Cold-Adapted Yeasts in Patagonian Habitats

Abstract

The Patagonian Andes possess unique physical and environmental characteristics, such as a great variety of glaciers, large temperate ice masses, glacially formed water bodies, and forests dominated principally by endemic tree species. Most of these environments are included in protected areas characterized by low anthropogenic impact and minimal atmospheric pollution. Extensive studies on occurrence of both psychrotolerant and psychrophilic yeasts in these natural environments have been performed. Patagonian natural environments to date surveyed include fresh-waters, melt-waters, glacial ice, sea water, flowers, phylloplane, sap exudates, bark, soil, rotten wood, fungal stromata and rhizosphere. This research work allowed the characterization of native cold-adapted yeast communities, the description of novel species and was a contribution to yeast taxonomy, biogeography, and also to biotechnology. The occurrence of a broad yeast biodiversity in cold Patagonian ecosystems of high scientific and technological value is here presented.