초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P><B>Aims</B></P><P>This study aimed to evaluate new <SMALL>d</SMALL>‐xylose‐fermenting yeasts from Brazilian ecosystems for the production of second‐generation ethanol.</P><P><B>Methods and Results</B></P><P><SMALL>d</SMALL>‐xylose‐fermenting yeasts isolated from rotting wood and wood‐boring insects were identified as the species <I>Scheffersomyces parashehatae</I>,<I> Scheffersomyces illinoinensis</I>,<I> Spathaspora arborariae</I> and <I>Wickerhamomyces rabaulensis</I>. Among the yeasts tested, those of <I>Sc. parashehatae</I> exhibited the highest ethanol production when cultivated on complex medium (Y<SUB>p/s</SUB><SUP>et </SUP>= 0·437 g g<SUP>−1</SUP>). <I>Sheffersomyces illinoinensis</I> and <I>Sp. arborariae</I> showed similar ethanol production in this assay (Y<SUB>p/s</SUB><SUP>et</SUP> up to 0·295 g g<SUP>−1</SUP>). In contrast, in sugarcane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysate, <I>Sc. parashehatae</I> and <I>Sc</I>. <I>illinoinensis</I> exhibited similar ethanol production (Y<SUB>p/s</SUB><SUP>et</SUP> up to 0·254 g g<SUP>−1</SUP>), whereas <I>Sp. arborariae</I> showed the lowest results (peak Y<SUB>p/s</SUB><SUP>et </SUP>= 0·160 g g<SUP>−1</SUP>). <I>Wickerhamomyces rabaulensis</I> exhibited a remarkable xylitol production (Y<SUB>p/s</SUB><SUP>xyl </SUP>= 0·681<SUP> </SUP>g g<SUP>−1</SUP>), but producing low levels of ethanol (Y<SUB>p/s</SUB><SUP>et </SUP>= 0·042 g g<SUP>−1</SUP>).</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>The novel <SMALL>d</SMALL>‐xylose‐fermenting yeasts showed promising metabolic characteristics for use in fermentation processes for second‐generation ethanol production, highlighting the importance of bioprospecting research of micro‐organisms for biotechnological applications.</P><P><B>Significance and Impact of the Study</B></P><P>This study widens the scope for future researches that may examine the native yeasts presented, as limited studies have investigated these species previously.</P>