Abstract:
A total of 183 samples were isolated, among these, 36 gave better cidal effect. In accordance to size of clear zone, strains showing widest clear zones were T1, N2, G2.1 and 5/19, Strains T1, N1, N2, N12, 5/19 and 5/24 were capable of killing 9-17 types of test organisms while strains G2.1, N3, N5, N6, N11, 5/22, 5/34 and 5/39 were capable of killing 4/8 strains. Physiological and morphological studies made it possible to characterize these yeasts into 5 genera : Hansenula sp., Kloeckera sp, Trichosporon sp., Torulopsis sp., and Candida sp. Members with high cidal activity as well as wide range of killing of each genus were further tested. They were T1, N2, N12 (Hansenula sp), G2.1 (Kloeckera sp) and 5/9 (Trichosporon sp). For the clear zone, when tested with sensitive strain (Torulopsis glabrata), at pH 4.5, 25 C, the results given in term of width of clear zone were; T1 0.8-0.5 cm., G2.1 0.5-0.3 cm., N2 0.5-0.3 cm., N12 0.3-0.1 cm., 5/19 0.8-0.5 cm. The optimum pH and temperature for their cidal activities were of 6-3.5 and 25-35 C respectively. Thermal stability was varied among strains. Strain 5/19 was stable at 40 C over 180 minutes or at 45 C for 60 minutes while strains G2.1 and N2 were stable at 40 and 45 C for 30 and 5 minutes respectively. Strain 5/19 was stable at pH range of 2-10 while T2 N2 and G2.1 were stable between pH 2-8 and 2.5-7. In addition, it was found that strain 5/19 possessed L and M dsRNA whereas L-dsRNA alone were found in T1, G2.1, N2. When killer strain (T1) was fused with a high alcohol producer strain (M30) via protoplast fusion, 91 colonies that gave clear zone on galactose blue medium were selected and tested for their abilities to ferment 12% sucrose and 12% galactose. Amng strains tested 70 of them could ferment these two sugars rather well. There organisms, when subjected to alcohol fermentation from 20% sucrose, it was found that strains 105, 108 and 109 were capable to reduce % Brix to values lower than that produced by T1. Alcohol production determined by gas chromatography of strains M30, T1, 105, 108 and 109 were 10.45, 6.27, 7.66, 8.34 and 7.71% respectively.