Yamadazyma akebiae sp. nov. and Y. hainanensis sp. nov. (Debaryomycetaceae, Saccharomycetales) from leaf in China

Peng Wang; Chun-Yue Chai; Qiu-Hong Niu; Feng-Li Hui

doi:10.3897/mycokeys.119.156745

Abstract

Members of the genus Yamadazyma are widely distributed and frequently found in plant materials. In an effort to investigate the species diversity within this genus, leaf samples collected from Guizhou and Hainan provinces in China were examined. This study led to the discovery of two previously undescribed taxa. Phenotypic examination, combined with phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated ITS and LSU D1/D2 sequences, confirmed their affiliation with Yamadazyma and supported their designation as novel species. One of the new species, Yamadazyma akebiae sp. nov., is phylogenetically closely related to Y. kanchanaburiensis, whereas Y. hainanensis sp. nov. represents a distinct lineage, clearly separated from other known Yamadazyma species. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and comparative discussions with their nearest relatives are provided. These findings contribute two additional species to the genus and enhance our understanding of Yamadazyma diversity in China.

Key words:

Ascomycetous yeast, phylloplane, phylogeny, taxonomy

Introduction

The genus Yamadazyma, belonging to the ascosporogenous yeasts within the family Debaryomycetaceae, was initially established by Billon-Grand (1989) and later delineated through phylogenetic analyses by Kurtzman and Suzuki (2010). Currently, Yamadazyma encompasses 68 recognized species, including 35 anamorphic taxa previously classified within the Yamadazyma clade of the genus Candida (Khunnamwong et al. 2023; Avesani et al. 2024; Seike et al. 2024). Members of this genus are characterized by several shared phenotypic features, such as the synthesis of coenzyme Q-9 (CoQ-9), the ability to form pseudohyphae, sugar fermentation capacity, and a requirement for external vitamins to support growth (Billon-Grand 1989; Kurtzman 2011). Furthermore, seven teleomorphic species—Y. akitaensis, Y. mexicana, Y. nakazawae, Y. philogaea, Y. riverae, Y. scolyti, and Y. triangularis—are known to produce one to four hat-shaped ascospores on sporulation media (Kurtzman 2011; Lopes et al. 2015).

Species of the genus Yamadazyma exhibit a cosmopolitan distribution and have been isolated from a wide array of substrates. These yeasts are frequently recovered from plant-associated materials (Lu et al. 2004; Groenewald et al. 2011; Kaewwichian et al. 2013; Lopes et al. 2015; Maksimova et al. 2020; Gao et al. 2021; Khunnamwong et al. 2023), mushrooms (Nakase et al. 2008; Khunnamwong et al. 2023), various food sources (Nisiotou et al. 2010; Avesani et al. 2024), marine environments (Burgaud et al. 2011, 2016), insects (Suh et al. 2005), soil samples (Seike et al. 2024), estuarine water (Am-In et al. 2011), and even the atmosphere (Kurtzman et al. 2001). Nevertheless, a significant proportion of known species are predominantly associated with decaying wood, insects, and insect frass (Groenewald et al. 2011; Kurtzman 2011; Gao et al. 2021). Notably, the genus also includes clinically important species, such as Y. aaseri, Y. conglobata, Y. mexicana, Y. pseudoaaseri, and Y. triangularis (Kurtzman 2011; Lachance et al. 2011; Al-Sweih et al. 2017; Giachos et al. 2024). In recent years, interest in the ecological roles, biocontrol capacities, and biotechnological applications of Yamadazyma has increased. For instance, Y. cocois, an endophytic yeast, resides within coconut tissues without causing harm to the host plant (Maksimova et al. 2020). Y. mexicana has been shown to suppress phytopathogenic fungi, offering effective control of anthracnose in avocados at both preharvest and postharvest stages (Gonzбlez-Gutiйrrez et al. 2024). A yet undescribed species, referred to as Yamadazyma sp. 1, demonstrated the ability to ferment cellobiose, indicating potential for bioethanol production (Lopes et al. 2018). Moreover, Y. triangularis exhibits probiotic potential and has been utilized to produce novel antioxidant peptides (Cai et al. 2022). These findings underscore the ecological, agricultural, and biotechnological significance of Yamadazyma, highlighting the need for continued and in-depth biodiversity investigations within this genus.

