Isolation and Characterization of Yeast Isolated from Apple and Soil from Mango Tree

ABSTRACT
Fungi are essential components of ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling and food spoilage. This study aimed to isolate and characterize fungi from soil and apple samples. Yeasts were identified and characterized based on cell morphology (e.g., mode of cell division and spore shape) and biochemical (sugar fermentation tests) and molecular technique. Yeast counts were determined using the spot plate technique. The result shows that soil sample had the highest fungal density with 126 colonies at a 10⁻⁴ dilution (1.26 × 10⁻² cells/ml). In contrast, apple samples showed lower counts, with the highest colony count being 146 at a 10⁻4 dilution (1.46 × 10⁻2 cells/ml). Morphological characterization identified Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Rhodotorula mucinaginosa as predominant isolates. However, molecular analysis via BLAST revealed the presence of Fusarium equiseti and Myrothecium inundatum, with sequence identity percentages of 99.09% and 98.74%, respectively in soil samples. However, the apple sample yielded no significant BLAST hits indicating no fungal specie present. The findings emphasize the diverse fungal communities present in natural environments. Future research is recommended to examine the functional roles of the fungal isolates in soil and environments.