Description of Taphrina antarctica f.a. sp. nov., a new anamorphic ascomycetous yeast species associated with Antarctic endolithic microbial communities and transfer of four Lalaria species in the genus Taphrina

In the framework of a large-scale rock sampling in Continental Antarctica, a number of yeasts have been isolated. Two strains that are unable to grow above 20 °C and that have low ITS sequence similarities with available data in the public domain were found. The D1/D2 LSU molecular phylogeny placed them in an isolated position in the genus Taphrina, supporting their affiliation to a not yet described species. Because the new species is able to grow in its anamorphic state only, the species Taphrina antarctica f.a. (forma asexualis) sp. nov. has been proposed to accommodate both strains (type strain DBVPG 5268^T, DSM 27485^T and CBS 13532^T). Lalaria and Taphrina species are dimorphic ascomycetes, where the anamorphic yeast represents the saprotrophic state and the teleomorph is the parasitic counterpart on plants. This is the first record for this genus in Antarctica; since plants are absent on the continent, we hypothesize that the fungus may have focused on the saprotrophic part of its life cycle to overcome the absence of its natural host and adapt environmental constrains. Following the new International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants (Melbourne Code 2011) the reorganization of Taphrina–Lalaria species in the teleomorphic genus Taphrina is proposed. We emend the diagnosis of the genus Taphrina to accommodate asexual saprobic states of these fungi. Taphrina antarctica was registered in MycoBank under MB 808028.     

Four new yeast species of the genus Sporobolomyces from plant leaves

Among the ballistoconidium-forming yeast strains isolated from various plant leaves collected in North and Northeast China, 12 strains forming orange to orange-red colored colonies were revealed to represent four novel species of the genus Sporobolomyces by conventional, chemotaxonomic and molecular phylogenetic studies, based on the 26S-rDNA D1/D2 domain and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences. Sporobolomyces beijingensis sp. nov., represented by eight strains (type strain CB 80T = AS 2.2365T = CBS 9730T), and Sporobolomyces jilinensis sp. nov., represented by two strains (type strain CB 118T = AS 2.2301T = CBS 9728T), clustered in the Johnsonii clade of the Sporidiobolus lineage. Sporobolomyces clavatus sp. nov., represented by strain CB 281T (= AS 2.2318T = CBS 9729T), belonged to the Agaricostilbum lineage and showed a close relationship to Sporobolomyces ruber and Sporobolomyces dracophylli. Sporobolomyces symmetricus sp. nov., represented by strain CB 64T(= AS 2.2299T = CBS 9727T), formed nearly symmetrical ballistoconidia and was closely related with Sporobolomyces vermiculatus and Sporobolomyces gracilis in the Gracilis clade of the Erythrobasidium lineage.     

Debaryomyces psychrosporus sp. nov., a yeast species from a Venezuelan cave

Three yeast strains, which are phenotypically indistinguishable from Debaryomyces hansenii, were recovered from secondary mineral deposits (stalactites and stromatolites) obtained in the Crystal Eyes Cave, Roraima Tepui Mountain, Venezuela. Analyses of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene as well as the concatenated sequences of the nearly entire SSU rRNA gene, the ITS regions and the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene confirmed the placement of these strains in the genus Debaryomyces, but relationship with all valid species of D. hansenii complex was distant. Based on the observed considerable sequence divergence the three strains are proposed as a new species, D. psychrosporus sp. nov., with the type strain NCAIM Y.01972(T) (CBS 11845(T), NRRL Y-48723(T)).     

Pichia koratensis sp. nov., a new ascomycetous yeast related to Pichia acaciae isolated from insect frass in Thailand

Two yeast strains (ST-235 and ST-237) isolated from insect frass collected in northeastern Thailand, were identified as Pichia acaciae and a hitherto undescribed species based on the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of 26S rDNA, ITS regions, and DNA-DNA reassociation experiments. The latter strain, ST-237 (=BCC 11769=NBRC 103638=JCM 12576), was described as Pichia koratensis sp. nov. Pichia koratensis is closely related to Pichia acaciae in the D1/D2 domain sequence of 26S rDNA and phenotypical characteristics but differs by 5 nucleotides (0.9%) from the type strain of P. acaciae and is clearly distinguished by the assimilation and fermentation of sucrose.     

