SELECTION OF MARINE YEASTS FOR THE GENERATION OF SINGLE-CELL PROTEIN FROM PRAWN-SHELL WASTE

Marine yeasts (33 strains) were isolated from the coastal and offshore waters off Cochin. The isolates were identified and then characterize d for the utilization of starch, gelatin, lipid cellulose, ui ea, pect in, lignin, chitin and prawn-shell waste. Most of the isolates were Ca ndida species. Based oi I rile biochemical characterization, foul pote ntial strains were selected and their optimum pH and NaCl concentratio n for growth were determined. These strains were then inoculated into prawn-shell waste and SCP (single cell protein) generation was noted i n terms of the increase in protein content of the final product. (C) 1 998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.