Yeast diversity isolated from nypa palm leaf litter in the macrohabitat of the nypa palm worm (Namalycastis rhodochorde)

Abstract

Abstract Yeasts are known to have broad and specific enzymatic activity, including cellulolytic activity. The diversity of yeast in the nypa palm mangrove area is thought to have a role in the organic degradation process of nypa leaf litter which supports the fermentation of nypa palm worm feed. This study aims to determine the composition and genera of yeast present in the habitat of nypa palm worms. The sampling process was determined using a purposive sampling method in Sungai Kakap Village, Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan. Isolation was carried out using the pour plate method with serial dilution on the Saboraud Dextrose Agar Medium (SDA). The process of characterizing yeast genera was determined by observing the characteristics of microcolonies, type of budding cells, presence of pseudohyphae, type and number of spores, ascospore, and capsule presence. The results showed that the composition of the successfully isolated yeast was 11% of the total colonies growing on the SDA medium. Isolates NrYS1 and NrYS4 are similar to Torulaspora, while isolates NrYS2 and NrYS3 are similar to Schizosaccharomyces. Further research is needed on the potential of the four enzymatic yeasts to be used as probiotic feed for the nypa palm worm’s culture.