Yeast Isolates From Diverse Sources For Cold- Active Polygalacturonase And Amylase Production

Cold–active polygalacturonase and amylase producers were screened using enrichment culture technique. The diverse sources screened were cold stored spoilt fruits and vegetables from different local super markets, market waste dumped soils, fruit waste dumped soils, mountain soils and Himalayan soils. About sixty yeasts showing pectinolytic activity were isolated by ruthenium red plate assay. Eight yeasts with higher zones of pectin hydrolysis were selected and tested for cold-active polygalacturonase and amylase production. The cultures were tested for cold active pectinase and amylase enzyme activity by dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. The cultures were grown at both room temperature (20-25 °C) and cold temperatures (5°C) but the cold active enzyme activity was tested at 5°C. Highest cold-active pectinase producing yeast culture with good cold-active amylase activity was selected for further study. Thus the present cold-active polygalacturonase producer with amylase activity could have better application in fruit juice clarification and so could be a potential isolate.