Identification of yeasts by polymerase-chain-reaction-mediated denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis in marcha, an ethnic amylolytic starter of India

Abstract Background Marcha is an ethnic amylolytic starter that is used to ferment boiled cereals to produce alcoholic drinks, commonly called jaanr , in the Himalayan Regions of Sikkim and Darjeeling of India. Methods The aim of this study was to investigate yeast flora of marcha collected from Sikkim in India by phenotypic characterization and polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Results The average load of yeast in marcha was 6.0×10 8 colony-forming units/g. The phenotypic characterization of yeast isolates from marcha showed the presence of Candida , Pichia , Torulospora , Schizosaccharomyces, Kluveromyces, Issatchenki , and Saccharomycopsis . The PCR-DGGE bands showed the dominance of Wickerhamomyces anomalus (72%) and Pichia anomalus (28%) in marcha . W. anomalus was reported for the first time from marcha using PCR-mediated DGGE. Conclusion This is the first report on the yeast community associated with marcha analyzed by PCR-mediated DGGE.