Karyotiping of Saccharomyces strains with different temperature profiles

This study examined the, the fermentation performance and the optimum growth temperature (Topt) of 28yeast strains all identified as species belonging to Saccharomyces sensu stricto. The strainswere isolated from fermented musts, which had not been inoculated, at twotemperature ranges: 20–40 °C and approximately 0–6 °C. The results demonstrated acorrelation between the Topt and the chromosome organization. In particular, strains withTopt of less than 30 °C showed only two bands in the region between 365 and 225 kb,while those with a Topt greater than 30 °C had three bands in this size range. From ataxonomic viewpoint, the Topt is a better indicator for the Saccharomyces sp. than theceiling temperature of 37 °C currently used to differentiate cryotolerantSaccharomyces bayanus and S. pastorianus from non-cryotolerant S. cerevisiae and S.paradoxus strains.