and 0.95 mg MDA/kg, respectively and within acceptable limit. A total of 3,248 OTUs were found. Of the identified 48 phyla, Proteobacteria (66%), Firmicutes (18%) and Bacteroidota (11%) were abundant at F1 stage but Firmicutes (82%) and Proteobacteria (9%) were dominant at F3 stage. Significant differences in the microbial β-diversity among initial, interim and ripe product were observed. There was no significant α-diversity difference at individual stages of dry salt-fermentation of hilsa. Functional gene profile revealed that, in the final product microbial genes related to organismal systems replaced human disease related genes found in initial and interim product. These findings provide new clues for in-depth characterization of salt-fermented foods from viewpoint of food chemistry and microbiology. Graphical Abstract