Abstract: In this paper,the effects of pH value,reductive agent and sugar concentration on the anaerobic culture of B. adolescentis using xylo oligosaccharides as carbon source were examined.The study showed that xylo oligosaccharides were able to proliferate B. adolescentis in pH rang from 5.5 to 8.0,but the proliferation result was better in the culture condition of pH 8.0.By addition of L cysteine and sodium thioglycolic acid the initial oxidation reduction potential of the cultural medium could be lowered to proliferate Bifidobacterium rapidly.The optimum initial concentration of reductive agent was 0.5～1.0 g/L.Within 2.5～10 g/L,increase of initial concentration of xylo oligosaccharides enhances the concentration of Bifidobacterium and its proliferation rate.At the optimum initial sugar concentration of 5.0 g/L,the Bifidobacterium concentration reached 1.03 g/L and the sugar conversion ratio was 42.2% after 18 h.

Key words: xylo oligosaccharides, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, anaerobic culture