Induction of gushing with recombinant class II hydrophobin FcHyd5p from Fusarium culmorum and the impact of hop compounds on its gushing potential

Malt-induced gushing is a problem that has been known for many years. Mechanisms and inducing agents are still not fully understood and identified. Hydrophobins produced by various filamentous fungi are currently under discussion as biological gushing-inducing compounds. In the current study the class II hydrophobin FcHyd5p, from the cereal pathogen Fusarium culmorum, was employed in beer and other carbonated beverages for gushing experiments and the influence of hop compounds on gushing potential was examined. It was demonstrated that this protein strongly induces gushing in various carbonated beverages, including beer. It was further demonstrated that the resulting gushing volume is susceptible to certain hop compounds and can be decreased significantly by the addition of these substances.