Cold-adapted yeasts from Antarctica and the Italian Alps—description of three novel species: Mrakia robertii sp. nov., Mrakia blollopis sp. nov. and Mrakiella niccombsii sp. nov.

Worldwide glaciers are annually retreating due to global overheating and this phenomenon determines the potential lost of microbial diversity represented by psychrophilic microbial population sharing these peculiar habitats. In this context, yeast strains, all unable to grow above 20°C, consisting of 42 strains from Antarctic soil and 14 strains isolated from Alpine Glacier, were isolated and grouped together based on similar morphological and physiological characteristics. Sequences of the D1/D2 and ITS regions of the ribosomal DNA confirmed the previous analyses and demonstrated that the strains belong to unknown species. Three new species are proposed: Mrakia robertii sp. nov. (type strain CBS 8912), Mrakia blollopis sp. nov. (type strain CBS 8921) and a related anamorphic species Mrakiella niccombsii sp. nov. (type strain CBS 8917). Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region revealed that the new proposed species were closely related to each other within the Mrakia clade in the order Cystofilobasidiales, class Tremellomycetes. The Mrakia clade now contains 8 sub-clades. Teliospores were observed in all strains except CBS 8918 and for the Mrakiella niccombsii strains.     

Candida alocasiicola sp. nov., Candida hainanensis sp. nov., Candida heveicola sp. nov. and Candida musiphila sp. nov., novel anamorphic, ascomycetous yeast species isolated from plants

In a taxonomic study on the ascomycetous yeasts isolated from plant materials collected in tropical forests in Yunnan and Hainan Provinces, southern China, four strains isolated from tree sap (YJ2E(T)) and flowers (YF9E(T), YWZH3C(T) and YYF2A(T)) were revealed to represent four undescribed yeast species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the large subunit (26S) rRNA gene D1/D2 domain sequences showed that strain YJ2E(T) was located in a clade together with Candida haemulonii and C. pseudohaemulonii. Strain YF9E(T) was most closely related to C. azyma and strain YWZH3C(T) to C. sorbophila and C. spandovensis. Strain YYF2A(T) was clustered in a clade containing small-spored Metschnikowia species and related anamorphic Candida species. The new strains differed from their closely related described species by more than 10% mismatches in the D1/D2 domain. No sexual states were observed for the four strains on various sporulation media. The new species are therefore assigned to the genus Candida and described as Candida alocasiicola sp. nov. (type strain, YF9E(T) = AS 2.3484(T) = CBS 10702(T)), Candida hainanensis sp. nov. (type strain, YYF2A(T) = AS 2.3478(T) = CBS 10696(T)), Candida heveicola sp. nov. (type strain, YJ2E(T) = AS 2.3483(T) = CBS 10701(T)) and Candida musiphila sp. nov. (type strain, YWZH3C(T) = AS 2.3479(T) = CBS 10697(T)).     

Diversity of basidiomycetous phylloplane yeasts belonging to the genus Dioszegia (Tremellales) and description of Dioszegia athyri sp. nov., Dioszegia butyracea sp. nov. and Dioszegia xingshanensis sp. nov

From approximately 200 basidiomycetous yeast isolates forming orange or orange-red colonies isolated from senescent leaves collected in different regions of China, 29 representative strains varying in their geographic distribution and ballistoconidium forming ability were selected for further phenotypic and molecular taxonomic studies. Sequence analysis of the large subunit (26S) rDNA D1/D2 domain and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region including 5.8S rRNA from the strains resulted in the recognition of seven Dioszegia species, including four described species, namely D. aurantiaca, D. fristingensis, D. hungarica and D. zsoltii var. zsoltii and D. zsoltii var. yunnanensis, and three undescribed species. The three new species are described as Dioszegia athyri sp. nov. (type strain: CB 159(T) = AS 2.2559(T) = CBS 10119(T)), Dioszegia butyracea sp. nov. (type strain: CB 261(T) = AS 2.2600(T) = CBS 10122(T)) and Dioszegia xingshanensis sp. nov. (type strain: HB 1.4(T) = AS 2.2481(T) = CBS 10120(T)) in the present study.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodotorula oryzae</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel basidiomycetous yeast species isolated from paddy rice

