YEASTS ASSOCIATED WITH ALGARROBO TREES (PROSOPIS SPP) IN NORTHWEST ARGENTINA - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Yeasts were isolated from exudates from trees at three sites in northw est Argentina, two between the towns of Amaicha del Valle and Cafayate and one in the Quebrada de Cafayate, a deep river valley north of Caf ayate. The majority of the yeasts were identified as Candida famata an d Rhodotorula graminis, though isolates of other species of Rhodotorul a, Candida boidinii, Pichia membranaefaciens, and occasional isolates of other species were obtained. None of the species was the same as th ose isolated in Crete, from pods of the carob (European algarrobo). Of 96 cultures investigated, 26 utilized methanol as sole carbon source. The frequency of isolation of methylotrophic yeasts from this habitat map prove to be of considerable scientific and technological interest .