Use of chromosome profile and PCR pattern for characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from fermented maize dough

Abstract

Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains have been shown to be involved in spontaneous fermentation of maize dough used in the production of kenkey in Ghana. Several isolates have been characterised with the purpose to investigate their similarity as regards to their chromosome profiles and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) patterns. In previous studies Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed. All isolates investigated had 16 chromosomes with size distribution patterns typical Saach. cerevisiae. For several of the isolates chromosome polymorphism was evident. The present work comprising an additional number of isolates has confirmed the polymorphism showing that several strains are involved in the fermentation process. The strains investigated could be grouped into clusters based on their chromosome profiles and PCR patterns. The two methods both had a high discriminating power and were able to differentiate the isolates at a subspecies level