A basidiomyetous yeast strain RO-203, which formed orange-red colored colonies, was isolated from a sample of paddy rice crops at the ripe stage in Japan. Morphological, physiological and biochemical characterization indicated that this strain belonged to the genus Rhodotorula. Molecular taxonomic analysis based on the 26S rDNA D1/D2 domain and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences showed that RO-203 represents an undescribed yeast species, for which the name Rhodotorula oryzae sp. nov. is proposed (type strain: AS 2.2363^T = MAFF 516128^T). The new species clustered in a branch together with Sakaguchia dacryoidea in phylogenetic trees based on the D1/D2 and ITS sequences. These two species differed by 2.3% and 12% nucleotide divergences in the D1/D2 and ITS regions, respectively.     

Two new ballistoconidium-forming yeast species, Bullera melastomae and Bullera formosana, found in Taiwan

Two yeast strains, the cells of which contained xylose and Q-10 as the major ubiquinone, were isolated from a plant leaf collected in Taiwan. These yeasts were found to represent two new species of the genus Bullera in the Hymenomycetes. Identification was based on the sequence analysis of the 18S rDNA, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the D1/D2 domain of 26S rDNA. The yeasts are named Bullera melastomae sp. nov. and Bullera formosana sp. nov. In the phylogenetic trees based on 18S rDNA and D1/D2 domain of 26S rDNA sequences, these two species constitute a cluster connected with Dioszegia cluster in the Cryptococcus luteolus lineage.     

Two new lipid-dependent Malassezia species from domestic animals

During a study on the occurrence of lipid-dependent Malassezia spp. in domestic animals, some atypical strains, phylogenetically related to Malassezia sympodialis Simmons et Guého, were shown to represent novel species. In this study, we describe two new taxa, Malassezia caprae sp. nov. (type strain MA383=CBS 10434), isolated mainly from goats, and Malassezia equina sp. nov. (type strain MA146=CBS 9969), isolated mainly from horses, including their morphological and physiological characteristics. The validation of these new taxa is further supported by analysis of the D1/D2 regions of the 26S rRNA gene, the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rRNA, the RNA polymerase subunit 1 and chitin synthase nucleotide sequences, and the amplified fragment length polymorphism patterns, which were all consistent in separating these new species from the other species of the genus, and those of the M. sympodialis species cluster, specifically.     

Cryptococcus foliicola sp. nov. and Cryptococcus taibaiensis sp. nov., novel basidiomycetous yeast species from plant leaves

A molecular taxonomic investigation performed on basidiomycetous yeast strains isolated from plant leaves collected in two areas of China revealed two novel species, Cryptococcus foliicola sp. nov. (type strain HS 23.3(T) = AS 2.2471(T) = CBS 9920(T)) and Cryptococcus taibaiensis sp. nov. (type strain ST 7.9(T) = AS 2.2444(T) = CBS 9919(T)), among the non ballistoconidium-forming strains producing cream-colored colonies. These new species differed markedly from closely related species in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 26S rRNA D1/D2 region sequences. They clustered in a strongly supported clade represented by Cryptococcus victoriae in the Tremellales group in the phylogenetic trees drawn from ITS and D1/D2 sequences.     

Bensingtonia pseudonaganoensis sp. nov., a novel ballistoconidium-forming yeast species isolated from plant leaves

Among the basidiomycetous yeasts isolated from plant leaves collected in different regions of China, two ballistoconidium-forming strains were revealed to represent an undescribed species of the genus Bensingtonia by conventional, chemotaxonomic and molecular phylogenetic characterization. Sequence analysis of the 26S rDNA D1/D2 domains and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicated that the novel species was located in the Agaricostilbum lineage and closely related to Bensingtonia naganoensis and Bensingtonia ciliata, with the former as its closest relative. The name Bensingtonia pseudonaganoensis sp. nov. is proposed (type strain: AS 2.2601^T = CBS 10121^T)     

Mrakia terrae sp. nov. and Mrakia soli sp. nov., Two Novel Basidiomycetous Yeast Species Isolated from Soil in Korea

Three strains, YP416^T, YP421^T, and Y422, were isolated from soil samples in Pocheon City, Gyeonggi province, South Korea. The strains belong to two novel yeast species in the genus Mrakia. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that the strain YP416^T was closely related to Mrakia niccombsii. Still, it differed by 9 nucleotide substitutions with no gap (1.51%) in the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and 14 nucleotide substitutions with 7 gaps (2.36%) in the ITS region. The strain YP421^T differed from the type strain of the most closely related species, Mrakia aquatica, by 5 nucleotide substitutions with no gap (0.81%) in the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and 9 nucleotide substitutions with one gap (1.43%) in the ITS region. The names Mrakia terrae sp. nov. and Mrakia soli sp. nov. are proposed, with type strains YP416^T (KCTC 27886^T) and YP421^T (KCTC 27890^T), respectively. MycoBank numbers of the strains YP416^T and YP421^T are MB 836844 and MB 836847, respectively.     

