MARINE YEASTS FROM THE SOUTH WEST AND SOUTH EAST COAST OF INDIA

Marine yeasts were isolated from coastal and offshore waters of the South West and East Coast of India. Enrichment technique was employed for isolation, when the population was low. Identification and characterization was conducted by microscopic observation and biochemical analysis. Of the total isolates (260) the most predominant genera was Candida (116) followed by Filobasidium (55), Leucosporidium (24). Geotrichum and Arxioma were mainly obtained from the coastal waters. Strains like Candida, Filobasidium, Leucosporidium, Mastigomyces, Rhodotorula, Schizosaccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Torulaspora, Oosporidium and Dipodascus were mainly encountered in the offshore water samples. Most of the isolates were found to be fermentative in nature. Filamentous growth was very common among the isolates. Production of starch like substances was not observed in any of the isolates.