Batch fermentation of mahula (Madhuca latifolia L, a tree commonly found in tropical rain forest) flowers was carried out using immobilized cells (in agar agar and calcium alginate) and free cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The ethanol yields were 151.2, 154.5 and 149.1 g kg(-1) flowers using immobilized (in agar agar and calcium alginate) and free cells, respectively. Cell entrapment in calcium alginate was found to be marginally superior to those in agar agar (2.2% more) as well as over free cell (3.5% more) as regard to ethanol yield from mahula flowers is concerned. Further, the immobilized cells were physiologically active at least for three cycles [150.6, 148.5 and 146.5 g kg(-1) (agar agar) and 152.8, 151.5 and 149.5 g kg(-1) flowers (calcium alginate) for first, second and third cycle. respectively] of ethanol fermentation without apparently lowering the productivity. Mahula flowers. a renewable, non-food-grade cheap carbohydrate substrate from non-agricultural environment such as forest can serve as an alternative to food grade sugar/starchy crops such as maize, sugarcane for bio-ethanol production. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.