Changes

''Zygosaccharomyces'' spp. belongs to the group of hemiascomycetous (class of fungi in which no ascocarps are formed) yeasts with a high tolerance to osmotic stress. This typical feature enables it to grow in environments with high concentrations of salts and/or sugars, i.e. under conditions restrictive to most other yeast species. ''Z. bailii'', ''Z. bisporous'', ''Z. rouxii'', and ''Z. florentinus'' are species which have been isolated in grape musts or wine. Some strains can be very tolerant to a wide range of stressors, including 50% sugar, 2.5% acetic acid, 18% ethanol, and pH 2.0. It is also resistant to preservatives commonly used in beverage production such as SO₂. They are commonly mentioned as part of the "Flor" present in Sherry wines.