Yamadazyma siamensis sp. nov., Yamadazyma phyllophila sp. nov. and Yamadazyma paraphyllophila sp. nov., three novel yeast species isolated from phylloplane in Thailand and Taiwan

Four strains representing three novel anamorphic yeast species were isolated from the external surface of sugarcane leaves (DMKU-RK254^T), corn leaves (DMKU-RK548^T), bean leaves (K129) in Thailand and hengchun pencilwood leaves (TrB1-1^T) in Taiwan. On the basis of morphological, biochemical, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the actin gene (ACT1) and the elongation factor 2 gene (EF2), the four strains were determined to represent novel Yamadazyma species although formation of ascospores was not observed. Strain DMKU-RK254^T was determined to be related to Candida diddensiae, Candida naeodendra and Candida kanchanaburiensis but with 1.8, 1.8 and 2.0 % nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene, respectively. It was assigned to Yamadazyma siamensis sp. nov. (type strain DMKU-RK254^T = BCC 50730^T = NBRC 108901^T = CBS 12573^T). The sequences of the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene, the ITS region, ACT1 gene and EF2 gene of two strains (DMKU-RK548^T and K129) were identical but differed from that of strain TrB1-1^T by 0.6, 1.0, 3.3 and 5.9 % nucleotide substitutions, respectively. Therefore, the two strains (DMKU-RK548^T and K129) and strain TrB1-1^T were assigned to be two separate species. The closest species in terms of pairwise sequences similarity of the D1/D2 region to the two novel species was Yamadazyma philogaea but with 1.1–1.7 % nucleotide substitutions. The two strains (DMKU-RK548^T and K129) were assigned to Yamadazyma phyllophila sp. nov. (type strain DMKU-RK548^T = BCC 50736^T = NBRC 108906^T = CBS 12572^T) and the strain TrB1-1^T was named Yamadazyma paraphyllophila sp. nov. (type strain TrB1-1^T = BCRC 23030^T = CCTCC AY 204005^T = CBS 9928^T).     

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 lacticolor sp. nov. and Rhodotorula oligophaga sp. nov., novel yeasts isolated from the nasal smear microbiota of Queensland koalas kept in Japanese zoological parks

A total of 515 yeast strains were isolated from the nasal smears of Queensland koalas and their breeding environments in Japanese zoological parks between 2005 and 2012. The most frequent species in the basidiomycetous yeast biota isolated from koala nasal passages was Cryptococcus neoformans, followed by Rhodotorula minuta. R. minuta was the most frequent species in the breeding environments, while C. neoformans was rare. Seven strains representing two novel yeast species were identified. Analyses of the 26S rDNA (LSU) D1/D2 domain and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region sequences indicated that these strains represent new species with close phylogenetic relationships to Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula. A sexual state was not found for either of these two novel yeasts. Key phenotypic characters confirmed that these strains could be placed in Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula. The names Cryptococcus lacticolor sp. nov. (type strain TIMM 10013^T = JCM 15449^T = CBS 10915^T = DSM 21093^T, DDBJ/EMBL/Genbank Accession No.; AB375774 (ITS) and AB375775 (26S rDNA D1/D2 region), MycoBank ID; MB 802688, Fungal Barcoding Database ID; 3174), and Rhodotorula oligophaga sp. nov. (type strain TIMM 10017^T = JCM 18398^T = CBS 12623^T = DSM 25814^T, DDBJ/EMBL/Genbank Accession No.; AB702967 (ITS) and AB702967 (26S rDNA D1/D2 region), MycoBank ID; MB 802689, Fungal Barcoding Database ID; 3175) are proposed for these new species.     

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).     

Ogataea kanchanaburiensis sp. nov. and Ogataea wangdongensis sp. nov., two novel methylotrophic yeast species from phylloplane in Thailand

