Biotechnology, physiology and genetics of the yeast Pichia anomala.

The ascomycetous yeast Pichia anomala is frequently associated with food and feed products, either as a production organism or as a spoilage yeast. It belongs to the nonSaccharomyces wine yeasts and contributes to the wine aroma by the production of volatile compounds. The ability to grow in preserved food and feed environments is due to its capacity to grow under low pH, high osmotic pressure and low oxygen tension.

Nutrient effects on biocontrol of Penicillium roqueforti by Pichia anomala J121 during airtight storage of wheat.

The biocontrol yeast Pichia anomala inhibits the growth of a variety of mold species. We examined the mechanism underlying the inhibition of the grain spoilage mold Penicillium roqueforti by the biocontrol yeast P. anomala J121 during airtight storage.

Mold-inhibitory activity of different yeast species during airtight storage of wheat grain.

The yeast Pichia anomala J121 inhibits spoilage by Penicillium roqueforti in laboratory and pilot studies with high-moisture wheat in malfunctioning airtight storage. We tested the biocontrol ability of an additional 57 yeast species in a grain mini silo system. Most yeast species grew to CFU levels comparable to that of P.

Influence of ethyl acetate production and ploidy on the anti-mould activity of Pichia anomala.

A diploid and a haploid strain of Pichia anomala were tested for their biocontrol ability against the spoilage mould Penicillium roqueforti in glass tubes filled with grain at two water activities (aw). At aw 0.98, the two yeast strains grew and inhibited mould growth equally well and showed similar patterns of ethyl acetate production, reaching maximum values of 10-14 microg ml(-1) headspace.