Vol. 12, Issue 2 (2023)

Author(s):
VM Sali, DT Nagrale, MA Sushir, DS Kadam, SB Dighule and DP Deshmukh

Abstract:
Isolation of soil yeast from diverse 150 soil samples collected from nine agro climatic region comprising 26 districts of Maharashtra state, India yielded total 34 soil yeast cultures from 17 districts. In Konkan region approximately 42.42% of locations harbor the soil yeast followed by Western Maharashtra region where 18.05% of locations harbor the soil yeast. Further, in Marathwada region 16.16% of locations harbors the soil yeast whereas in Vidarbha region 15.15% of locations harbors the soil yeast. On the basis of morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, the yeast isolates were identified as Trichomonascus petatosporus, Candida labiduridarum, Candida shehatae, Eremothecium ashbyi and Eremothecium cymbalariae and Moniliella megachiliensis. The yeast of the genus Trichomonascus was present in the soils of Kokan region and Vidarbha region of high rainfall zone. The yeast isolates which were found effective against the Pythium sp. were KTPD-10, WSWB-3, WNSS-9, WAJJ-11, WAAB-12, MLAA-1 and VCGN-5. The yeast of genus Candida was prevalent in the soils of marathwada and western Maharashtra region whereas the yeast Moniliella and Eremothecium genus were predominant in the soils of western Maharashtra region. These soil yeast species are reported from the soils of Maharashtra for the first time.