Relationship between saccharifying capacity and isolation sources for strains of the Rhizopus arrhizus complex

To discover the differences and modes of saccharifying ability among Rhizopus arrhizus strains isolated from various habitats, we grew strains in glutinous rice media to monitor the production of glucose from starch using spectrophotometry at regular time intervals. The saccharifying capacity of R. arrhizus var. delemar was found to be weaker than that of var. arrhizus and var. tonkinensis. These data provide additional phenotypic support for recognization of this genetically distinct lineage (var. delemar) as a separate species. Clinical isolates were generally low in saccharifying abilities, while all strains from southwest China had an excellent diastatic power.