A total of 125 yeasts were isolated from Greek-style black olives prod
uced in different factories. Identification was based on 65 morphologi
cal and physiological characteristics. The majority of the tests were
conducted in microtitration plates. The predominant species proved to
be mainly Torulaspora delbruekii, Debaryomyces hansenii and Cryptococc
us laurentii. The species Cryptococcus albidus, Dekkera bruxellensis,
Sporobolomyces roseus, Bullera variabilis, Pichia farinosa, Pichia mem
branaefaciens, and Zygosaccharomyces bailii were identified sporadical
ly. A selection of the characteristics may aid to the simplified ident
ification of the species and is easily applicable in the wells of micr
otitration plates. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.