Kodamaea kakaduensis and Candida tolerans, two new ascomycetous yeast species from Australian Hibiscus flowers

Two new yeast species were isolated from flowers of Hibiscus species in Eas tern and Northern Australia. Kodamaea kakaduensis is heterothallic, haploid , and similar to other Kodamaea species and to Candida restingae. Buds are often produced on short protuberances, and a true mycelium is formed. The n ew species differs from others by the assimilation of trehalose, melezitose , and xylitol, and is reproductively isolated. The cells of Candida toleran s are small and a pseudomycelium is formed. The carbon and nitrogen assimil ation pattern is reminiscent of that of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii but the tw o are not closely related. Sequences of the D1/D2 domain of large subunit r ibosomal DNA confirm the membership of K. kakaduensis in the genus Kodamaea and indicate chat C. tolerans belongs to the Clavispora-Metschnikowia clad e, with a moderate relatedness to Candida mogii. The type strains are: K. k akaduensis, UWO(PS)98-119.2 (h(+), holotype, CBS 8611) and UWO(PS)98-117.1 (h(-1), isotype, CBS 8612); and C. tolerans, UWO(PS)98-115.5 (CES 8613).