ANTARCTIC YEASTS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29554, 1 July 1961, Page 17

ANTARCTIC YEASTS

Possible Use For Fermenting (N Z Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 30 Some interesting new yeasts found in Antarctic soils, and which may be usable in fermentation processes, have been discovered by Dr. M. E. Di Menna. of the soil bureau. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research The soils were collected near Scott Base and brought back to New Zealand for laboratory study It was noticed that the only ones to contain yeasts were those from areas where melt water collects. No yeasts were recovered from dry soils. It is still uncertain how many species are present because identification is slow, but there are at least three which ferment sugars. The peculiarity of these Antarctic yeast species, and the reason for their possible usefulness, is that they will grow only at low temperatures—in the laboratory a refrigerator is used. Wines are fermented at present by yeasts, the maximum growth rate of which is at relatively high temperatures- and it is thought that because of this, many of the volatile substances which are responsible for flavour are lost If a suitable fermenting yeast can be found with a maximum growth rate at 15 to 20 degrees centigrade a better product may result