Resistance to heavy metals by some Nigerian yeast strains.

The heavy metal resistance of yeasts isolated from sugary substrates such as orange, palm wine and pineapple and identified as Saccharomyces carlsbergensis and S. cerevisiae was studied. The yeast isolates were tested against different concentrations of cadmium, copper, manganese, silver and zinc salts ranging from 1 to 20 mmol/L. Local yeasts showed resistance to 3-15 mmol/L cadmium, 18-20 copper, 16-20 manganese, 1-9 silver and 16-19 for zinc. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to the effects of heavy metals on growth of microorganisms and selection of yeasts for the brewing industry in Nigeria.