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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #338009
Title: Yeasts as distinct life forms of fungi

Author
item Kurtzman, Cletus
item BOEKHOUT, TEUN - Fungal Biodiversity

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/7/2017
Publication Date: 10/12/2017
Citation: Kurtzman, C.P., Boekhout, T. 2017. Yeasts as distinct life forms of fungi. In: Buzzini, P., Lachance, M.-A., and Yurkov, A., editors. Yeasts in natural Ecosystems: Ecology. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. p. 1-38.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This review describes all presently recognized genera of the Ascomycete yeasts (Saccharomycotina, budding yeasts, and the Taphrinomycotina, fission yeasts and related) as well as all currently recognized genera of the Basidiomycete yeasts. This update will be the lead chapter for a book entitled “Yeasts in Natural Ecosystems: Ecology and Diversity.” Application of gene sequence comparisons and whole genome analyses have shown that the morphology-based classification system used to identify yeasts is often incorrect. Consequently, yeasts have undergone a major change in the system of classification, which has resulted in clarification of known genera and description of many new genera. Accurate classification of yeasts, as well as other microorganisms, is essential for agriculture because of the need to identify pathogens, biocontrol organisms, biotechnological species and species implicated in food spoilage and food safety.