Candida cleridarum, Candida tilneyi and Candida powellii, three new yeast species isolated from insects associated with flowers.

Three new asexual yeast species were isolated from various floricolous insects. Candida cleridarum sp. nov. was the dominant species in clerid beetles collected in flowers of various cacti in Arizona and Southern California. The sequence of the D1D2 domains of the large-subunit rDNA showed that it is a sister species to Candida fragi (0.9% base difference), a yeast isolated once from fermenting strawberries. Candida tilneyi sp. nov. and Candida powellii sp. nov. were recovered from bees and from nitidulid beetles in flowers of two species of morning glory (Ipomoea) in north-western Costa Rica. C. tilneyi sp. nov. is most closely related to Candida geochares, but differs in the D1D2 sequence by 4.7% base substitutions. C. powellii sp. nov. is a relative of Candida batistae and Candida floricola, showing sequence differences of 5.9 and 6.9%, respectively. In all cases, the new species are phenotypically similar to their nearest relatives, but are sufficiently different to allow conventional identification. The type strains are C. cleridarum strain UWO(PS) 99-101.1T ( = CBS 8793T), C. tilneyi strain UWO(PS) 99-325.1T ( = CBS 8794T) and C. powellii strain UWO(PS) 99-325.3T ( = CBS 8795T).

Metschnikowia lochheadii and Metschnikowia drosophilae, two new yeast species isolated from insects associated with flowers.

Two new haplontic heterothallic species of Metschnikowia were isolated from floricolous insects and flowers. Metschnikowia lochheadii was recovered from insects found in various flowers on the Hawaiian Islands of Kauai and Maui, and from Conotelus sp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in northwestern Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. The morphology, physiology, and sexual cycle are typical of the large-spored Metschnikowia species, and the partial ribosomal DNA large subunit (D1D2) sequences suggest that the new species is most closely related to Candida ipomoeae. Metschnikowia lochheadii is nearly indistinguishable from its ascogenous relatives and conjugates freely with Metschnikowia continentalis, forming sterile asci. It also exhibits asymmetric mating with Metschnikowia hawaiiensis. Metschnikowia drosophilae was found in morning glory (Ipomoea sp.) flowers and associated Drosophila bromeliae on Grand Cayman Island. Its nutritional profile is atypical of the genus, being the only species that does not utilize sucrose or maltose as carbon sources, and one of the few that does not utilize melezitose. D1D2 sequences show that Metschnikowia drosophilae is a sister species to Candida torresii, to which it bears considerable similarity in nutritional profile. The type cultures are: Metschnikowia lochheadii, strains UWO(PS)00-133.2 = CBS 8807 (h+, holotype) UWO(PS)99-661.1 = CBS 8808 (h-, isotype); and Metschnikowia drosophilae, strains UWO(PS)83-1135.3 = CBS 8809 (h+, holotype) and UWO(PS)83-1143.1 = CBS 8810 (h-, isotype).

The yeast community of sap fluxes of Costa Rican Maclura (Chlorophora) tinctoria and description of two new yeast species, Candida galis and Candida ortonii.

We report on the yeast community associated with sap fluxes of Maclura tinctoria, family Moraceae, in the dry forest of the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Eleven samples yielded seven hitherto undescribed ascomycetous yeasts in the genera Candida and Myxozyma. We describe the two most abundant as new species. Candida galis utilizes very few carbon compounds limited to some alcohols and acids. Analysis of rDNA sequences suggests that it occupies a basal position with respect to the Pichia anomala clade, with no obvious sister species. Candida ortonii is also restricted in nutritional breadth, and growth is generally very slow. It is a sister species to Candida nemodendra. The type cultures are: C. galis, strain UWO(PS)00-159.2=CBS 8842; and C. ortonii, strain UWO(PS)00-159.3=CBS 8843.

Kodamaea nitidulidarum, Candida restingae and Kodamaea anthophila, three new related yeast species from ephemeral flowers.

Three new yeast species were discovered during studies of yeasts associated with ephemeral flowers in Brazil, Australia and Hawaii. Their physiological and morphological similarity to Kodamaea (Pichia) ohmeri suggested a possible relationship to that species, which was confirmed by rDNA sequencing. Kodamaea nitidulidarum and Candida restingae were found in cactus flowers and associated nitidulid beetles in sand dune ecosystems (restinga) of South-eastern Brazil. Over 350 strains of Kodamaea anthophila were isolated from Hibiscus and morning glory flowers (Ipomoea spp.) in Australia, and from associated nitidulid beetles and Drosophila hibisci. A single isolate came from a beach morning glory in Hawaii. Expansion of the genus Kodamaea to three species modified the existing definition of the genus only slightly. The type and isotype strains are as follows: K. nitidulidarum strains UFMG96-272T (h+; CBS 8491T) and UFMG96-394I (h-; CBS 8492I); Candida restingae UFMG96-276T (CBS 8493T); K. anthophila strains UWO(PS)95-602.1T (h+; CBS 8494T), UWO(PS)91-893.2I (h-; CBS 8495I) and UWO(PS)95-725.1I (h-; CBS 8496I).