Judit Tornai-Lehoczki

Candida ogatae sp. nov., an anamorphic member of the Kuraishia clade

Three methanol-assimilating yeast strains representing a hitherto undescribed species were isolated from rotten wood and freshwater samples collected in Hungary. Analysis of the D1/D2 large subunit rRNA gene sequences placed the strains in the Kuraishia clade; however, no ascospore formation was observed. These strains differ from Candida hungarica, the genetically most closely related recognized species, by four and five substitutions in D1/D2 and by >1% and 4% differences in the internal transcribed spacer and in the mitochondrial small subunit rRNA gene regions, respectively. Some phenotypic differences were also observed. Candida ogatae, a novel yeast species, is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The type culture is NCAIM Y.01845(T) (CBS 10924, NRRL Y-48474).

Spencermartinsiella europaea gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Trichomonascaceae

Ten strains of a novel heterothallic yeast species were isolated from rotten wood collected at different locations in Hungary. Analysis of gene sequences for the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA, as well as analysis of concatenated gene sequences for the nearly complete nuclear large subunit rRNA, nuclear small subunit rRNA and translation elongation factor 1-α, placed the novel species in the family Trichomonascaceae, but showed that it was distinct from all currently recognized genera. The name Spencermartinsiella europaea gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the new genus and novel species. The novel species could be distinguished from recognized species of neighbouring genera on the basis of standard phenotypic characteristics. The type and isotype strains of Spencermartinsiella europaea are NCAIM Y.01817(T) ( = NRRL Y-48265(T) =  CBS 11730(T)) and NCAIM Y.01819(I) ( = NRRL Y-48266(I) = CBS 11731(I)), respectively.

Ogataea allantospora sp. nov., an ascomycetous yeast species from phylloplane

Following a two-step enrichment in methanol containing broth, methylotrophic yeast strains were isolated from about 45% of the leaf samples collected from broad leafed deciduous trees and from herbs in Hungary. During the enrichment process protists predating the yeasts were observed. Based on standard phenotypical tests and the D1/D2 domain sequences of the large subunit (26S) rDNA of the yeast strains recovered from the phylloplane, some of them represent previously unknown species. The description of a new methylotrophic yeast species, Ogataea allantospora [type strain: NCAIM Y.01822T (CBS 10576, NRRL Y-48267)], isolated from phylloplane is given. The proposed new species is the first member of the genus which forms allantoid ascospores, therefore the emendation of the diagnosis of the genus Ogataea Yamada, Maeda & Mikata is proposed.

Ogataea nitratoaversa sp. nov., a methylotrophic yeast species from temperate forest habitats

Three methanol-assimilating, nitrate-negative yeast strains representing a hitherto undescribed species, were isolated from leaf and rotten wood samples collected in temperate forests in Hungary. Analysis of the D1/D2 large subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences placed the strains in the Ogataea clade. The three strains share identical D1/D2 and ITS sequences and significantly differ from the genetically most closely related species, Pichia pilisensis. Five substitutions in D1/D2 and more than 10% difference in the ITS regions were detected. A novel yeast species, Ogataea nitratoaversa, is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The type culture is NCAIM Y.01837T (CBS 10796, NRRL Y-48449). As the current description of the genus does not allow the inclusion of nitrate negative species, the emendation of the diagnosis of the genus Ogataea Yamada, Maeda and Mikata is proposed.

Ogataea populialbae sp. nov., a yeast species from white poplar

During a survey of methylotrophic yeasts in natural habitats in Hungary, the yeast community associated with the exudates of white poplar (Populus alba) was found to be unique among the tree exudates hitherto investigated. Nineteen methanol-assimilating yeast strains representing an undescribed ascomycetous species were isolated from tree exudates of P. alba collected at different locations in Hungary. Analysis of the D1/D2 large subunit rRNA gene sequences placed the strains in the Ogataea clade and the new species is described as Ogataea populialbae. The type culture is NCAIM Y.01853(T) (CBS 11363, NRRL Y-48632).

Ogataea saltuana sp. nov., a novel methanol-assimilating yeast species

Four ascosporulating strains of an undescribed methanol-assimilating yeast species were isolated from forest habitats in Hungary. Three were recovered from rotten wood and one from leaves of a sessile oak (Quercus petraea). An additional isolate of the undescribed species sharing similar phenotypic characters with the above-noted strains was recovered from the gut of an unidentified beetle collected from under the bark of a coniferous tree in Bulgaria. A closely related, but somewhat divergent strain was recovered from insect frass in a Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) collected in New Mexico, USA. Analysis of the D1/D2 sequences of the LSU rRNA gene placed the new species in the Ogataea clade. The ITS and the D1/D2 LSU sequences of the rRNA gene repeats were compared for the above-noted strains and that of the type strain of Ogataea zsoltii, the closest neighbour among currently recognized Ogataea species. Their relatedness was investigated by parsimony network analysis as well. As a result of the sequence analysis, it was concluded that the six strains isolated from tree associated habitats represent a single new yeast species. Ogataea saltuana sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains. The type strain NCAIM Y.01833T (CBS 10795T, NRRL Y-48448T) was recovered from rotten wood of Scotch pine (Pinus silvestris) in Hungary. The GenBank accession number for the D1/D2 domain nuclear large subunit rRNA gene sequence of strain NCAIM Y.01833T (CBS 10795T, NRRL Y-48448T) is EU327033. The MycoBank number of the new species is MB 519966.

Udeniomyces pannonicus sp. nov., a ballistoconidium-forming yeast isolated from leaves of plants in Hungary

Fifteen ballistoconidium-forming yeasts, isolated from the leaves of plants in Hungary, showed morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics similar to those of Udeniomyces pyricola. The identical sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions for selected strains (HY-16T, HY-29, HY-111 and HY-186) indicated that they should be classified as one species. Although a representative strain, HY-16T, showed a closer relationship to Itersonilia perplexans than to known Udeniomyces species in phylogenetic trees constructed using 18S rDNA and the D1/D2 region of the 26S rDNA sequence, this species was placed in the genus Udeniomyces on the basis of its morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics. Udeniomycespannonicus sp. nov. (type strain HY-16T = JCM 11145T = NCAIM Y 01556T = CBS 9123T) is proposed.

Kuraishia molischiana sp. nov., the teleomorph of Candida molischiana

Thirty-two strains, many of them isolated from wood-associated habitats, and designated as Kuraishia (Pichia) capsulata and Candida molischiana according to their phenotype, exhibited two types of HaeIII restriction fragment patterns of their small subunit rDNA with the neighboring ITS. One fragment pattern corresponded to that of the type strain of K. capsulata, whereas the other pattern was unique to the typestrain of C. molischiana. Sequencing of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rDNA confirmed that the different HaeIII restriction fragment patterns of small subunit rDNA with the neighboring ITS reliably distinguished K. capsulata from C. molischiana. Ascospore formation was observed in several C. molischiana strains and K. molischiana (type strain: NCAIM Y.01725, CBS 9993) is proposed as the teleomorphic state of Candida molischiana.

Pichia sporocuriosa sp. nov., a new yeast isolated from rambutan.

A strain of a hitherto undescribed yeast species with a unique ascospore morphology was isolated from rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum). A description of the new species, Pichia sporocuriosa, is given.

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.01972T (CBS 11845T, NRRL Y-48723T).