After screening of enzymic activities in 51 yeast species isolated from decayed wood, only Aureobasidium microstictum and Trichosporon pullulans showed cellulase activity.
Xylanase was found in cultures of both yeasts and in several species of Candida, but the highest levels were produced by Filobasidium uniguttulatum, Cryptococcus albidus and C. laurentii.
Several strains produced low phenoloxidase activity and some of the yeasts grew on alkali lignin, but oxidation of veratryl alcohol was not demonstrated.