Dekkera anomala sp. nov., the teleomorph of Brettanomyces anomalus, recovered from spoiled soft drinks.

A new ascogenous yeast species, Dekkera anomala, is described. The strains studied were isolated from spoiled soft drinks. This species differs morphologically and physiologically from the species presently accepted in the genus Dekkera by the formation of blastese and the ability to ferment lactose.

Comparison between the yeast flora of Middle Eastern and Western European soft drinks.

Samples of a carbonated orange drink, raw materials, and intermediate products originating from 6 Iraqi bottling plants were examined. 69 drinks, 4 flavoured syrups and 19 simple syrups contained yeasts, whereas all samples from one plant and all samples of beverage base were free from viable yeasts. From the orange drink 2 species were isolated viz. Saccharomyces montanus and Torulopsis stellata. The following species were present in simple syrup: Hansenula anomala, Sacch. bisporus var. mellis, T. candida and T. stellata. Sacch. bisporus var. mellis was also isolated from favoured syrup. Representative strains were submitted to routine growth tests at reduced oxygen tension, at reduced water activity and on solid soft-drink media containing various amounts of anti-microbially active benzoic acid at pH 3.0. The results are discussed and compared to those obtained in European soft drinks.