Basidiosporogenous yeasts and basidiomycetous anamorphic yeasts have been classified based on the morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. Higher taxonomic ranks such as genus, family etc. are classified based on the mode of vegetative reproduction, morphological characteristics found during sexual reproduction and certain physiological characteristics such as the assimilability of inositol. Recent chemosystematics studies suggest the unreasonableness of the taxonomic system based on these characteristics. Monosaccharide compositions of the cells, especially the presence or absence of xylose, and ubiquinone systems are suggested to be more reliable systematic criteria than the mode of vegetative reproduction and morphological criteria found during the sexual reproduction on the basis of the partial sequencing study of rRNAs. Ultrastructural features well correlate with chemosystematics characteristics and are regarded as reliable systematic criteria in higher taxonomic ranks. Polyphasic approaches are essential for further progress of the systematics of basidiomycetous yeasts.