Evaluation of different Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains on the profile of volatile compounds and polyphenols in cherry wines

Tart cherries of ‘Early Richmond’, widely grown in Shandong (China), were fermented with six different Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (BM4×4, RA17, RC212, D254, D21 and GRE) to elucidate their influence on the production of volatiles and polyphenols. Acetic acid and 3-methylbutanol were found in the highest concentrations among all identified volatiles with all six yeast strains, followed by 2-methylpropanol and ethyl lactate. RA17 and GRE cherry wines were characterised by a higher amount of esters and acids. D254 wine contained a higher concentration of alcohols. With respect to polyphenols, five phenolic acids and four anthocyanins were identified among all tested samples, with chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids, cyanidin 3-glucosylrutinoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside being the major compounds. When using principal component analysis to classify the cherry wines according to the volatiles and polyphenols, they were divided into three groups: (1) RA17 and GRE, (2) RC212 and D254 and (3) BM4×4 and D21.     

Fractionation of glycoside aroma precursors in neutral grapes. Hydrolysis and conversion by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Glycoconjugated aroma precursors from neutral grape varieties were fractionated on 5 g C18 RP cartridge. Each of the seven fractions collected was divided in three parts: first part was hydrolysed with Pectinol in order to determine total aromatic heterosides, while the second part was treated with an active strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae UCLM 325 and the third part with acetonic powder of the same yeast strain. The studied strain proved effective in the hydrolysis of the heterosides of nerol and geraniol, cis-8-hydroxy-linalool, 8-hydroxy-dihydro-linalool, some benzenoids and some norisoprenoids derivatives such as vomifoliol and 3-oxo-α-ionol. Only whole cells are able to convert geraniol to citronellol.     

Effect of grape indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains on Montepulciano d'Abruzzo red wine quality

The growth of selected, indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae added as starters (SRS1, MS72 and RT73) was monitored during Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine production. In all the fermentations the addition of the starter, caused a decrease of the non-Saccharomyces yeasts. When strains MS72 and RT73 were used as starters they were detected in the first phases of fermentations, while strain SRS1 competed successfully with native yeasts during all the process. Wines obtained by fermentation with the indigenous starters showed some different characteristics, according to the chemical and sensory analyses. This study highlighted that among selected starters with high fermentative capacity, some are able to dominate better than other natural wine yeast biota, whereas some strains can interact and survive besides native yeast populations during the fermentation. As a consequence, the dominance character can have a positive or negative effect on wine quality and has to be considered in the frame of yeast selection in order to improve or characterize traditional wines. Winemakers could choose among different degrees of yeast dominance to modulate the interaction among starter and native wine yeast population.     

Oleic acid and ergosterol supplementation mitigates oxidative stress in wine strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

During fermentation of high-sugar-containing medium lacking lipid nutrients, wine yeasts undergo oxidative stress and oxidative damage to cell membranes and proteins. Considering that cell membranes are important stress sensors, and that under hypoxic conditions wine yeasts modulate cell membranes composition by incorporating lipids available in the growth medium, in the present work, the effects of lipid nutrition on wine yeast oxidative stress response were evaluated on two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biomarkers of oxidative stress, oxidative damage and antioxidant response were evaluated together with viability and acetic acid production during fermentation of a synthetic must lacking lipid nutrients as compared to added oleic acid and ergosterol. The results show that the availability of lipid nutrients causes a significant reduction in the intracellular content of reactive oxygen species and in the oxidative damage to membranes and proteins, as indicated by flow cytometry of cells stained with dihydroethidum (DHE) and propidium iodide (PI) and by Western blot of protein carbonyls. Accordingly, lipid nutrients feeding results in the increase in cell viability and superoxide activity, and the reduction in trehalose accumulation, proteinase A activity and production of acetic acid. In summary, these results are compatible with the hypothesis that the supplementation of lipid nutrients mitigates oxidative stress and oxidative damage in wine strains of S. cerevisiae during growth under unfavourable conditions.     

Purification and characterisation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae external invertase isoforms

Four external invertase isoforms (EINV1, EINV2, EINV3 and EINV4) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae were highly purified by isoelectric precipitation, ethanol precipitation, ion-exchange on QAE-Sephadex and gel filtration using Sephacryl S-200. Unlike previously published procedures for external invertase purification, a specially designed step elution was applied on QAE-Sephadex which enabled the separation of four isoforms. The isoforms have the same molecular mass and catalytic properties: K_m for sucrose (25.6 mM), pH optimum (3.5–5.0) and temperature optimum (60 °C), but they exhibit significant difference in pI values, thermal stability and chemical reactivity. Deglycosylation studies showed that the observed differences between isoforms arise from posttranslational modifications. Results showed that external invertase is a mixture of at least four isoforms, but in order to improve the efficiency of food industry processes, only the most stable isoform (EINV1) should be purified and utilised. Substantially different chemical reactivity of the isoforms could be used to improve the yield of covalent immobilization procedures.     