Three strains (KM03^T, KM13 ^T and KM15) representing two novel methylotrophic yeast species were isolated from the external surface of plant leaves, which were collected from Kanchanaburi province, Thailand, by three-consecutive enrichments in methanol broth. Strain KM03^T was isolated from phylloplane of a mango tree (Mangifera indica) and two strains, KM13^T and KM15, were obtained from phylloplane of different wine grapes (Vitis vinifera). The sequences of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene of the two strains (KM13^T and KM15) were identical and differed markedly from that of strain KM03^T. In terms of pairwise sequence similarity of the D1/D2 region the closest species to the strains KM13^T and KM15 were Candida suzukii (CBS 9253^T) and Candida nitratophila (CBS 2027^T) but with 2.1 % nucleotide substitutions. Strain KM03^T differed from Ogataea wickerhamii (CBS 4307^T), its closest relative, by 2.3 % nucleotide substitutions. Phylogenetic analysis based on the D1/D2 sequences placed the three strains in the Ogataea clade. On the basis of morphological, biochemical, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the sequence analyses of the D1/D2 and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nrRNA) operon, the three strains represent two novel Ogataea species although formation of ascospores was not observed. Ogataea kanchanaburiensis sp. nov. is proposed for strain KM03^T (=BCC 47626^T = NBRC 108603^T = CBS 12673^T). Two strains, KM13^T and KM15, were assigned to Ogataea wangdongensis sp. nov. (type strain KM13^T = BCC 42664^T = NBRC 107778^T = CBS 12674^T). GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the sequences of the D1/D2 and the ITS regions of O. kanchanaburiensis KM03^T are AB734090 and AB734093, respectively, of O. wangdongensis KM13^T are AB734091 and AB734094, respectively, and of O. wangdongensis KM15 are AB734092 and AB734095, respectively.     

Metschnikowia henanensis sp. nov., a new anamorphic yeast species isolated from rotten wood in China

Four yeast strains were isolated from rotting wood samples collected from two sites in the Baotianman Nature Reserve and the Laojieling Nature Reserve in China. DNA sequence comparison and other taxonomic characteristics identified the strains as a single novel species of the genus Metschnikowia. The name Metschnikowia henanensis sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these highly divergent organisms with the type strain BY-97^T (= CICC 1982^T = CBS 12677^T). The novel species produced chlamydospores, but it did not exhibit ascospore formation in sporulation media for 4 weeks. Molecular phylogeny from the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene sequences placed this new species in a basal position to the Metschnikowia viticola/Candida kofuensis/Metschnikowia noctiluminum subclade, and an undescribed Candida species namely strains IMB-EMP4 and IMB-EMP5 was a close sister to M. henanensis.     

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.     

Kazachstania psychrophila sp. nov., a novel psychrophilic yeast isolated from vacuum-packed beef

Five novel ascosporogenous yeast strains (H382, H396, H409, H433^T and H441) were found through a survey of vacuum-packed beef microbiota. Sequence analysis of ITS domain and LSU rRNA genes showed that the new strains represent a distinct lineage within the genus Kazachstania, closely related to Kazachstania lodderae (97.0 % identity) and Kazachstania ichnusensis (96.1 % identity). The main difference of strains H382, H396, H409, H433^T and H441 to strains of known Kazachstania species is the maximum growth temperature, which is below 20 °C for the new strains, whereas related species grow at 25 °C. Furthermore, the strains differed from known Kazachstania species in assimilation and fermentation patterns of carbon sources. Based on these characteristics, the five strains are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Kazachstania for which the name Kazachstania psychrophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H433^T (DSM 26230^T=CBS 12689^T). The Mycobank number of the type strain is MB 803980.     

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.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Papiliotrema phichitensis</Emphasis> f.a., sp. nov., a novel yeast species isolated from sugarcane leaf in Thailand

Strain DMKU-SP105^T representing a novel yeast species was isolated from the external surface of a sugarcane leaf (Saccharum officinarum L.) collected from a sugarcane plantation field in Phichit province, Thailand. On the basis of sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the strain DMKU-SP105^T differed by 7–16 substitutions in the D1/D2 region of LSU rRNA gene and 6–22 substitutions in the ITS region from a group of related species, Papiliotrema aspenensis, Papiliotrema odontotermitis, Papiliotrema rajasthanensis and Papiliotrema laurentii. A phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated sequences of ITS region and the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene indicated that strain DMKU-SP105^T belongs to the laurentii clade of Papiliotrema in the Tremellales and is distinct from other related species in the clade. It therefore represents a novel species of the genus Papiliotrema although the formation of basidiospores was not observed. The name Papiliotrema phichitensis f.a., sp. nov. is proposed. The type is DMKU-SP105^T (=?CBS 13390^T?=?BCC 61187^T?=?NBRC 109699^T).     

