ARS | Publication request: LACHANCEA MEYERSII SP. NOV., AN ASCOSPOROGENOUS YEAST FROM MANGROVE REGIONS IN THE BAHAMA ISLANDS

Submitted to: Studies in Mycology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 15, 2004
Publication Date: December 15, 2004
Citation: Fell, J.W., Statzell-Tallman, A., Kurtzman, C.P. 2004. Lachancea meyersii sp. nov., an ascosporogenous yeast from mangrove regions in the Bahama Islands. Studies in Mycology. 50:359-363.

Interpretive Summary: This study describes a new yeast isolated from mangrove areas in the Caribbean. The yeast was identified as new from its unique gene sequences in ribosomal DNA. The importance of the species is several-fold: it is a member of a small genus that is important to molecular biologists for comparison with fermentation yeasts in the genus Saccharomyces; several other members of the genus are food spoilage species; and discovery of this species expands the yeast molecular diagnostics database.

Technical Abstract: Lachancea meyersii sp. nov. (type strain NRRL Y-27269, CBS 8951, ML 3925) is described from mangrove habitats in the northern Bahamas Islands. This species is homothallic, forms spherical ascospores in asci that become deliquescent and is delineated from other ascomycetous yeasts by sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit ribosomal DNA. The species can be distinguished from other members of the genus Lachancea by the combined characteristics of lack of growth on galactose and by growth on maltose. This new species is named in honor of Professor Samuel P. Meyers in recognition of his pioneering research with marine fungi.