Multifactorial analysis of acetaldehyde kinetics during alcoholic fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Acetaldehyde is the terminal electron acceptor in the alcoholic fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Quantitatively the most important carbonyl by-product, it has relevance for ethanol production yields as well as product stabilization and toxicology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various enological parameters on acetaldehyde kinetics during alcoholic fermentations. Two commercial yeast strains were tested in two grape musts and the pH, temperature, SO₂ and nutrient addition were varied. All incubations had uniform kinetics where acetaldehyde reached an initial peak value followed by partial reutilization. Peak acetaldehyde concentrations and residual concentrations after 15 days of fermentations ranged from 62 to 119 mg l^− 1 and 22 to 49 mg l^− 1, respectively. A positive linear relationship was found between peak and final acetaldehyde levels in Gewürztraminer, but not Sauvignon Blanc fermentations, where sluggish fermentations were observed. Several factors had a significant effect on peak and/or final acetaldehyde levels. SO₂ addition, grape cultivar and fermentation nutrition were important regulators of peak acetaldehyde production, while final acetaldehyde concentrations were correlated with SO₂ addition, grape cultivar and temperature. The results allowed to estimate the acetaldehyde increase caused by SO₂ addition to 366 ??g of acetaldehyde per mg of SO₂ added to the must. The course of the final fermentation phase was shown to determine acetaldehyde residues. Comparison of acetaldehyde and hexose kinetics revealed a possible relationship between the time of occurrence of peak acetaldehyde concentrations and the divergence of glucose and fructose degradation rates.     

Thermal and surface behavior of yeast protein fractions from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

An easy and inexpensive method of fractionation of a yeast homogenate was proposed and it is based on differential centrifugation steps of insoluble components and subsequent precipitations of soluble fractions. In this fractionation, the effect of addition of protease inhibitor was studied. The procedure, which was performed in mild conditions in order to minimize protein denaturation, produced four fractions that proceed from distinct parts of the yeast cell and with a different chemical composition: Fr I, Fr II, Fr III and Fr IV. Thermal and surface behavior of these samples was also analyzed. Fr I and Fr II, mainly composed by cell wall debris and membrane cell components, respectively, exhibited an adsorption rate (Δγ/Δt^1/2) ten-fold higher than Fr III and Fr IV, composed by nucleoproteins and cytoplasmic proteins. All fractions exhibited a unique DSC endotherm with different peak temperature (T_p) and enthalpy values (ΔH). Fr IV exhibited the highest T_p value (74 °C) and less affected by inhibitor absence. Fr I and Fr II showed the highest ΔH values (27-47 J/g protein) but they were markedly affected reducing their enthalpy values and increasing their surface properties in absence of protease inhibitor.     

Taqman real-time PCR for the detection and enumeration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in wine

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the main yeast species responsible for wine fermentation; however, its presence during maturing or barrel-ageing can sometimes result in a reduction in the quality of wine by refermentation. In this work, we developed a quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) for the rapid detection and quantification of S. cerevisiae in wine. The primers and the hydrolysis probe (TaqMan^®) were designed from the sequence of a DNA fragment present only in S. cerevisiae and absent in other wine yeasts obtained from an RAPD-PCR analysis. The QPCR developed was highly reproducible, allowing the specific detection and quantification of this yeast in artificially contaminated wines, with a detection limit of 78 CFU/mL. Furthermore, the usefulness of the QPCR developed was evaluated through the quantification of the yeast in wine samples obtained from vineyards, confirming the quantitative capacity of the method. The methodology developed was specific, fast and a sensitive tool for the detection and enumeration of S. cerevisiae cells in wine.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product in dairy cow diets containing dried distillers grains plus solubles

Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows (127 ± 52 d in milk) were used in 4 replicated 4 × 4 Latin squares with 4-wk periods to evaluate interactions of dietary inclusion of a fermentation product of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC; XPC, Diamond V Mills, Cedar Rapids, IA) and dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) on production of milk and milk components when fed diets containing approximately 30% dietary neutral detergent fiber with calculated forage neutral detergent fiber of 19.3% of diet dry matter (DM). Treatments were a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with SC included at 0 or 14 g/d and DDGS at 0 or 20% of diet DM. Diets consisted of 27% corn silage, 18% alfalfa hay, and 55% concentrate mix on a DM basis. Diets not containing DDGS included additional corn, soybean meal, expeller soybean meal, soyhulls, and rumen inert fat to remain isocaloric and isonitrogenous with DDGS diets. Dry matter intake (26.0 kg/d) was similar for all diets. Milk production increased with the addition of SC to diets (43.6 vs. 42.0 kg/d for diets without SC) and decreased for cows fed diets containing DDGS (42.0 kg/d vs. 43.6 kg/d for diets not containing DDGS). Milk fat percentage (3.05 vs. 3.22% for DDGS and non-DDGS diets, respectively) and yield (1.27 vs. 1.41 kg/d) were decreased by the addition of DDGS but were not affected by the addition of SC. Concentrations of long-chain, polyunsaturated, trans-, and conjugated fatty acids in milk of cows fed DDGS were increased, but milk fatty acid profiles were not affected by SC. Milk true protein concentrations were similar for all diets; however, the addition of SC increased yield of true protein (1.32 vs. 1.27 kg/d). Concentrations of milk urea nitrogen increased when SC was included in the diet with DDGS. The DDGS decreased yields of energy-corrected milk (39.4 vs. 42.1 kg/d) and tended to decrease feed efficiency (1.53 vs. 1.61 kg of energy-corrected milk/kg of dry matter intake). Body weights and condition scores were not affected by treatments. Results suggest that diets containing minimal amounts of forage fiber and DDGS at 20% of diet DM will contribute to decreased milk production and milk fat depression. The addition of SC did improve milk and milk protein yields but did not prevent milk fat depression caused by DDGS. Production responses to SC were similar when cows were fed DDGS or non-DDGS diets.     

Meta-analysis of the influence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on ruminal parameters and milk production of ruminants

The effects of yeast supplementation on intake, production, and rumen fermentation characteristics have been widely studied, but results are inconsistent between different studies. A quantitative meta-analysis was applied to 110 papers, 157 experiments, and 376 treatments dealing with yeast supplementation in ruminants. The objective was first to highlight the major quantitative effects of live yeast supplementation on intake, rumen fermentation, and milk production, and second, to identify major differences in experimental conditions between studies that can affect the response to treatment. Some of these experimental conditions are referred to as interfering factors. Yeast supplementation increased rumen pH (+0.03 on average) and rumen volatile fatty acid concentration (+2.17 mM on average), tended to decrease rumen lactic acid concentration (−0.9 mM on average), and had no influence on acetate-to-propionate ratio. Total-tract organic matter digestibility was also increased by yeast supplementation (+0.8% on average). Yeast supplementation increased dry matter intake (DMI; +0.44 g/kg of body weight; BW), milk yield (+1.2 g/kg of BW), and tended to increase milk fat content (+0.05%), but had no influence on milk protein content. Dose effects of yeast supplementation, expressed as log₁₀ [1+(cfu per 100 kg of BW)], globally confirmed the qualitative effects observed in the first analysis. The positive effect of yeast supplementation on rumen pH increased with the percentage of concentrate in the diet and with the DMI level. It was negatively correlated with the level of dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF). The positive effect of yeast supplementation on rumen volatile fatty acid concentration increased with DMI and crude protein levels. The positive effect of yeast supplementation on organic matter digestibility increased with the percentage of concentrate and NDF in the diet. The negative effect of yeast supplementation on lactic acid concentration tended to decrease when the DMI level and the percentage of concentrate in the diet increased. The effects of interfering factors were globally similar when either dose effect or qualitative effect of yeast was taken into account. Although rumen fermentation efficiency per se was not measured, these results suggest an improvement in rumen fermentation by yeast supplementation. This effect could, however, be modulated by several different factors such as DMI, percentage of concentrate or NDF in the diet, or species.     

Changes in the Lipid Composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Race Capensis (G-1) During Alcoholic Fermentation and Flor Film Formation

The cellular lipid composition of one flor-forming strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during fermentation and the subsequent period of film formation with different oxygen levels was studied. Irrespective of fermentation conditions, only those yeasts which came into contact with oxygen after fermentation formed a flor film. After the fermentation, these yeasts entered an adaptation phase in which the percentage of oleic acid increased considerably at the expense of other long-chain fatty acids. Their phospholipid contents remained high, as well as the unsaturation index of their fatty acids and the ergosterol/phospholipids ratio was maintained below 1. These changes allowed an increased viability of yeasts in the wine of up to 80% and the acquisition of sufficient hydrophobicity and floatability to reach the surface and form flor film.     

