GENETIC DIVERSITY AND GEOGRAPHICAL-DISTRIBUTION OF WILD SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE STRAINS FROM THE WINE-PRODUCING AREA OF CHARENTES, FRANCE

Electrophoretic karyotyping, mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment le ngth polymorphism analysis, and PCR amplification of interspersed repe ats were used to study the variability, phylogenetic affinities, and b iogeographic distribution of wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae enological yeasts, The survey concentrated on 42 individual wine cellars in the C harentes area (Cognac region, France). A limited number (35) of predom inant S, cerevisiae strains responsible for the fermentation process h ave been identified by the above molecular methods of differentiation, One strain (ACI) was found to be distributed over the entire area sur veyed, There seemed to be little correlation between geographic locati on and genetic affinity.