Description of Dioszegia patagonica sp. nov., a novel carotenogenic yeast isolated from cold environments

Abstract

During a survey of carotenogenic yeasts from cold and oligotrophic environments in Patagonia, several yeasts of the genus <em class="">Dioszegia</em> (Tremellales, Agaricomycotina) were detected, including three strains that could not be assigned to any known taxa. Analyses of internal transcribed spacer and D1/D2 regions of the large subunit rRNA gene showed these strains are conspecific with several other strains found in the Italian Alps and in Antarctica soil. Phylogenetic analyses showed that 19 of these strains represent a novel yeast species of the genus <em class="">Dioszegia</em>. The name <em class="">Dioszegia patagonica</em> sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains and CRUB 1147<span class="jp-sup">T</span> (UFMG 195<span class="jp-sup">T</span>=CBMAI 1564<span class="jp-sup">T</span>=DBVPG 10618<span class="jp-sup">T</span>=CBS 14901<span class="jp-sup">T</span>; MycoBank MB 819782) was designated as the type strain. This <em class="">Dioszegia</em> species accumulates biotechnologically valuable compounds such as carotenoid pigments and mycosporines.