SPOROBOLOMYCES YAMATOANUS, A NEW SPECIES OF BALLISTOSPOROUS YEAST EQUIPPED WITH UBIQUINONE-9 ISOLATED FROM DEAD LEAVES OF VARIOUS PLANTS IN JAPAN

Abstract

Nine strains of ballistospore-forming yeasts were isolated from dead leaves of various kinds of plants in Japan and were found to comprise a single, hitherto undescribed species of the genus Sporobolomyces. The species is described here as Sporobolomyces yamatoanus Nakase, Suzuki et Itoh. Sporobolomyces yamatoanus produces large, sickle-shaped to kidney- shaped ballistospores, produces pale colored colonies, has Q-9 as the major isoprenologue of the ubiquinones, and does not contain xylose in the cells. These characteristics coincide well with those of species placed in the intermedius group, a group of atypical species in the genus Sporobolomyces. This is the seventh species in the intermedius group.