Screening of non-Saccharomyces wine yeasts for the production of β-D-xylosidase activity

Fifty-four yeast strains belonging to the genera Candida, Dekkera, Hanseniaspora, Metschnikowia, Pichia, Rhodotorula, Schizosaccharomyces and Zygosaccharomyces, mainly isolated from grapes and wines, were screened for the production of β-D-xylosidase activity. β-D-xylosidase activity was only detected in eight yeast strains belonging to the genera Hanseniaspora (H. osmophila and H. uvarum) and Pichia (P. anomala). β-D-xylosidase preparations active against ρ-nitrophenyl-β-D-xyloside were characterised with respect to their optimal pH and temperature conditions. H. uvarum 11105 and 11107 and P. anomala 10320 β-D-xylosidase preparations were active at pH and temperature ranges and at concentrations of glucose and ethanol usually found during winemaking processes.