Abstract: In the present study, 28 Yucha (a traditional fermentation rice food of Li nationality in Hainan) samples collected from different Li nationality households in Baoting and Baisha areas of Hainan province were used to isolate and purify microbes by conventional culture method and further to determine microbial diversity by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase china reaction (qRT-PCR). A total of 22 bacterial species from six genera were identified. Among these, Lactobacillus, Bacillus and Enterococcus accounted for 68.56%, 18.04% and 10.82% of the total bacteria, respectively. Meanwhile, the copy numbers of genes in Lactobacillus, Bacillus and Enterococcus were 2.24 × 107, 1.72 × 105 and 1.07 × 106, respectively, meaning that Lactobacillus was the most predominant genus, with Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus pentosus being the most predominant species. The microbial diversity in Yucha from different areas was different. Lactobacillus rossiae was exclusively found in Yucha from Baoting while L. coryniformis, L. fermentum, L. namurensis and L. senioris in Yucha from Baisha. The results of the present study revealed the abundant microbial diversity and microbial community structure in Yucha, which could provide evidence to develop and use the beneficial microbial resources from Yucha.

Key words: Hainan, Li nationality, Yucha, microbial diversity, 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, qRT-PCR, phylogenetic analysis