Appeal no. 1997-3953 Application 08/392,615 avoids the [necessity for] growth before MLF is carried out. With a suitably prepared starter culture . . . a wine can be inoculated with a cell density of 6 7 5x10 [to] 5x10 viable bacteria/ml. This represents a stationary culture at maximum cell density in wine, very little or no further growth is necessary for complete conversion of the malic acid. * * * Leuconostoc oenos is generally the most predominant genus during active MLF, since this species is highly tolerant to the high acidity and ethanol in wine (citations omitted). The present invention is directed to a synthetic, non-vegetable juice aqueous medium containing L-malic acid or a salt thereof; vitamins, minerals and nitrogen sufficient to support growth of malolactic bacteria; and a sole carbohydrate source consisting essentially of fructose and glucose at a ratio and total concentration of defined range. In one embodiment, the medium contains from about 97% to about 55% fructose and from about 3% to about 45% glucose, at a total concentration of about 4% to about 6% fructose plus glucose (claim 8). In another, the medium contains from about 97% to about 50% fructose and from about 3% to about 50% glucose, at a total concentration of about 4% to about 6% fructose plus glucose (claim 14). Henick-Kling discloses modified de Man, Rogosa, Sharpe medium (MRSM), a synthetic, non-vegetable juice medium containing malic acid; vitamins, minerals and nitrogen sufficient to support growth of malolactic bacteria; and 20 g/l (2%) of a carbohydrate source consisting of 50% fructose and 50% glucose (as opposed to MRS, which contains glucose as the sole carbohydrate source). Page 288, upper left-hand column. Appellants and the examiner agree that Henick-Kling’s medium differs from the 4Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007