Morphocultural characteristics of lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from spontaneous yogurt samples used in some villages of Azerbaijan

The presented article investigates the morphological and cultural characteristics of lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from spontaneous sour milk products brought from 7 different settlements (Boyuk Bahmanli, Arayatılı, Zargar, Bala Bahmanli, Dilagarda, Babi, Molla Maharramli) located in the Fuzuli district of the Karabakh region. 12 lactic acid bacteria strains (BB1, BB2, AR3, AR4, ZG5, ZG6, BA7, BA8, BA9, DI10, BI11, MM12) were isolated from spontaneous sour milk products brought from these settlements. Two strains (ZG5, ZG6) were observed in the sour milk product of Boyuk Bahmanli (BB1, BB2), Arayatli (AR3, AR4) and Zargar, three strains (BA7, BA8, BA9) were observed in Bala Bahmanli, and one strain (MM12) was observed in Dilaghar (DI10), Babi (BI11), and Molla Maharramli. The color of the colonies of these strains was whitish, yellowish, orange, light pink, shiny, with relatively dark middle parts, and smooth, concave-convex edges. According to their morphological structure, 8 lactic acid bacteria strains (BB1, AR3, AR4, ZG5, BA7, BA8, BI11, MM12) were cocci-shaped and belonged to the Streptococcus genus, and 4 lactic acid bacteria strains (BB2, ZG6, BA9, DI10) were rod-shaped and belonged to the Lactobacillus genus.