A taxonomic study of the basidiomycetous yeast genera Rhodosporidium banno and Rhodotorula harrison based on whole-cell protein patterns, DNA base compositions and coenzyme Q types.

Abstract

A numerical analysis was performed on one-dimensional whole-cell protein electrophoretic fingerprints of 107 strains belonging to the basidiomycetous yeast genera Rhodosporidium and Rhodotorula. This technique allowed evaluation of taxonomic relationships at the species level. In particular for the anamorphic genus Rhodotorula, the electrophoretic groupings did not correspond in all cases with the existing species. Heterogeneity of strains within the anamorphic species Rhodotorula a-cheniorum, Rt. aurantiaca, Rt. araucariae, Rt. foliorum, Rt. glutinis, Rt. graminis and Rt. minuta was found. There was a good correlation between the grouping obtained by numerical analysis of protein patterns, the mol% G+C content and the coenzyme Q type. Furthermore, the results obtained with the different techniques used suggest possible close interspecific and/or intergeneric relationships. Most Rhodotorula glutinis strains, including the type strain, and the type strain of Rhodotorula graminis were highly similar to strains of Rhodosporidium diobovatum. For other investigated strains of Rhodotorula glutinis, a high similarity was found with strains of Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae, Rs. sphaerocarpum, Rs. toruloides and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, respectively. Most of the Rhodotorula graminis strains could not be differentiated from Rhodosporidium paludigenum strains.