Interaction of a mixed yeast culture in an “autotroph-heterotroph” system with a closed atmosphere cycle and spatially separated components Original Research Article

The study considers an experimental model of the “autotroph-heterotroph” system with a closed atmosphere cycle, in which the heterotrophic link is a mixed yeast population. The autotrophic link is represented by the algae Chlorella vulgaris and the heterotrophic link by the yeasts Candida utilis and Candida guilliermondii. The controls are populations of Chlorella and the same yeasts isolated from the atmosphere. It has been shown that the outcome of competition in the heterotrophic link depends on the strategy of the yeast population towards the substrate and oxygen. The C. utilis population quickly utilizes the substrate as it is an r-strategist and is less sensitive to oxygen deficiency. The C. guilliermondii population consumes low concentrations of the substrate because it is a K-strategist, but it is more sensitive to oxygen deficiency. That is why, in the “autotroph-heterotroph” system with a closed gas cycle, after a considerable amount of the substrate has been consumed, the C. guilliermondii population becomes more competitive that the C. utilis population. In the culture of yeasts, isolated from the atmosphere, the C. utilis population finds itself in more favorable conditions due to oxygen deficiency. The system with a complex heterotrophic component survive longer than a system whose heterotrophic component is represented by only one yeast species. This is explained for by the positive metabolite interaction of yeasts and a more complete utilization of the substrate by a mixed culture of yeasts featuring different strategies towards the substrate.