Pichia garciniae sp. nov., isolated from a rotten mangosteen fruit (Garcinia mangostana L., Clusiaceae)

Abstract

Ascogenous yeasts were isolated from a decaying mangosteen fruit (Garcinia mangostana L., Clusiaceae). Based on colony morphology and RAPD analysis, the strains were grouped into four groups (G-I, G-II, G-III and G-IV). Phenotypic properties and analysis of the D1/D2 domain sequence of the 26S rRNA gene identified representative members of groups G-II, G-III and G-IV as Pichia manshurica (=Pichia galeiformis), Pichia fermentans and Pichia anomala, respectively. Representatives of group G-I, YS110^T and YS111, showed similar phenotypic traits, 99.9% similarity in the sequence of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA gene and ITS1-5.8S rRNA gene-ITS2 sequence and 92% DNA-DNA relatedness. Hence, YS110^T and YS111 are regarded as members of the same species. Based on D1/D2 domain and ITS region sequences, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of YS110^T and YS111 were identified as Pichia membranifaciens and P. manshurica. However, YS110^T differs from these two nearest phylogenetic neighbours by >3% in the D1/D2 domain sequence and by >18% with respect to the ITS region sequence. In addition, YS110^T and YS111 differ from P. membranifaciens NRRL Y-2026^T and P. manshurica NRRL Y-27978^T with respect to a number of phenotypic traits. The strains show 52-57% DNA-DNA relatedness with P. membranifaciens NRRL Y-2026^T and P. manshurica NRRL Y-27978^T. Strains YS110^T and YS111 are proposed as two strains of a novel species, for which the name Pichia garciniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YS110^T (=NRRL Y-48422^T =CBS 10758^T).