Factors influencing the distribution of lactic acid bacteria on Pennisetum grasses

Successful silage production depends on the promotion of lactic acid fermentation and one of the key factors influencing the fermentation quality of silage is lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Therefore, epiphytic LAB on grasses play an important role in silage production. The present research investigated the distribution of LAB on Pennisetum spp. and factors influencing its presence. Lactic acid bacteria on four grass cultivars, cv. MT‐1, cv. Mott, cv. Reyan No. 4 (Reyan) and cv. Guimu No. 1 (Guimu), were investigated by both culture‐dependent methods and 16S rRNA amplicon sequence analysis and polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE). Mott grass had significantly lower contents of dry matter and lower pH and higher water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) content than the other three cultivars (P