Abstract
A new genus Ballistosporomyces Nakase, Okada et Sugiyama in the Hyphomycetes is described for yeasts that reproduce by both non-ballistosporous conidia and ballistospores, but not by budding yeast cells. Non-ballistosporous conidia are produced on a sterigma-like stalk which proliferates sympodially or percurrently. Strains in this genus have Q-10 as the major isoprenologue of ubiquinone, do not contain xylose in the cells, and show positive Diazonium blue B reaction. Two new species, Ballistosporomyces xanthus (type species) and B. ruber, are described in the genus. Ballistosporomyces xanthus has a G+C content of DNA of 62.1mol% and forms yellow colonies, whereas B. ruber has a G+C content of DNA of 50.8mol% and forms red colonies. Some properties of the new genus indicate a Ustilaginale affinity. Ontogenetic and chemotaxonomic comparisons are made between Ballistosporomyces and other supposedly related basidiomycetous yeast genera.
