The potential of protoplast fusants of Wickerhamomyces anomalus and Galactomyces candidum isolates for ethanol production from cassava starch was evaluated. The protoplasts were obtained from 18 h yeast cells digested by zymolase and fused by polyethylene glycol (PEG). Regenerated recombinants were randomly selected and examined for desired marker traits: rate of fermentation of glucose, maltose and ethanol tolerance. Cassava starch hydrolysates were obtained by the amylolytic action of partially purified amylase extracts from Aspergillus species. Three of the selected fusants exhibited improvements in fermentation parameters over the parents. Enhanced ethanol tolerance of (25% v/v) as against 20% of the parents was exhibited by fusants R4 and R7. All isolates displayed higher ethanol productivity than CO 2 . The highest values of carbon dioxide productivity (4.79 L/L.h), volumetric ethanol productivity (11.54 g/L.h) and an ethanol mass concentration of 110.88 g/l were obtained from the fermentation by R1. Fusant R1 also had the highest fermentation efficiency (80%) and actual ethanol recovery (10.19%), as compared to other fusants and the parent yeast isolates. Parent isolates and selected fusants were characterized using molecular tools. The possibility of the occurrence of a genetic recombination in selected fusants as a result of protoplast fusion was observed.
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