Yeast Strains With Selected Or Altered Mitotypes And Methods Of Making And Using The Same

The researchers demonstrate that the mitochondrial genome influences temperature tolerance in Saccharomyces yeasts. The present invention provides methods for manipulating the mitotype of yeast, including methods to produce synthetic yeast hybrids with a selected mitotype and methods to exchange the native mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) present in polyploid yeast with mtDNA from a desired source. Saccharomyces cerevisiae x Saccharomyces eubayanus hybrids with selected mitotypes are also provided. The yeast and methods of the present invention may be utilized in a variety of applications, including in fermentation to produce beer and wine.