KILLER PHENOTYPE OF INDIGENOUS YEASTS ISOLATED FROM WINE CELLARS: POTENTIAL STARTER CULTURES IN WINEMAKING FROM NORTHWEST REGION OF ARGENTINA

MIGUEL FERNÁNDEZ DE ULLIVARRI; LUCÍA M. MENDOZA; RAÚL R. RAYA; MARTA E. FARÍAS

BIOTECHNOLOGY LETTERS

SPRINGER

Año: 2011 vol. 33 p. 2177 - 2183

0141-5492

Thirty one yeasts from different surfaces of two cellars from Northwest region of Argentina were isolated, of which eleven isolates expressed killer activity against the sensitive strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae P351. Five of these killer yeasts were identified as S. cerevisiae by phenotypic tests and PCR-RFLP analysis. Two S. cerevisiae killer strains, Cf5 and Cf8, were selected based on their excellent kinetic and enological properties as potential autochthonous mixed starter cultures to be used during wine fermentation in Northwestern Argentina. They could dominate easier over the natural microbiota in fermentation vats, and keep the typical sensorial characteristics of the wine of this region.