Wickerhamomyces arborarius sp. nov., a novel ascomycetous yeast species found in arboreal habitats on three different continents

James S. A., Carvajal E. J. B., Barahona P. P., Harrington T. C., Lee C. F., Bond C. J., Roberts I. N.. (2014)

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 64, 1057-1061

Five strains representing a novel yeast species belonging to the genus Wickerhamomyces were independently isolated from Ecuador, Taiwan and the USA. One strain (CLQCA 10-161^T) was isolated from the white flower of an unidentified plant species collected in the Maquipucuna cloud forest reserve, near Quito, in Ecuador. A second strain (GY7L12) was isolated from the leaf of a Chinese sumac or nutgall tree (Rhus chinensis var. roxburghiana) collected in the Taoyuan mountain area, Kachsiung, in Taiwan. Three additional strains (A543, A546 and A563) were isolated from two species of wood-boring beetle (Xyleborus glabratus and Xyleborinus saxeseni) collected near Clyo, Georgia, USA. Analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large-subunit (LSU) ribosomal RNA gene indicated that the novel species belongs to the genus Wickerhamomyces, and is most closely related to Wickerhamomyces sydowiorum, an insect-associated species predominantly found in South Africa. The North American and Taiwanese strains have identical ITS sequences and can be distinguished from the Ecuadorian strain based on a single nucleotide substitution in the ITS1 region. The species name of Wickerhamomyces arborarius sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains, with CLQCA 10-161^T (CBS XXXXX^T, NCYC 3743^T) designated as the type strain.

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 64, 1057-1061

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