Torulaspora quercuum sp. nov. and Candida pseudohumilis sp. nov., novel yeasts from human and forest habitats

Strains XZ-46A, XZ-105, XZ-129 and XZ-281^T isolated from the oral cavities of healthy Tibetan volunteers were revealed to represent two novel ascomycetous yeast species by molecular taxonomic characterizations. Strain XZ-281^T was most closely related to Candida humilis , but differed from the type strain of the species by eight (1.2%) substitutions in the 26S rRNA gene D1/D2 domain and by >100 (>20%) mismatches in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Strains XZ-46A, XZ-105 and XZ-129 had identical or similar D1/D2 and ITS sequences with each other and with strain 17YF^T isolated from a leaf of an oak tree ( Quercus sp.). The closest relative of this group was Torulaspora microellipsoides . They differed from the type strain of the species by five (0.9%) substitutions in the D1/D2 domain and >70 (>15%) mismatches in the ITS region. A sexual state was observed in strain 17YF^T, but not in the other four oral strains. An anamorphic name Candida pseudohumilis sp. nov. is proposed for strain XZ-281^T (=AS 2.3956^T=CBS 11404^T) and a teleomorphic name Torulaspora quercuum sp. nov. is proposed for strain 17YF^T (=AS 2.3768^T=CBS 11403^T) and the other three oral strains.     

Three new species of bipolar budding yeasts of the genus Hanseniaspora and its anamorph Kloeckera isolated in Thailand

In the course of a survey of yeast biodiversity in the natural substrates in Thailand, eight strains were found to represent three hitherto undescribed species of Hanseniaspora/Kloeckera . They were isolated from insect frass, flower, lichen, rotted fruit and rotted wood. Based on the morphological and physiological characteristics, and sequences of D1/D2 domain, six strains represent a single species of the genus Hanseniaspora , described as Hanseniaspora thailandica sp. nov. (type BCC 14938^T=NBRC 104216^T=CBS 10841^T), and another strain as Hanseniaspora singularis sp. nov. (type BCC 15001^T=NBRC 104214^T=CBS 10840^T). A further strain, which belongs to Kloeckera and does not produce ascospores, is described as Kloeckera hatyaiensis sp. nov. (type BCC 14939^T=NBRC 104215^T=CBS 10842^T). Strains belonging to H. thailandica sp. nov. differed by 17–19 nucleotide substitutions from Hanseniaspora meyeri , the closest species. DNA reassociation between the two taxa showed 30–48% relatedness. Kloeckera hatyaiensis sp. nov. and H. singularis sp. nov. differed by eight and 16 nucleotide substitutions with one gap from the nearest species, Hanseniaspora clermontiae and Hanseniaspora valbyensis , respectively.     

Pseudozyma vetiver sp. nov., a novel anamorphic ustilaginomycetous yeast species isolated from the phylloplane in Thailand

Three strains representing one novel yeast species were isolated from the phylloplanes of the vetiver grasses (DMKU-LV90 and DMKU-LV99^T) and sugarcane (DMKU-SP260) collected in Thailand by leaf washing followed by a plating technique. On the basis of morphological, biochemical, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics and the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the three strains were found to represent a single novel anamorphic ustilaginomycetous yeast species in the genus Pseudozyma. The name Pseudozyma vetiver sp. nov. is proposed for this novel species. The type strain is DMKU-LV99^T (BCC 61021 = CBS 12824). The novel species showed phylogenetic relationships to the other members of the genus Pseudozyma and to teleomorphic fungal genera, namely Ustilago, Sporisorium and Anomalomyces in Ustilaginaceae, Ustilaginales. The three strains showed identical sequences both in the D1/D2 and ITS regions. The Pseudozyma species closest to the novel species in terms of pairwise sequence similarity in the D1/D2 region was Pseudozyma pruni but with 2.3 % nucleotide substitutions (14 nucleotide substitutions and no gaps out of 606 nt). The novel species and P. pruni differed by 10.9 % nucleotide substitutions (75 nucleotide substitutions and 31 gaps out of 691 nt) in the ITS region. The phylogenetic analysis based on the combined sequences of the ITS region and the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene showed that the novel species was found to be most closely related to Pseudozyma fusiformata but with 2.9 % nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 region and 7.4 % nucleotide substitutions in the ITS region.     

