Isolation and identification of xylitol-producing yeasts from agricultural residues

Abstract

Selected yeast strains isolated from corn silage and viticulture residues were sceened for their capacities to convertd-xylose into xylitol. A conventional TLC was adapted for easy determination of xylose and xylitol in the culture supernatant solutions. This technique is suitable for the first steps of a screening program to select xylitol-producing yeasts from natural environments.Candida tropicalis ASM III (NRRL Y-27290), isolated from corn silage, appears to be a promising strain for xylitol production with a high yield (0.88 g xylitol per g of xylose consumed).