Reclassification of Pichia scaptomyzae and Pichia galeiformis

Based on the base composition of nuclear DNA and DNA/DNA hybridization, Pichia galeiformis IFO 10718T was reclassified as a synonym of Pichia manshurica, and Pichia scaptomyzae IFO 1073 1T was confirmed to be a synonym of Pichia membranifaciens. Comparison of 18S rRNA gene sequences indicated that IFO 10731T (P. scaptomyzae) is identical to P. membranifaciens IFO 10215T and IFO 10725, and IFO 10718T (P. galeiformis) is identical to P. manshurica IFO 10726T. These data were consistent with the view that P scaptomyzae and P membranifaciens should be conspecific, as should P. galeiformis and P manshurica. Variation among 26S rRNA gene domain D1/D2 sequences from three P membranifaciens strains indicated that this species encompasses a genetically heterogeneous population.