Abstract Detail

Poster Session

Kijpornyongpan, Teeratas [1], Aime, M. Catherine [1].

Three new species of yeasts belonging to Exobasidiomycetes.

Smut fungi (subphylum Ustilaginomycotina) are a diverse group of fungi in the Basidiomycota. Ustilaginomycotina is primarily comprised of phytopathogens, but also contains animal pathogens and many yeast species for which a pathogenic stage is unknown and it has been hypothesized that much diversity in this group remains undescribed. Recent efforts to isolate Ustilaginomycotina yeasts have shown that asymptomatic plant surfaces can be a common habitat for Ustilaginomycotina, especially for those in Exobasidiomycetes. In this study we describe three new Exobasidiomycetes species belonging to Microstromatales and Ceraceosorales based on assimilation studies and molecular data from fungal barcoding loci—the internal transcribed spacer, which is the default fungal barcode locus, and the D1/D2 region of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene, which is the yeast barcode locus. Isolate MCA 4718 is related to Rhodotorula hinnulea (Microstromatales), but differs in DNA sequences at both loci and is further differentiated in that, unlike R. hinnulea, MCA 4718 is capable of growth under high osmotic stress (on 50% glucose) and of assimilating D-xylose and D-arabinose. Isolate MCA 5214, a species of Jaminaea, also displayed several physiological differences from any other species in the genus, in addition to variation at both loci. The third isolate, MCA 4658 belongs to the monotypic genus Ceraceosorus. However, because there are no available reference cultures or physiological data for the sole known species, C. bombacis, sequence data were obtained from the type specimen for comparison. These isolates will form part of a broader genomic study of the smut fungi.

1 - Purdue University, Botany and Plant Pathology, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

Keywords:
Smut fungi
Microstromatales
Ceraceosorales
Fungal barcoding 
Assimilation studies.

Presentation Type: Offered Paper - Poster
Session: P5
Location: Lincoln Room/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
Date: Monday, June 9th, 2014
Time: 8:00 PM
Number: P5001
Abstract ID:92
Candidate for Awards:None