Characterization of wine yeasts by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE)

18S rDNA from 74 wine yeast strains was amplified by PCR using specific pri mers, and the products analyzed by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE). TGGE is a useful method in screenings the genotypes of the wine ye asts. Intraspecific differentiation was achieved on the basis of TGGE in so me cases, whereas in others identical bands for strains classified as separ ate species were obtained. Heteroduplex analysis was capable of differentia ting between similar bands produced by two different species, thereby enhan cing the resolution of the TGGE, yielding valuable information in a short t ime without the need of sequencing or complicated equipment. (C) 2000 Feder ation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.