EN
Four lactobacilli strains (Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacilus casei and Lactobacillus reuteri) were grown in MRS broth and three lactococci strains (Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetilactis) were grown in M17 broth. L. reuteri and S. thermophilus were chosen on the basis of the best mean β-galactosidase activity of 10.44 and 10.01 U/ml respectively, for further studies on permeate-based medium. The maximum production of β-galactosidase by L. reuteri was achieved at lactose concentration of 6%, initial pH 5.0–7.5, ammonium phosphate as nitrogen source at a concentration of 0.66 g N/L and incubation temperature at 30°C/24 hrs to give 6.31 U/ml. While in case of S. thermophilus, maximum β-galactosidase production was achieved at 10% lactose concentration of permeate medium, supplemented with phosphate buffer ratio of 0.5:0.5 (KH2PO4:K2HPO4, g/L), at initial pH 6.0–6.5, ammonium phosphate (0.66g N/L ) as nitrogen source and incubation temperature 35°C for 24 hrs to give 7.85 U/ml.