Characterization of a thermo-adapted strain of for ethanol production at high temperature.

A thermoadapted strain of designated ZM AD41 that capable of growth and ethanol production at high temperature was obtained using the thermal stress adaptation technique. This thermoadapted strain exhibited approximately 1.8 and 27fold higher growth rate than the wildtype at 39 °C and 41 °C, respectively. It was more resistant to stress induced by acetic acid at 200 mM and hydrogen peroxide (HO) at 0.4 mM and produced approximately 1.8 and 38.6fold higher ethanol concentrations than the wildtype at 39 °C and 41 °C, respectively. Moreover, it had better sedimentation performance during ethanol fermentation at high temperature than the wildtype. Based on the growth performance, heat, acetic acid and HO stress treatments, sedimentation characteristics, and ethanol fermentation capability, ZM AD41 was a good candidate for ethanol production at high temperature.