ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CRYPTOCOCCUS-LAURENTII AND EUCALYPTUS-CAMALDULENSIS

Ninety five samples of plant debris collected from November 1993 to Ju ly 1995 under the canopies of Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantation in t he northeastern state of Sergipe, Brazil, were examined for yeast of t he genus Cryptococcus growth. C. laurentii was repeatedly isolated fro m samples collected under the canopies of the trees during all the per iod of study. The long lasting positivity suggests colonization of the se microenvironments and points to a saprobiotic natural source of C. laurentii related to E. camaldulensis. Flower buds and green leaves, a lso examined, produced negative results. Essential oils extracted from E. camaldulensis showed ability to inhibit the growth of C. laurentii and both varieties of C. neoformans. These findings argue against the possibility of endophytic relation between these yeasts and E. camald ulensis.