This thesis deals with identification of the wine yeasts by applying the PCR-RFLP method. The identification and characteristic of the yeasts has gone through substantial changes in recent years. There have been introduced new methods of taxonomic classifying based on the molecular methods, which are oriented to easy and fast identification. One of these methods is the PCR-RFLP method. The amplification of the 5•8S-ITS rDNA sequence by the polymerase chain reaction with use of the primers ITS1 and ITS4 leads to the amplification of the specific sequence of DNA. Such multiplied DNA is after repurifying by the ethanol and drying submitted to the restriction analysis. With use of the restriction endonuklases DNA is chopped into the specific segments typical for the particular genus. The chopped fragments can be separated in the electric field in the agarose gel and subsequently evaluated. In this thesis together 63 type yeasts were used. These yeasts were analysed by applying of the seven restriction endonuklases – HaeIII, HhaI, HinfI, HpaII, TaqI, AluI a MseI. The final image of type yeasts splitting was compared to the results of splitting of already identified wine yeasts and these yeasts were subsequently taxonomically classified. Evaluation of genetic similarity was conducted by program BioNumerics and as the results the dendrograms that were created with use of Jaccard‘s coefficients are obtained.

In this diploma thesis, photocatalytic effect of titanium dioxide with addition of silver was described and demonstrated on inactivation of the yeast Candida vini. Titanium dioxide was prepared by sol-gel process and deposited by printing metod on soda-lime glasses. On the deposit of titanium dioxide was added silver in various concentrations which increased effect of TiO2. Inactivation of yeasts was examined by effectiveness of UV light with intensity 170 and 100 W/m2.

This thesis deal with optimalization method PCR – RFLP for taxonomy enlistment of yeasts. Conventional identification methods for yeasts are time-consuming. Molecular biological method based on PCR are instrumental towards fast and precise identification as compared to conventional phenotypic methods. In this thesis molecular biological method PCR – RFLP was used for identification and enlistment of yeasts. This metod follow repeating spacers of ribozomal DNA of yeast, characteristic for each species and strain. By the help of PCR were amplified specific partitions of DNA. These fragments of DNA were split by restriction endonucleases and identified by horizontal electroforesis. In background of this thesis there are information about yeasts, their taxonomy and molecular biological methods.

This thesis deals with identification of wine yeasts isolated during fermentation process of wine cider and grapes of Sauvignon grape variety, grown in the integrated vineyard. The identification and taxonomic classification is faster and easier due to the progress of molecular methods. In this thesis PCR-RFLP method was used for identification of yeasts. Sequences of DNA specific for each species were analysed. These sequences were amplified by means of PCR method and by using ITS1 and ITS4 primers. In following step, they were put through the restrictiction analysis with five restriction endonucleases. Fragments of DNA were separated by horizontal electrophoresis. The electrophoreograms were evaluated by BioNumerics software and final dendrogram representing genetics similarity of isolated yeasts was created by using UPGMA claster analysis. The basic information about yeasts and their identification by molecular methods are described in the theoretical part of this thesis.

This thesis deals with identification of yeasts isolated during spontaneous fermentation of grape juice. For analysis the Pinot Noir grape variety grown in the integrated vineyard was chosen. In the theoretical part of this thesis basic information about yeasts are described. Genera of yeasts that occurs during fermentation process and methods based on PCR are also described. In this thesis PCR-RFLP method was used for identification of yeasts. The amplification of the 5,8S-ITS rDNA sequence was performed by the polymerase chain reaction with use of the primers ITS1 and ITS4. The restriction analysis was performed by applying five restriction endonucleases: HaeIII, HinfI, Taq?, AluI, MseI. The amplicons were split into fragments which length and number are typical for the particular species. These fragments were identified by agarose gel electrophoresis and electrophoreograms were evaluated by BioNumerics software. Dendrograms representing genetic similarity of isolated wine yeasts were created by using UPGMA cluster analysis.

