Flood induced changes in the diversity of yeasts from the mangroves of Valanthakadu, Kerala, India

This is the first report on influence of devastating August 2018 floods Kerala yeast communities associated with mangrove ecosystem Valanthakadu, 'Kochi’s oxygen parlour’. Samples were collected for study from six stations in Valanthakadu during three different periods regard to i.e. April – May 2018: Pre flood (PRF), September October Just after (JAF), and March 2019: Post (POF) plated onto Malt-yeast-glucose-peptone agar isolation enumeration. Morphologically distinct colonies picked, clustered biochemical basis, representative strains identified molecular basis or using API 20 C AUX strip. On enumeration, average colony counts yeasts sediments found be greater than water samples. Out 89 morphologically isolated, majority non-pigmented (73 %) belonged phyla Ascomycetes (58 %). Six genera: Candida spp., Cryptococcus Hortaea sp., Rhodotorula Rhodosporidiobolus Trichosporon sp. recorded this study. C. tropicalis was noted not only predominant species but also resilient effect floods. Flood diversity yeasts, introduction certain genera (Hortaea wernekii (first report)) loss others (C. gatti). Analysis indices evidently revealed floods, an increase just (1.62) when compared other sampling. A change hydrolytic profile isolates noticed relation clearly indicated that do affect their function ecosystems, at least temporarily. Nevertheless, long-term impacts remain unknown deserve further studies.