김치발효 지표로서 미생물군집의 특성을 밝히고자 하였다. 군집크기는 Gram염색법에 의한 현미경직접계수에 의하여 측정하였다. 실온$(15^{circ}C)$에서 김치발효는 Gram양성균군집, 효모군집 그리고 Gram음성균군집이 순서적으로 천이되었다. Gram양성균군집은 김치를 발효시키는 유산균으로 구성되어 있다. 효모군집의 발달은 김치의 악취를 내는 원인이 되며, Gram음성균군집은 악취와 더불어 김치의 연화작용에 관계된다는 사실이 특정적이었다. 그리고, 외관상의 Gram음성균군은 Gram양성균군집 내의 개체군의 노화와 사멸을 평가하는데 이용될 수 있었다. 특히 저온$(5^{circ}C)$ 김치발효에서는 효모군집과 Gram 음성균군집이 발달되지 않고 Gram양성균군집만이 발달됨을 알았다. 이 사실로부터 숙성된 김치는 Gram양성균군집에 의하여 만들어짐을 의미한다. 따라서 미생물군집의 발달과 크기는 김치발효의 지표로 이용될 수 있고, 또한 김치숙성도를 수십분 내에 예측하는데 중요한 방법이 될 수 있다.
Attempts were made to define the characteristics of microbial community as an indicator of Kimchi fermentation. Determination of communities was carried out by simple Gram-stain, followed by direct microcopic counts. In room-temperature $(15^{circ}C)$ fermentation, microbial succession was occurred in the order of communities of Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts and Gram-negative bacteria. It was characteristic that Gram-positive bacterial community was developed during the production of lactic acid, yeasts community was developed to cause rancidity, and Gram-negative bacterial community was relevant to maceration (or softening) as well as rancidity. The fluctuation of apparent Gram-negative reaction group might be used as a criterion of death or aging of Gram-positive bacterial populations. In low-temperature fermentation $(5^{circ}C)$, however, it was found that yeasts and Gram-negative bacterial communities did not developed but only Gram-positive bacterial community did. It follows from these results mentioned above that maturity of Kimchi depends on the development of Cram-positive bacterial community. Thus, the size and occurrence of microbial community are avaiable for an indicator of Kimchi fermentation, and also determination of community could be a useful method to predict the maturity.