Candida sanyaensis sp. nov., an ascomycetous yeast species isolated from soil

Strains representing a novel ascomycetous yeast species, Candida sanyaensis, were isolated from soil samples collected on Hainan Island and Taiwan Island in China. Analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LUS) rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of these strains showed that this species was related to Candida tropicalis and Candida sojae, their closest relatives. C. sanyaensis differed by three substitutions and one gap from C. tropicalis, and by four substitutions and one gap from C. sojae, in the D1/D2 domain sequences. However, the ITS sequences of C. sanyaensis were quite divergent from the latter two species, showing that it is a genetically separate species. The novel strains were also found to have very similar PCR-fingerprinting profiles which were quite distinct from those of C. tropicalis and C. sojae strains. The type strain of C. sanyaensis is HN-26^T (= CICC 1979^T = CBS 12637^T).     

Leucosporidium escuderoi f.a., sp. nov., a basidiomycetous yeast associated with an Antarctic marine sponge

A basidiomycetous yeast, strain E2A-C3-II, was isolated from a marine sponge (Hymeniacidon sp.) collected at a depth of 6 m in Fildes Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the yeast isolated is related to Leucosporidium drummii, Leucosporidiella muscorum and to the Leucosporidium scottii group, including Leucosporidiella creatinivora and Leucosporidiella yakutica. The analysis of the nucleotide differences and the genetic distances of the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rDNA gene and 5.8S ITS regions support that strain E2A-C3-II represents a new species. The novel species can be distinguished from L. drummii by its ability to assimilate l-sorbose, l-rhamnose, lactose and ribitol. The maximum temperature for growth was 25 °C. On the basis of morphological, biochemical and physiological characterization, and phylogenetic and nucleotide analysis, a novel basidiomycetous yeast species, Leucosporidium escuderoi f.a., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is E2A-C3-II^T (=CBS 12734^T =CECT 13080^T). The Mycobank (http://www.mycobank.org) accession number is MB 804654. The nucleotide sequences of D1/D2 domain of the LSU rDNA gene and 5.8S-ITS regions obtained in this work have been deposited in Genbank under the Accession numbers JN181009 and JN197600, respectively.     

Intraspecific variation and emendation of Hannaella kunmingensis

In order to investigate the intraspecific variability in Hannaella kunmingensis, 11 isolates, including the type strain, were analyzed for their morphological and biochemical traits. The combined internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rDNA (LSU), and cytochrome b gene were examined using phylogenetic and parsimony network analyses. Our investigations revealed differences in colony morphology as well as differences in 31 out of 64 phenotypic characteristics examined, including growth in lactose, vitamin free medium, xylitol, L-arabinitol, and nitrite. Growth in the presence of 0.1 % cycloheximide was also highlighted in H. kunmingensis. All the 11 strains were conspecific in the LSU; however, variations of about 2.5 % were found in the ITS while isolate CBS 8356 exhibited a 27.3 % divergence from the other strains in the cytochrome b gene. Parsimony network analysis revealed the existence of three haplotypes among the H. kunmingensis strains studied but excluded CBS 8356 from the network connecting these haplotypes. This study contributes to the knowledge of the intraspecific diversity of H. kunmingensis. To accommodate such intraspecific variations, an emendation of the species diagnosis is proposed.     

Candida konsanensis sp. nov., a new yeast species isolated from Jasminum adenophyllum in Thailand with potentially carboxymethyl cellulase-producing capability

A new yeast species (KKU-FW10) belonging to the Candida genus was isolated from Jasminum adenophyllum in the Plant Genetic Conservation Project under The Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn area, Chulabhorn Dam, Konsan district within Chaiyaphum province in Thailand. The strain was identified via analysis of nucleotide sequences from the D1/D2 domain of 26S ribosomal DNA and based on its morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. The sequence obtained from yeast isolate KKU-FW10 was 97 percent identical to that of Candida chanthaburiensis (GenBank accession number AB500861.1), with 506/517 (nucleotides identity/total nucleotides) matching nucleotides, nine substitutions and two gaps being detected. This species belonged to the Candida clade. Regarding morphological characteristics, isolate KKU-FW10 presents cream-colored butyrous colonies, vegetative reproduction through budding and, round cells without filaments or ascospores. The major ubiquinone detected was Q-9. The above results suggest that isolate KKU-FW10 is a new member of the genus Candida, and the name Candida konsanensis is proposed for this yeast. The type strain of the new species is KKU-FW10^T (= BCC 52588^T, = NBRC 109082^T, = CBS 12666^T). In addition, this KKU-FW10 could potentially produce 58.24 Units/ml of carboxymethyl cellulase when it was cultured in YP broth containing 1.0 % carboxymethyl cellulose for 24 h.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kondoa gutianensis</Emphasis> f.a. sp. nov., a novel ballistoconidium-forming yeast species isolated from plant leaves

