R. Zvyagilskaya et al., Isolation and characterization of a novel leaf-inhabiting osmo-, salt-, and alkali-tolerant Yarrowia lipolytica yeast strain, J BASIC MIC, 41(5), 2001, pp. 289-303
Salt-excreting leaves of Atriplex halimus plants harvested in the central N
egev Highlands of Israel were screened for yeasts inhabiting their surfaces
. Several aerobic, moderately salt- and alkalitolerant yeasts were isolated
. One of the isolates (tentatively designated S-8) was identified as Yarrow
ia lipolytica (Wick.) van der Walt and Arx, on the basis of its morphologic
al, biochemical/physiological characteristics, and of quantitative chemotax
onomic and molecular marker analyses. However, the strain is distinguished
from the known members of the type Y. lipolytica strain by its pronounced o
smo-, salt-, and pH tolerance. Cells displayed a unique capacity to grow ov
er a wide pH range (from 3.5 to 11.5) with a pH optimum at 4.5 to 7.5. It i
s proposed that the S-8 strain be assigned to a single Y. lipolytica specie
s as its anamorpha, or as a new variety, Y. lipolytica var. alkalitolerance
. The ecophysiological properties and biotechnological potentials of the ne
w strain are discussed.