Production Of Extracellular Enzymes By Some Soil Yeasts

Abstract

This study investigated the ability of soil yeasts, Geotrichum candidum, Geotrichum capitatum and Williopsis californica to produce extracellular enzymes (amylase, cellulase and protease) in vitro compared with that of a laboratory strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It appears that the soil yeasts studied here were less amylolytic yeasts except the yeast G. candidum, which was highly effective at extracellular amylase production. The soil yeast W. californica was an average producer of cellulase enzyme. G. capitatum was an excellent proteolytic producer and it was the most active yeast in gelatin hydrolysis. The production of extracellular enzymes by soil yeasts was confirmed by the cleared-zone technique using Czapek-Dox agar medium.