The fermentation test was then conducted in 50 mL of a medium in which the sugar content was initially adjusted to 200 mg mL-1 by diluting thick juice with an appropriate volume of whey and water (Table 1). Fig. 1 shows the maximum concentration of ethanol synthesized by strains K. marxianus KD-15, K. marx- ianus NBRC 1963, and S. cerevisiae NBRC 0224 within 120 h of fermentation and the contents of residual sugars. Strain KD-
15 consumed most sugars and synthesized ethanol over
99 mg mL-1 in media with any dilution. Ethanol production by strains NBRC 1963 and NBRC 0224 was reduced in proportion to the volume of whey accompanied by an increase of residual sugars.