<i>Debaryomyces hansenii</i>growth in nonsterile seawater ClO₂- peptone-containing medium

Abstract

We found that the marine yeast Debaryomyces hansenii strain C-11 (CIBNOR yeast collection, La Paz, México) is highly tolerant to chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ), a powerful biocide agent. A direct application of this observation is the fermentation of the yeast in a nonsterile medium with an initial concentration of 0.3 mg/L of ClO 2 . The disinfectant helps to avoid the growth of unwanted microorganisms while allowing the development of the yeast. Because the concentration of ClO 2 decreases during the fermentation, we ascribe to D. hansenii cells a "biocontrol" action that contributes to the collection of a contaminant-free yeast cell biomass.Key words: marine yeasts, Debaryomyces hansenii, biocide, biocontrol, Cl0 2 disinfection, Cl0 2 resistance, nonsterile medium.