The temperature profile of growth and thermal death of the xylose-fermenting yeast Candida shehatae was dissociative. The ARRHENIUS plot of growth lacked a descending supraoptimal branch and the specific growth rate at the maximum temperature for growth (around 31 degrees C) was not significantly different from its values at the other temperatures studied (down to 20 degrees C). Ethanol enhanced thermal death by increasing its entropy of activation (entropy coefficient 16.1 entropy units mol-1]-1). The temperature profile of ethanol tolerance with respect to growth displayed a temperature plateau (10-17.5 degrees C) of maximum ethanol tolerance (limit 6% v/v of ethanol) while the toxic effects of ethanol increased on either side of the plateau depressing the maximum temperature for growth from 31 to 17.5 degrees C and increasing the minimum temperature for growth from 2.5 to 10 degrees C.