Acetic acid removal by Saccharomyces cerevisiae during fermentation in oenological conditions. Metabolic consequences

The commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains used in champagne winemaking were tested for their ability to metabolise acetic acid during alcoholic fermentation. Fermentation tests were performed in conditions close to oenological ones using a Chardonnay grape juice supplemented with acetic acid. The amount of acetic acid metabolised by wine yeast increased with increasing initial acetic acid concentration and this elimination occurred during the second part of the exponential growth phase. When the initial acetic acid concentration exceeds 1 g/l, and whatever the yeast strain used, the concentration of acetic acid in the resulting wine cannot be reduced to an acceptable level according to the current legislation. Acetic acid removal modified yeast metabolism, since more acetaldehyde, less glycerol and less succinic acid were produced. Considering the reduction of the NADPH/NADP⁺ ratio following acetic acid consumption, we propose, as a new hypothesis, that acetic acid could modify yeast metabolism by reducing the activity of the NADP⁺ dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase Ald6p.     

Dynamic study of yeast species and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains during the spontaneous fermentations of Muscat blanc in Jingyang,China

The evolution of yeast species and Saccharomyces cerevisiae genotypes during spontaneous fermentations of Muscat blanc planted in 1957 in Jingyang region of China was followed in this study. Using a combination of colony morphology on Wallerstein Nutrient (WLN) medium, sequence analysis of the 26S rDNA D1/D2 domain and 5.8S-ITS-RFLP analysis, a total of 686 isolates were identified at the species level. The six species identified were S. cerevisiae, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Hanseniaspora opuntiae, Issatchenkia terricola, Pichia kudriavzevii (Issatchenkia orientalis) and Trichosporon coremiiforme. This is the first report of T. coremiiforme as an inhabitant of grape must. Three new colony morphologies on WLN medium and one new 5.8S-ITS-RFLP profile are described. Species of non-Saccharomyces, predominantly H. opuntiae, were found in early stages of fermentation. Subsequently, S. cerevisiae prevailed followed by large numbers of P. kudriavzevii that dominated at the end of fermentations. Six native genotypes of S. cerevisiae were determined by interdelta sequence analysis. Genotypes III and IV were predominant. As a first step in exploring untapped yeast resources of the region, this study is important for monitoring the yeast ecology in native fermentations and screening indigenous yeasts that will produce wines with regional characteristics.     

Evaluation of different Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains for red winemaking. Influence on the anthocyanin,pyranoanthocyanin and non-anthocyanin phenolic content and colour characteristics of wines

The possible industrial use of three previously-selected Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (1EV, 2EV and 7EV) has been studied in musts derived from Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. The anthocyanin, pyranoanthocyanin and non-anthocyanin phenolic content, and colour characteristics of the resulting wines have been compared to those of a commercial strain. Anthocyanins were the compounds most influenced by the yeast strain. Independently of the grape variety, wines derived from 2EV presented significantly higher anthocyanin concentrations than those derived from 1EV and 7EV, which presented similar contents. With the exception of hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives, no particular influence of the yeast strain was observed on the remaining non-anthocyanin phenolic compounds (i.e, hydroxybenzoic acids and flavanols). Pyranoanthocyanins and metabolites resulting from the alcoholic fermentation such as tyrosol and tryptophol, seemed to be more influenced by the must composition and pH, and thus, by the grape variety, than by the yeast strain.     

High-cell-density fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the optimisation of mead production

Mead is a traditional drink that contains 8%–18% (v/v) of ethanol, resulting from the alcoholic fermentation of diluted honey by yeasts. Mead fermentation is a time-consuming process and the quality of the final product is highly variable. Therefore, the present investigation had two main objectives: first, to determine the adequate inoculum size of two commercial wine-making strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the optimisation of mead fermentation; and second, to determine if an increase in yeast pitching rates in batch fermentations altered the resulting aroma profiles. Minor differences were detected in the growth kinetics between the two strains at the lowest pitching rate. With increasing pitching rates net growth of the strain ICV D47 progressively decreased, whereas for the QA23 the increasing inoculum size had no influence on its net growth. The time required to reach the same stage of fermentation ranged from 24 to 96 h depending on the inoculum size. The final aroma composition was dependent on the yeast strain and inoculum size. Fourteen of the twenty-seven volatile compounds quantified could contribute to mead aroma and flavour because their concentrations rose above their respective thresholds. The formation of these compounds was particularly pronounced at low pitching rates, except in mead fermented by strain ICV D47, at 10⁶ CFUs/mL. The esters isoamyl acetate, ethyl octanoate and ethyl hexanoate were the major powerful odourants found in the meads. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that yeast strain and inoculum size can favourably impact mead's flavour and aroma profiles.