IDENTIFICATION OF YEASTS FROM BLACK OLIVES IN RAPID SYSTEM MICROTITREPLATES

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.