Cryptococcus nanyangensis sp. nov., A New Basidiomycetous Yeast Isolated from the Gut of Wood-Boring Larvae

Two strains of a novel basidiomycetous yeast species were isolated from the gut of wood-boring larvae collected in the Baotianman Nature Reserve, the central China. Sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions showed that these yeasts belong to the Bulleromyces clade and formed a cluster together with eleven undescribed Cryptococcus species. The novel species differed from its closest known species, Cryptococcus rajasthanensis, by 3.3 % divergence (15 substitutions and 6 gaps over 630 bases) in the D1/D2 domains, and by 13.4 % divergence (41 substitutions and 27 gaps over 508 bases) in the ITS regions. Physiologically, the fermentation of glucose, galactose, sucrose, trehalose, and raffinose in Durham tubes was observed for the strains of this new yeast. Based on the phenotypical and molecular characteristics presented, the two strains are proposed as a new species, Cryptococcus nanyangensis sp. nov., with the type strain KCY-1^T (=CICC 1976^T = CBS 12474^T).     

Udeniomyces kanasensis sp. nov., a ballistoconidium-forming yeast species in the Cystofilobasidiales

In a survey of ballistoconidium-forming yeast diversity in the phyllosphere, five strains from wilting plant leaves collected from Kanas Nature Reserve in Xinjiang province, China were selected based on morphological comparison. These strains formed pinkish-white colonies and large bilaterally symmetrical ballistoconidia. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the 26S rRNA D1/D2 domain and ITS region sequences showed that these strains belonged to the Udeniomyces clade in the Cystofilobasidiales. They differ from the described Udeniomyces species significantly in the rRNA sequences as well as physiological criteria. Therefore, a new species Udeniomyces kanasensis sp. nov. (type strain XJ 6E2(T)=CGMCC 2.02627 (T)=CBS 12488 (T)) is proposed to accommodate these strains. The MycoBank number of the new species is MB 563659.     

Yarrowia porcina sp. nov. and Yarrowia bubula f.a. sp. nov., two yeast species from meat and river sediment

Eleven yeast strains representing two hitherto undescribed species were isolated from different kinds of meat samples in Hungary and one from the sediment of a tropical freshwater river in Southeastern Brazil. The analysis of the sequences of their large subunit rRNA gene D1/D2 domain and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions placed the two new species in the Yarrowia clade. Some of the seven strains representing the first new species can mate and give rise to asci and form ascospores embedded in capsular material, which qualifies it as the third teleomorph species of the Yarrowia clade. The name Yarrowia porcina sp. nov. (type strain: NCAIM Y.02100^T = CBS 12935^T = NRRL Y-63669^T, allotype strain UFMG-RD131^A = CBS 12932^A) is proposed for this new yeast species, which, based on physiological characters, is indistinguishable from Yarrowia lipolytica and some other species of the genus. Considerable intraspecific variability was detected among the sequences of the large subunit rRNA gene D1/D2 domains of the seven strains. The variability among the D1/D2 sequences exceeded the divergence observed among the ITS sequences and in some cases more than 1 % substitution among the D1/D2 sequences was detected. The conspecificity of these strains was supported by the low (0–3 substitutions) sequence divergence among their ITS sequences, the result of a parsimony network analysis utilizing the concatenated ITS and D1/D2 sequences and also by the fingerprint patterns generated by microsatellite primed PCR. No ascospore formation was observed in the group of the other five strains representing the second new species. These strains shared identical D1/D2 and ITS sequences. Yarrowia bubula f.a., sp. nov. (type strain: NCAIM Y.01998^T = CBS 12934^T = NRRL Y-63668^T) is proposed to accommodate these strains.