Yeasts are like other organisms constantly exposed to environmental influences. Their survival depends on the skills to adapt to environmental changes, including the ability to use various alternative sources of nutrients. In presented PhD thesis carotenogenic yeast belonging to the genera Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces and Cystofilobasidium were tested for ability to use of selected waste substrates, and also subjected to several types of exogenous stress effects and mutations in order to increase the production of microbial biomass enriched with specific metabolites. As alternative nutrient sources derived from waste substrates from agricultural and farm production apple peel, pulp, corn germ and more were tested. Yeasts were also exposed to osmotic, oxidative and combined stress (benefits of various concentrations of NaCl and H2O2 to the culture media), followed by metal ions of selenium and chromium in concentrations of 0.01 mM, 0.1 mM and 1 mM. The effect of mutagen methanesulfonic acid ethyl ester was tested too. In all experiments the adaptivity of cells, morphological changes, color pigments produced by the media while some important fungal metabolites production and changes in chromosomal DNA fragmentation were analyzed. In order to evaluate potential changes in the yeast genome after treatment with mutagen and stress factors methods for isolation of intact chromosomal DNA and DNA analysis by pulsed field gel electrophoresis was optimized. The amount of produced metabolites was mainly analyzed by RP-HPLC with UV/VIS and MS detection. The work has been shown that most strains are able to use waste substrates and produced selected target metabolites. Biomass, for example, in R. aurantiaca on apple fiber was about 7 g/l and in C. capitatum cultivated on modified whey reached to 9 g/l. Amount of produced carotenoids by R. aurantiaca cultivated on wheat germ and maize after enzymatic hydrolysis by F. solani was 1.01 mg/g and S. roseus on pasta 4.3 mg/g. The values of ergosterol synthesis in R. aurantiaca are on the apple shells around 4.8 mg/g, in S. roseus on pasta with the enzymatic hydrolysis of P. chrysosporium 8.9 mg/g. The best substrate for biomass production and induction of carotenoids are waste substartes containing a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates enriched with the addition of nitrogen compounds. Potential cytotoxic effect of stress factors of low concentrations was demonstrated. Red yeast genome was able to distribute by optimized PFGE, the karyotype of tested yeasts contain 11 or more chromosomes with visible differences between yeast species and genera. During exchange internship the ability of recombinant yeast S. cerevisiae to convert xylose to xylitol, which would be achieved by increasing the production of bioethanol as alternative fuel sources was studied. It turned out that both ligninocellulose materials to bioethanol production, as well as various waste substrates for microbial synthesis of carotenoids would reduce costs for industrial production of yeast metabolites, as well as to reduce the negative burden on the environment.

Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments of plants also produced in many bacteria, and fungi. They represent one of the widest group of natural antioxidants with significant biological effects and numerous of industrial applications. There is an increased interest in carotenoids as natural antioxidants for their ability to reduce chronic diseases, various pathological stages and aging. The area of their application concerns mainly food industry; however, they are used in chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industry as well. One possibility is study of potential of red yeasts that are able to convert various substrates into carotenoid pigments. In presented thesis carotenogenic yeast belonging to the genus Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces and Cystofilobasidium were tested for ability to use of selected waste substrates and also random mutagenesis in order to increase the production of biomass and specific metabolites – carotenoids and other lipid-soluble substances. As alternative nutrient sources derived from waste substrates from agricultural and food production (rapeseed substrate, rice, wheat, apple fiber, pasta and lignocellusic materials) were tested. To selected production media extracellular hydrolytic enzymes or commercial enzymes degrading polysaccharide were added. All tested red yeast strains were able to utilize these substrates as the only carbon source and simultaneous produce carotenoid enriched biomass. In this work, characterization of carotenogenic yeast using molecular techniques was studied. For this usage, interspecific variables of strongly conserved sequences of genomic DNA, especially rDNA D1/D2 large ribosomal subunit and ITS1 and 5,8-ITS2 rDNA regions were amplified. These sequences were subjected analysed by DGGE method to compare differences of carotenogenic yeasts. Isolation procedure of the intact DNA were optimized for caryotypic yeast characterization by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The karyotype of tested yeasts contain visible differences between yeast species and genera.

