LIPOMYCES MESEMBRIUS SP-NOV, A MEMBER OF THE L-STARKEYI SPECIES-COMPLEX

Lipomyces starkeyi is known to be associated with three strains-cluste rs showing high mutual nDNA reassociation within each cluster, but whi ch reassociate ambiguously with the type of L. starkeyi. Representativ e strains of L. starkeyi and Cluster a were examined for possible gene tic exchange by the prototrophic selection technique. Since no genetic recombination was detected, the strains are presumed to be geneticall y isolated. Cluster ct is consequently assigned to the rank of species as Lipomyces mesembrius. A description of the new species is given. L ipomyces kononenkoae ssp. spencermartinsiae has been raised to the ran k of species as L. spencermartinsiae.