Development of a novel SRAP-SCAR marker for rapid identification of lager and ale types in brewer’s yeast

Background Beer is a globally consumed and universally popular beverage. According to the fermentation conditions of brewer’s yeast, ale yeast and lager yeast are the two major varieties. Normal phenotypic and genotypic approaches are insufficient and time-consuming for identifying these two forms of yeast. Therefore, a method for the rapid and cost-effective identification of lager and ale-type brewer’s yeasts is necessary. Methods and results In this study, we analysed the genetic diversity of 23 industrial brewer’s yeasts from around the world using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers and produced stable sequence characteristic amplification region (SCAR) markers. The specific DNA fragments identified by the SRAP marker were sequenced and primers were constructed; the resultant SCAR marker (757 bp) was then confirmed against the indicated brewer’s yeast type. Conclusion The development of SRAP-SCAR marker is more economical, simple, and fast compared to morphological markers.