ASSIMILATION OF BENZOATE BY RHODOTORULA-RUBRA, RHODOTORULA-GLUTINIS AND RHODOSPORIDIUM TORULOIDES, AS AFFECTED BY GLUCOSE OR XYLOSE

Xylose or glucose (less than or equal to 5 g/l) was utilized simultaneously with benzoate (5 g/l) by Rhodosporidium toruloides and Rhodotorula rubra in batch culture. At a higher glucose concentration, benzoate was utilized only after glucose was depleted from the media. Both yeasts preferentially utilized benzoate before xylose even if there were more than 5 g xylose/l. Rhodotorula glutinis preferentially utilized glucose (less than or equal to 10 g/l) before benzoate but utilized xylose and benzoate simultaneously.