USE OF MOLECULAR KARYOTYPING FOR DIFFERENTIATION OF SPECIES IN THE HETEROGENEOUS TAXON SACCHAROMYCES-EXIGUUS

A molecular karyotyping technique consisting of pulsed-field gel elect rophoresis of intact chromosomal DNAs and following Southern hybridiza tion with total HindIII-digested DNAs was used as a tool for yeast cla ssification and identification. Significant differences in chromosomal patterns were found among 16 Saccharomyces exiguus strains. The compl ex taxon, classified into several groups of different karyotypes, show ed a low degree of cross-DNA homology.