Ascobotryozyma americana gen. nov et sp nov and its anamorph Botryozyma americana, an unusual yeast from the surface of nematodes

A new teleomorphic genus Ascobotryozyma, with a single species, A. american a, is proposed. Its anamorph is a Botryozyma that differs from the type spe cies, B. nematodophila, on distributional, physiological, and molecular cri teria; it is described as Botryozyma americana, anam. sp. nov. Ascobotryozy ma is characterized by globose asci bearing four lunate ascospores. Fusion of thallus cells precedes ascus formation. Ascobotryozyma americana was iso lated from the surface of nematodes (Panagrellus dubius) associated with ga lleries of the poplar borer (Saperda calcarata) in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) in eastern Washington, USA. The teleomorph has not been produ ced in pure culture.