Bacteria 군집 차이를 이용한 신속한 한국산 및 중국산 김치 원산지 판별 가능성의 검토를 위하여 Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) 분석법을 적용하였다. T-RFLP 분석은 김치발효에 관여하는 주요 유산균의 빠르고, 재현성 있는 검출에는 효과적이었지만, 종(species) 수준에서의 미생물 확인에는 한계를 가지고 있어 한국산 및 중국산 김치에 특이적으로 존재하는 bacteria의 검출에는 부적합한 것으로 평가되었다. T-RFLP를 적용한 발효과정 중의 한국산 및 중국산 김치에 존재하는 bacteria 군집 천이 분석은 비슷한 양상으로 나타났고, Bacillus 속이 발효 후기까지 검출되었다. 또한 Bacillus 속은 발효 후기에 포자를 형성하는 것으로 확인되었다.

Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis was adopted to explore rapid differentiation in the diversity and dynamics of bacteria in kimchi made in Korea and China for future application in kimchi origin discrimination. TRFLP analysis supported the reproducible and rapid detection of major lactic acid bacteria known to be involved in kimchi fermentation. The taxonomic resolution level of this T-RFLP analysis was between the species and genus level, but was not specific enough for the detection of a bacterium found only in one origin, either Korea or China. The bacterial community structure successions in kimchi samples from Korea and China analyzed by T-RFLP analysis occurred with a similar pattern. Bacillus spp. which were not detected in the early microbial studies of kimchi were constantly detected until the late fermentation stage of kimchi in our T-RFLP analysis and their existence was proved by culture-based identification. Additionally, sporulation of Bacillus spp. during kimchi fermentation was discovered.