Basal catalase activity and high glutathione levels influence the performance of non-Saccharomyces active dry wine yeasts

Non-Saccharomyces wine yeasts are useful tools for producing wines with complex aromas or low ethanol content. Their use in wine would benefit from their production as active dry yeast (ADY) starters to be used as coinocula alongside S. cerevisiae. Oxidative stress during biomass propagation and dehydration is a key factor in determining ADY performance, as it affects yeast vitality and viability. Several studies have analysed the response of S. cerevisiae to oxidative stress under dehydration conditions, but not so many deal with nonconventional yeasts. In this work, we analysed eight non-Saccharomyces wine yeasts under biomass production conditions and studied oxidative stress parameters and lipid composition. The results revealed wide variability among species in their technological performance during ADY production. Also, for Metschnikowia pukherrima and Starmerella bacillaris, better performance correlates with high catalase activity and glutathione levels. Our data suggest that non-Saccharomyces wine yeasts with an enhanced oxidative stress response are better suited to grow under ADY production conditions.