Abstract
By taking advantage of the ballistoconidium‐forming capabilities of members of the genus Sporobolomyces, we recovered ten isolates from deciduous tree leaves collected from Vermont and Washington, USA. Analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene and the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene indicate that all isolates are closely related. Further analysis of their physiological attributes shows that all were similarly pigmented yeasts capable of growth under aerobic and microaerophilic conditions, all were tolerant of repeated freezing and thawing, minimally tolerant to elevated temperature and desiccation, and capable of growth in liquid or on solid media containing pectin or galacturonic acid. The scientific literature on ballistoconidium‐forming yeasts indicates that they are a polyphyletic group. Isolates of Sporobolomyces from two geographically separated sites show almost identical phenotypic and physiological characteristics and a monophyly with a broad group of differently named Sporobolomyces/Sporidiobolus species based on both small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene sequences.
Highlights
Among the basidiomycete yeasts, three distinct groups are recognized on the basis of molecular phylogenetic studies of 5S ribosomal RNA (Walker and Doolittle 1982), SSU rRNA genes (Sush and Sugiyama 1993), D1/D2 domains of LSU rRNA gene (Fell et al 2000), ITS1 and ITS2 rDNA regions (Scorzetti et al 2002) and multigene approaches (James et al 2006)
Previous findings indicated the polyphyly of Sporobolomyces, with species belonging to four lineages, that is, Microbotryum, Sporidiobolus, Erythrobasidium, and Agaricostilbum (Hamamoto et al 2011)
It is interesting to note that our sampling of Sporobolomyces species in these two geographically separated locations was not exhaustive, the sequences of our isolates fell within well-supported clades based on SSU rDNA (Fig. 2) and LSU rDNA D1/D2 (Fig. 3) together with sequences of type strains of a subset of Sporobolomyces/Sporidiobolus species included in these analyses
Summary
Three distinct groups are recognized on the basis of molecular phylogenetic studies of 5S ribosomal RNA (Walker and Doolittle 1982), SSU rRNA genes (Sush and Sugiyama 1993), D1/D2 domains of LSU rRNA gene (Fell et al 2000), ITS1 and ITS2 rDNA regions (Scorzetti et al 2002) and multigene approaches (James et al 2006) This may complicate identification, underscoring the importance of applying a polyphasic approach to yeast taxonomy, that is, combining analysis of morphological features, biochemical composition, and phylogeny
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