Yields of yeast growth on starch

Summary A survey was made of 81 starch-assimilating yeasts, representing 59 species and varieties, with respect to their capacity for the direct conversion of starch into SCP. The extent of starch conversion by the native amylases of the strains during exponential growth, expressed as yield on starch (final amount of dry biomass formed per unit mass of starch originally supplied), varied over a wide range (0.043–0.590) The highest yields were obtained with strains ofLipomyces starkeyi andL. kononenkoae which converted on the average respectively 84% and nearly 100% of the starch supplied. The rate of starch hydrolysis byL. kononenkoae did not limit its specific rate of growth and SCP production.