Rhizopus oligosporus
| Rhizopus oligosporus | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Rhizopus oligosporus on homemade Tempeh | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Order: | Mucorales |
| Family: | Mucoraceae |
| Genus: | Rhizopus |
| Species: | R. oligosporus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhizopus oligosporus Saito |
|
Rhizopus oligosporus is a fungus of the family Mucoraceae that is a widely used starter culture for the home production of tempeh.[1] The spores produce fluffy, white mycelia, binding the beans together to create an edible “cake” of partly fermented soybeans.
Rhizopus oligosporus produces an antibiotic that inhibits gram-positive bacteria, including the potentially harmful Staphylococcus aureus and the beneficial Bacillus subtilis (present in nattō), even after the Rhizopus is consumed.[2] This supports anecdotal evidence that those who eat tempeh regularly have fewer intestinal infections.
One strain of this fungus used in tempeh production was shown to contain bacterial endosymbionts of the genus Burkholderia, which were shown to produce toxic rhizoxins.[3] Whether other strains used for tempeh production contain these bacteria has not been established.
Rhizopus oligosporus is more properly known as Rhizopus microsporus var. oligosporus.
[edit] References
- ^ "How to make tempeh?". Top Cultures. http://www.soya.be/how-to-make-tempeh.php. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
- ^ Kobayasi S, Okazaki N, Koseki T (January 1992). "Purification and characterization of an antibiotic substance produced from Rhizopus oligosporus IFO 8631". Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 56 (2): 94–8. doi:10.1271/bbb.56.94. PMID 1368137.
- ^ Rohm B, Scherlach K, Möbius N, Partida-Martinez LP, Hertweck C (2010). "Toxin production by bacterial endosymbionts of a Rhizopus microsporus strain used for tempe/sufu processing". Int. J. Food Microbiol. 136 (3): 368–371. PMID 19942312.
[edit] External links
- Index Fungorum page (synonyms)
- The Book of Tempeh: Professional Edition - by Shurtleff and Aoyagi (1979).
- Tempeh production: a craft and technical manual - By William Shurtleff, Akiko Aoyagi, Soyfoods Center (Lafayette, Calif.)
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