Genetic characterisation of New Zealand and Australian wine yeasts

Twenty five culture wine yeast strains from New Zealand and Australia were examined for killer capability or sensitivity. Eight yeast strains were K ₂ ⁺ killers, six of the K ₂ ⁺ R ₁ ^- R ₃ ⁺ phenotype and two of the K ₂ ⁺ R ₁ ^- R ₃ ^- phenotype. The seventeen sensitive strains were separated into four phenotype classes. The homothallic life cycle was detected in twenty-one strains and one further strain is probably triploid.