Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Starter and secondary cultures used in cheese making metabolize different substrates (like lactose, lactate, or citrate) to produce flavor compounds and carbon dioxide gas, which can form eyes (holes) in the cheese.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the biological activity described in both statements:
- Statement (I): Propionibacteria (such as *Propionibacterium freudenreichii* subsp. *shermanii*) are Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria.
During the ripening of Swiss-type cheeses (like Emmental), they ferment lactic acid (lactate) produced by the primary starter cultures.
This fermentation produces propionic acid, acetic acid, and carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)) gas:
\[ 3\ \text{Lactate} \rightarrow 2\ \text{Propionate} + 1\ \text{Acetate} + 1\ CO_2 + 1\ H_2O \]
The released \(CO_2\) gas collects in pockets within the cheese curd, forming the characteristic large eyes. Therefore, Statement (I) is correct.
- Statement (II): *Leuconostoc mesenteroides* subsp. *cremoris* is a Gram-positive, spherical bacterium (coccus).
While it produces small eyes in cheeses like Gouda and Edam, it does so by metabolizing citrate (citric acid), not lactate.
This citrate metabolism produces diacetyl (a key flavor compound) and \(CO_2\) gas, which forms the small eyes.
Therefore, Statement (II) is incorrect because it specifies "lactate metabolism" instead of "citrate metabolism".
Step 3: Final Answer:
Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect.