Abstract:Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 was used as starters for the wheat germ fermentation, and the nutritional qualities and storage characteristics were analyzed. The results show that, Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 had glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity, which was enabled to catalyze the irreversible decarboxylation of glutamate to γ-amino butyric acid. The concentration of free amino acids in Lactic acid bacteria fermented wheat germ increased by 13.64 times, especially aspartic acid, leucine, γ-amino butyric acid, methionine and lysine increased significantly; during the fermentation process, phytase activity increased, while phytic acid content decreased. Lipase activity after fermentation was 55.31% lower than that found in wheat germ, and lipoxygenase activity decreased by 76.32%. The SPME-GC-MS analysis indicated that, the storage characteristics of fermented wheat germ were significantly changed. After 60 days, the oxidative rancidity of fermented wheat germ was significantly lower than the unfermented. Therefore, Lactic acid bacteria could improve the nutritional qualities and storage characteristics of wheat germ, making the fermented wheat germ suitable to be food nutritional supplements or ingredients.