Wickerhamomyces sinyiensis f.a., sp. nov., a new ascomycetous yeast species in the Wickerhamomyces clade isolated in Taiwan

This study describes Wickerhamomyces sinyiensis, a new anamorphic ascomycetous yeast species, four strains of which were isolated from soil and the fruiting body of a mushroom in Taiwan between 2006 and 2007. Analysis of the sequences of the large-subunit rRNA, small-subunit rRNA and elongation factor-1 alpha identified this species as a member of the Wickerhamomyces clade. The yeast strains of W. sinyiensis exhibited a 0-3 nucleotide difference in the sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA when compared to one another and a 10 and 11 nucleotide difference when compared to Candida sp. BG99-11-14-10-4-1 and NRRL Y-7574, the closest undescribed species, respectively. The yeast strains differed by 77 and 78 nucleotides from W. orientalis and W. bispora, the close Wickerhamomyces species, respectively. The internal transcribed spacer sequences of the four isolates exhibited a divergence of 106-108 substitutions from the recognized species W. xylosivorus. No sexual reproduction was observed. The strains differed from those of related species in terms of their carbon and nitrogen assimilation patterns. Therefore, this study proposes W. sinyiensis f.a., sp. nov. to accommodate these four strains, with W. sinyiensis BCRC 23185(T) (isotype CBS 11432(T); MycoBank number MB563484) as the holotype.

Automated summary

This study describes a new species of anamorphic ascomycetous yeast, named Wickerhamomyces sinyiensis, which was isolated from soil and a mushroom in Taiwan. Molecular analysis identified this species as a member of the Wickerhamomyces clade. The yeast strains showed differences in nucleotide sequences and carbon/nitrogen assimilation patterns compared to related species. Therefore, this study proposes the classification of W. sinyiensis as a new species.