Yeasts and related microorganisms isolated from ripe marula fruits (Sclerocarya caffra) in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The yeasts and related flora associated with ripe fruits of the marula tree in Zimbabwe were isolated and identified as Aureobasidium pullulans, Geotrichum capitatum, Trichosporon brassicae, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Hansenula anomala, Hansenula jadinii and Hansenula species. The physiological characteristics of the organisms suggest that, generally, they are not important in traditional marula wine fermentation. The Hansenula spp. are fermentative, however, and may play a role in marula wine-making.