2.1.2 Thermotolerant yeasts
Temperature is one of the most important environmental factors affecting
microbial activity. Microorgnisms have generally been divided into three groups:
psychophiles, mesophiles and thermophiles depending on their range of temperature
for growth. The range of temperature consists of minimum (Tmin), optimum (Topt) and
maximum (Tmax) temperatures. Microorganisms, which fall into overlapping
categories, have been classified as thermotolerant mesophiles or as thermophiles,
depending on the point of view of the investigation. In many cases, researchers have
reported the highest temperature at which growth is detected (Slapack et al., 1987).