Identification of some yeasts by fatty acid profiles.

178 yeasts isolated from various foods were identified using ID32 C strip; Saccharomyces cerevisiae (47), Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (19), Candida kefyr (33), Candida krusei (37), Candida lusitaniae (28), Cndida lipolytica (14). The yeasts were harvested, saponified, derivatized, and extracted, and fatty acid analysis was performed by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. The yeast lipids contained Decanoic acid (C10:0), Luaric acid (C12:0), Myristoleic acid (C14:1), Myristic acid (C14:0), Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), Palmitoleic acid C16:1), Pamitic acid (C16:0), Heptadecenoic acid (C17:1), Linoleic acid (C18:2), Linolenic acid (C18:3), Oleic acid (C18:1) and Stearic acid (C 18:0). The differences in the composition of these fatty acids could be used to identify the species as an accurate, efficient and relatively rapid method.