Indonesian Oleaginous Yeasts Isolated from Piper betle and P. nigrum

In this study, 71 strains of yeast were isolated from Piper betle and P. nigrum. Isolates were identified using sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of large 26S ribosomal subunit rDNA. They belong to 25 species in 11 genera. Strains Cryptococcus luteolus InaCC Y-265, Candida orthopsilosis InaCC Y-302, and Candida oleophila InaCC Y-306 could accumulate more than 40% of lipid per g of cell biomass on a dry weight basis. The fatty acids observed were primarily palmitic acid (C18:1), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and linolenic acid (C18:2). The fatty acid profiles suggest that these yeasts may be good candidates for biodiesel production, as they are similar to the fatty acids of plant oils currently used for biodiesel. Mycosphere, Vol. 4, No. 5. Hal. 1015-1026 ISSN 2077-7019