Characterization of wine yeasts by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE)

18S rDNA from 74 wine yeast strains was amplified by PCR using specific primers, and the products analyzed by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE). TGGE is a useful method in screening the genotypes of the wine yeasts. Intraspecific differentiation was achieved on the basis of TGGE in some cases, whereas in others identical bands for strains classified as separate species were obtained. Heteroduplex analysis was capable of differentiating between similar bands produced by two different species, thereby enhancing the resolution of the TGGE, yielding valuable information in a short time without the need of sequencing or complicated equipment.