Two strains, GT-165^T and GT-261, isolated from plant leaves collected from Gutian Mountain in Zhejiang province in China were identified as a novel species of the genus Kondoa by the sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of rRNA (LSU rRNA) and the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), complemented by physiological tests. Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated sequences of ITS, D1/D2 and RPB2 showed that the closest known relatives of the new species are three undescribed Kondoa species and Kondoa thailandica. The ITS and D1/D2 sequences of the new species differ from the closely related species by 11–22% and 2–9%, respectively. The name Kondoa gutianensis f.a. sp. nov. (MB 820648, holotype = CGMCC 2.5703^T; isotype: CBS 14811^T = CGMCC 2.5703^T) is proposed to accommodate the new taxon.     

Candida pruni sp. nov. is a new yeast species with antagonistic potential against brown rot of peaches

Brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. is among the most important postharvest diseases of commercially grown stone fruits, and application of antagonistic yeasts to control brown rot is one promising strategy alternative to chemical fungicides. In this research, new yeast strains were isolated and tested for their activity against peach brown rot caused by Monilinia fructicola. Three yeast strains were originally isolated from the surface of plums (cv Chinese Angelino) collected in the north of China. In artificially wounded inoculation tests, the yeast reduced the brown rot incidence to 20 %. The population of the yeast within inoculated wounds on peaches significantly increased at 25 °C from an initial level of 5.0 × 10⁶ to 4.45 × 10⁷ CFU per wound after 1 day. The antagonistic strains were belonging to a new species of the genus Candida by sequence comparisons of 26 S rDNA D1/D2 domain and internal transcribed spacer region. The strains are most closely related to C. asparagi, C. musae and C. fructus on the basis of the phylogenetic trees based on the D1/D2 region of 26S rDNA. However, the strains are notably different from C. asparagi, C. musae and C. fructus, in morphological and physiological characteristics. Therefore, the name Candida pruni is proposed for the novel species, with sp-Quan (=CBS12814^T = KCTC 27526^T = GCMC 6582^T) as the type strain. Our study showed that Candida pruni is a novel yeast species with potential biocontrol against brown rot caused by M. fructicola on peaches.     

Citeromyces cibodasensis sp. nov., a novel yeast species isolated from leaf litter in Indonesia

A novel yeast species was isolated from leaf litter of Macropanax dispermus obtained from the Cibodas Botanical Garden, West Java, Indonesia. The two strains of the species displayed typical characteristics of the genus Citeromyces. Phylogenetic analysis based on the gene sequences of the D1/D2 domains of large subunit (LSU) rDNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) including 5.8S rDNA, mitochondrial small-subunit rRNA gene (MtSm), and translation elongation factor-1α (EF-1α) showed that the novel strains were clearly separated from the other four existing species of the genus Citeromyces. Therefore, the two strains were proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Citeromyces, for which the name Citeromyces cibodasensis is proposed; the type strain is NBRC 110244^T (= CBS 14272^T?=?InaCCY703^T?=?AK 01).     

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.     

Detection of yeast species also occurring in substrates associated with animals and identification of a novel dimorphic species in Verbascum flowers from Georgia

The molecular taxonomic analysis of yeasts isolated from Verbascum flowers collected in central Georgia identified strains that could be assigned to the species Cryptococcus adeliensis, Cryptococcus magnus and Moniliella megachiliensis detected previously also in substrates associated with insects and other animals and a hitherto undescribed species for which the name Candida verbasci is proposed. The new species forms slightly pink colonies, propagates by mostly unipolar budding, forms invasive pseudomycelium, and the sequences of its D1/D2 LSU rRNA genes and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regions indicate close phylogenetic relationship with a group of species that form a cluster basal to the Candida albicans/Lodderomyces elongisporus clade. The type strain is 11-1055^T. It has been deposited in Centralbureau voor Schimmelcultures (Utrecht, the Netherlands) as CBS 12699^T, the National Collection of Agricultural and Industrial Microorganisms (Budapest, Hungary) as NCAIM Y.02048^T and the Culture Collection of Yeasts (Bratislava, Slovakia) as CCY 29-185-1^T. The GenBank accession numbers for nucleotide sequences of the C. verbasci type strain are: JX515981 (D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA gene) and JX515982 (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). Mycobank: MB 801391.