Chapter 147 - Leucosporidiella Sampaio (2003)

Abstract

This chapter studies the genus Leucosporidiella. In the determination of the asexual reproduction it is seen that the cells are ellipsoid to ovoid and budding is predominantly polar. Pseudohyphae or true hyphae may develop. Ballistoconidia are not formed. The cultures are cream colored and butyrous or mucoid. Red, pink, or orange pigments are not synthesized. The sexual reproduction is unknown. The species appear to represent anamorphs of the teleomorphic genus Leucosporidium. The chapter also discusses physiology/biochemistry and phylogenetic placement of the genus. The type species taken is Leucosporidiella muscorum. Relevant physiological tests for discrimination of species in the genus Leucosporidiella and related species of Leucosporidium and Mastigobasidium are presented. In the systematic discussion of the species, synonyms, growth on 5% malt extract agar, Dalmau plate culture on corn meal agar, systematics, ecology, gene sequence accession numbers, type strain, cell carbohydrates, origin of the strains studied, and biotechnology are determined. Leucosporidiella can be viewed as the asexual counterpart of Leucosporidium and Mastigobasidium and is one of the few anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast genera that is monophyletic.