Phylloplane yeasts as a source of industrially interesting enzymes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the phylloplane of tropical plants as a source of yeasts capable of producing industrially relevant enzymes. A total of 446 yeast and yeast-like strains were isolated from the phylloplanes of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Malvaceae), Coussapoa microcarpa (Urticaceae), and species of Ficus (Moraceae) and Bromeliaceae, which were collected in southern Brazil and tested for the production of extracellular enzymes. Esterase activity was predominant (202 strains), while 71 isolates had amylase activity, 170 were caseinolytic, and 72 degraded gelatin. Only three strains were capable of producing all enzymes. The phylloplane appears to be a good substrate to look for and isolate yeasts with enzyme production potential. There were differences in yeast enzyme profiles among the plants analyzed: gelatinase was more common among the isolates from H. rosa-sinensis (36.6%), while esterase was predominant among the isolates from C. microcarpa and the species of Ficus (71.3%). This study suggests the phylloplane as a new potential source of yeasts with industrially interesting properties.