Screening of Potential Yeast Starters from <i>Cola</i><i> </i><i>cordifolia</i> Fruit Pulp

The aim of this study is to add value to Cola cordifolia fruit from northern Côte d'Ivoire. Owing to its high carbohydrate content, Cola cordifolia could be a suitable substrate for research into fermentative flora for food industry. In this way, yeasts were isolated from Cola cordifolia pulp and screened for potential starters. Following screening, the best strains were identified using a molecular technique to determine the species involved. The results were used to select five (5) strains showing the best growth compared with the other strains tested. These strains belong to the Candida parapsilosis, Hanseniaspora uvarum and Pichia manshurica species. These strains could thus be used as potential starters in biotechnological applications. Cola cordifolia would be crucial to the development of yeast culture collections useful for controlled fermentations.