The thesis deals with monitoring of the yeast's impact to the chemical and sensorial characteristics of produced wine. The aim of experimental part was obtaining of the aroma-active substances in the fermenting must and wine Hibernal and wine Pinot Blanc. SPME-GC-MS methods were used for identify wines and must aroma. The same autochthonous yeasts were used for wine production. This yeast was isolated from surface of grapes in our laboratory. It was found that both wines have a similar aromatic profile. The next aim was the monitoring of chemical parameters of samples and their changes. For this measurement were used spectrophotometric methods and HPLC methods. The last goal of the thesis was the isolation and identification of yeasts from wine Pinot Blanc by PCR-RFLP. These yeasts were then compared with yeasts isolated from Hibernal must. Identification of yeasts were done by amplification 5,8S-ITS DNA stretches using primers ITS1 and ITS4. Restriction endonuclease HaeIII, HinfI, HhaI and TaqI. were used for restriction analysis then.

The main goal of my diploma thesis was to identify and characterize yeasts from must Hibernal and also collection yeasts by using methods called RFLP-PCR (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism - Polymerase Chain Reaction). Theory was the first part of my diploma thesis which dealt with wine, yeasts and molecular methods. Theory section was followed by experimental section divided into two parts. The main goal of the first part was to characterize and identify yeasts from must Hibernal by using PCR and RFLP-PCR methods. In the samples there were found yeasts Saccharomyces and Pichia. The second experimental part of my diploma thesis had a goal to extend the database of new yeasts using the same methods mentioned in the first part of experimental section.

Yeasts form significant and important part of pedosphere microbiota. They keep nature balance, participate in cycles of elements and nutrients, are antagonists of various pathogens and as important decomposers, they produce the whole spectrum of different extracellular enzymes. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of yeasts, isolated from the soil adjacent to the fruit trees in Southwest Slovakia as well as from the contaminated soil (Pernek area, Slovakia), to produce extracellular enzymes. In total, 68 strains belonging to 45 different species were tested for the production of starch-like polysaccharide and for extracellular enzyme activities: polygalacturonases, lipases, proteases, cellulases, chitinases, -glucosidases and -amylases. This work was also focused on optimization of method for the yeast chitinase assay. Four methods were proved; two of them utilized liquid medium with chitin (colloidal and insoluble) as the sole carbon source and two others used solid plate methods with agar medium containing chitin. Based on results, cultivation in colloidal liquid chitin medium, terminated by the chitinase assay according to Ehrlich, was evaluated as the best method for detection of predominant exochitinase activity of yeasts. More than 75 % of tested yeasts exhibited some extracellular activity. Generally, the yeasts isolated from the soil under the fruit trees showed broader spectrum of enzyme activities than those originated from contaminated soils. Lipases, proteases and -glucosidases were found to be the most common activities. Only small proportion of yeasts was able to produce chitinases and/or cellulases. Aureobasidium pullulans, CCY 27-1-134, from the soil adjacent to the apple tree, showed the widest range of activities from all tested strains and it possessed all examined activities. On the other side, it did not produce starch-like polysaccharide. Tausonia (Trichosporon) pullulans and Cystofilobasidium macerans were the second most active producers of extracellular enzymes with variations in production of cellulases and -amylases. Representatives of the former polyphyletic genus Cryptococcus exhibited lipases, -glucosidases, -amylases and they were producers of the starch, but the interspecies differences were also noted. All strains of the genus Galactomyces were positive for polygalacturonases and the genera Candida and Cyberlindnera were positive for -glucosidases. All strains of Galactomyces candidum were tested for the production of polygalacturonases during 168 hours long cultivation on pectin media. Strain CCY 16-3-4 showed very stable growth on this medium and simultaneously exhibited significant amount of extracellular polygalactouronases. It has a potential to be very suitable producer of these enzymes but particular characterization of properties is necessary for its future use. Results of the screening showed that the production of extracellular enzymes is mostly strain-dependent and not species-dependent.