Molecular culture-dependent techniques namely amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), 16S rDNA sequencing, and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) as well as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) as culture-independent approach have been used for the assessment of lactic flora community or biodiversity and evolution during the production of lighvan cheese. ARDRA profiles showed 11 distinct patterns and results from the sequencing of individual microbial isolates from milk and cheese showed that Enterococcus faecium was a dominant species in all samples. Rep-PCR results showed high genetic diversity between species of Enterococcus faecium at strain level. 23 different strains which were identified by discrimination analysis of DNA fingerprints of Enterococcus faecium revealed an average rate of correct classification as 0.85%. Total microbial DNA was extracted from milk, curd and cheese samples and used as template material in PCR experiments to amplify the V3 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, plus the D1 region of the eukaryotic 26S rRNA gene. These regions were then analyzed using DGGE. Comparison the results obtained by DGGE to those of above finding demonstrated that population of species never isolated by culturing such as Streptococcus parauberis were found to be numerous by the PCR-DGGE method. The dominant eukaryotic populations were those of Warcupia spp., Debaryomyces hansenii, and Penicillium ssp. Thus, the two approaches provided complementary information.

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