INTERACTIONS BETWEEN KILLER YEASTS AND PATHOGENIC FUNGI

A total of 17 presumptive killer yeast strains were tested in vitro fo r growth inhibitory and killing activity against a range of fungal pat hogens of agronomic, environmental and clinical significance. Several yeasts were identified which displayed significant activity against im portant pathogenic fungi. For example, isolates of the opportunistic h uman pathogen, Candida albicans, were generally very sensitive to Will iopsis mrakii killer yeast activity, whilst killer strains of Saccharo myces cerevisiae and Pichia anomala markedly inhibited the growth of c ertain wood decay basidiomycetes and plant pathogenic fungi. Results i ndicate that such yeasts, together with their killer toxins, may have potential as novel antimycotic biocontrol agents.