Temperature profiles of ethanol tolerance: Effects of ethanol on the minimum and the maximum temperatures for growth of the yeasts <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> and <i>Kluyveromyces fragilis</i>

Abstract

Ethanol depressed the maximum temperature for growth (Tmax) and enhanced thermal death in the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevi~iael-~ and Kluyveromyces f r a g i l i ~. ~ Information obtained from brewers on difficulties with yeast performance in the brewing at low temperatures of lager from high gravity worts, led the authors to study the effect of ethanol on the minimum temperature for growth (Tmin). As is reported here, ethanol adversely affected not only T,,, but also Tmi,, while maximum ethanol tolerance prevailed at intermediate temperatures. This in turn led to the concept of the temperature profile of ethanol tolerance.