The
Leuconostocaceae are a family of
Gram-positive bacteria, placed within the order of
Lactobacillales. Representative genera include
Fructobacillus,
Leuconostoc,
Oenococcus, and
Weissella. Bacteria that belong to these three genera are nonspore-forming, round or elongated in shape, and anaerobic or aerotolerant. They usually inhabit nutrient-rich environments such as milk, meat, vegetable products, and fermented drinks.
Lactic acid is the main end product of their characteristic heterofermentative carbohydrate metabolism. The
phylogeny of the family Leuconostocaceae has recently been evaluated.
