Enological potential of non-Saccharomyces yeast strains of enological and brewery origin from Ukrainian Collection of Microorganisms

Non-conventional wine yeasts are extensively studied as promising producers of hydrolytic enzymes and as potential starter cultures in winemaking due to their ability to improve organoleptic properties of wine. Thirty-six yeast strains of enological and brewery origin from the Ukrainian Collection of Microorganisms belonging to Torulaspora, Kloeckera, Candida, Metschnikowia, Pichia, and Zygosaccharomyces genera have been screened for the production of extracellular hydrolases, stress tolerance, fermentative activity, and other traits of enological interest. This study revealed the high incidence of lipolytic, proteolytic, and β-glucosidase activities among the yeasts, while no pectinase activity was detected. Esterase, cellulase and glucanase activities were found in a small proportion of yeasts (8.33–16.66%). Several Pichia anomala, Kloekera javanica, Pichia membranifaciens, and Metschnikowia pulcherrima strains demonstrated a wide range of hydrolytic activities. High tolerance to stress factors (ethanol, osmotic, and oxidative stress) present during alcoholic fermentation was detected in P. anomala and M. pulcherrima strains. Fermentative activity of several yeast strains was evaluated in microfermentations in a model semi-synthetic medium. Strain P. anomala UCM Y-216 was selected as the most promising culture for winemaking due to its hydrolytic activities, tolerance to stress factors and other valuable metabolic traits. This study represents the first step for selecting a non-conventional yeast strain of enological origin as a potential co-culture for winemaking.