China harbors a high diversity of Yamadazyma species, with current records documenting nine taxa reported from various regions across the country (Gao et al. 2021). The first species described from China was Y. diospyri, isolated from Kaki fruit by Lu et al. (2004). Subsequently, Y. paraphyllophila was identified on phylloplane from Taiwan, China (Kaewwichian et al. 2013). Over the past decade, our research group has conducted extensive taxonomic investigations on Yamadazyma in China, particularly focusing on isolates from decaying wood. These efforts led to the identification of seven species, including three previously known taxa—Y. insectorum, Y. akitaensis, and Y. olivae—and four novel species: Y. dushanensis, Y. luoyangensis, Y. ovata, and Y. paraaseri (Gao et al. 2021). More recently, Y. triangularis, originally described from Japan, was newly recorded in China from dry-cured Xuanwei ham (Cai et al. 2022). Accordingly, China has been identified as a biodiversity hotspot for the discovery of unexpected novel species and newly recorded species of Yamadazyma.

Despite recent progress, the species richness of Yamadazyma in China remains underexplored. Comprehensive surveys encompassing diverse ecosystems and substrates, particularly in under-sampled regions, are essential to uncover the full extent of the genus’s diversity and to enhance our understanding of its ecological and evolutionary significance. In our most recent investigations conducted over the past two years, several new Yamadazyma strains were isolated from plant leaves. Further phenotypic and molecular phylogenetic analysis confirmed that these strains represent two distinct novel species: Yamadazyma akebiae sp. nov. and Y. hainanensis sp. nov. Their formal descriptions are provided herein, contributing to the expanding inventory of Yamadazyma species in China and advancing the taxonomic and ecological framework of the genus.

Materials and methods

Sample collection and yeast isolation

Living leaf samples were collected from two locations in China: the Guiyang Medicinal Botanical Garden, Guizhou Province (26°34'51"N, 106°42'36"E), and Wuzhi Mountain, Hainan Province (18°17'21"N, 109°40'55"E). Yeast strains representing putative novel species were isolated from the leaf surface using the washing and dilution approach outlined by Jiang et al. (2024). Fresh leaves were cut into small segments using sterile scissors and placed into 10 mL sterile centrifuge tubes containing sterile water supplemented with 0.05% Tween 80. The samples were shaken for approximately 10 minutes, after which the suspension was serially diluted to 10⁻². A volume of 200 μL from each dilution was spread onto yeast extract-malt extract (YM) agar plates (0.3% yeast extract, 0.3% malt extract, 0.5% peptone, 1% glucose, and 2% agar) supplemented with chloramphenicol (200 μg/mL) to inhibit bacterial growth. Plates were incubated at 25 °C for 5–7 days. Emerging yeast colonies were subcultured on fresh YM agar to obtain pure isolates. Purified strains were suspended in 20% (v/v) glycerol and stored at −80 °C for long-term preservation.

Phenotypic characterization

Morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics were assessed following standardized protocols outlined by Kurtzman et al. (2011). Colony morphology was evaluated on YM agar after incubation at 25 °C for 7 days. Cellular morphology was observed in YM broth cultures incubated at 25 °C for 3 days using a LEICA DM2500 microscope (LEICA, Wetzlar, Germany) equipped with LAS V4.13 software. To determine the sexual state, single or mixed cultures of each strain were incubated on various sporulation media, including YM agar, 5% malt extract (ME) agar (5% malt extract and 1.5% agar), cornmeal (CM) agar (2% cornmeal and 1.5% agar), Fowell’s acetate agar (0.5% sodium acetate and 2% agar), and Gorodkowa agar (0.1% glucose, 0.5% sodium chloride, 1% peptone and 2% agar). Cultures were maintained at 15 °C and 25 °C for up to six weeks, with observations recorded at two-week intervals (Kurtzman 2011; Gao et al. 2021). Sugar fermentation was examined in liquid medium using Durham fermentation tubes. Carbon and nitrogen assimilation tests were conducted in liquid media, with nitrogen assimilation assessed using starved inocula (Kurtzman et al. 2011). Temperature tolerance was evaluated on YM agar plates at 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 37 °C. All newly proposed species names and corresponding descriptions have been deposited in the MycoBank database (https://www.mycobank.org; accessed on 25 February 2025).

DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing

Genomic DNA was extracted from actively growing yeast cells cultivated on YM agar using the Ezup Column Yeast Genomic DNA Purification Kit, following the manufacturer’s instructions (Sangon Biotech Co., Shanghai, China). The ITS region and the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene were amplified using primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and NL1/NL4 (Kurtzman and Robnett 1998), respectively. PCR amplifications were conducted in a 25 μL reaction mixture containing 9.5 μL of nuclease-free water, 12.5 μL of 2× Taq PCR Master Mix with blue dye (Sangon Biotech Co., Shanghai, China), 1 μL of genomic DNA template, and 1 μL of each primer. The thermal cycling protocol consisted of an initial denaturation at 98 °C for 2 minutes, followed by 35 cycles of denaturation at 98 °C for 10 seconds, annealing at 55 °C for 10 seconds, and extension at 72 °C for 15 seconds, with a final extension at 72 °C for 5 minutes. PCR products were examined by electrophoresis on 1% agarose gels. Amplicons displaying clear single bands were purified and sequenced by Sangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Forward and reverse sequences were edited and assembled into consensus sequences using BioEdit v7.1.3.0 (Hall 1999). Sequence similarity searches were performed using the BLASTN 2.2.19 algorithm (Zhang et al. 2000) against the GenBank database. All newly generated sequences were submitted to GenBank (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/; Table 1).

Table 1.

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Sequences used in molecular phylogenetic analysis. Entries in bold are newly generated in this study.

Species	Strain no.	Locality	GenBank accession no.
Species	Strain no.	Locality	ITS	LSU D1/D2
Yamadazyma aaseri	CBS 1913^T	Norway	AY821838	U45802
*Yamadazyma akebiae*	NYNU 22830^T	China	OP566868	OP566866
*Yamadazyma akebiae*	NYNU 221015	China	PV404187	PV539463
Yamadazyma akitaensis	CBS 6701^T	Japan	DQ409164	U45766
Yamadazyma amphixiae	CBS 9877^T	Panama	EU491501	AY520327
Yamadazyma andamanensis	CBS 10859^T	Thailand	AB525239	AB334210
Yamadazyma blattariae	CBS 9876^T	Panama	FJ715435	AY640213
Yamadazyma buinensis	CBS 6796^T	Papua New Guinea	HQ283376	U45778
Yamadazyma cerambycidarum	CBS 9879^T	Panama	AY964669	AY520299
Yamadazyma conglobata	CBS 2018^T	—	AJ539370	U45789
Yamadazyma dendronema	CBS 6270^T	South Africa	HQ283365	U45751
Yamadazyma diddensiae	CBS 2214^T	USA	AY580315	U45750
Yamadazyma diospyri	CBS 9769^T	China	AY450919	AY450918
Yamadazyma dushanensis	CBS 13914^T	China	KM272249	KM272248
Yamadazyma endomychidarum	CBS 9881^T	Panama	AY964672	AY520330
Yamadazyma endophytica	CBS 14163^T	Thailand	KT307981	KT307981
Yamadazyma epiphylla	CBS 13384^T	Thailand	LC006082	LC006026
Yamadazyma friedrichii	CBS 4114^T	Germany	HQ283377	U45781
Yamadazyma germanica	CBS 4105^T	Germany	HQ283366	AF245401
Yamadazyma gorgasii	CBS 9880^T	Panama	AY964670	AY520300
*Yamadazyma henanensis*	NYNU 24829^T	China	PQ568984	PQ568981
	NYNU 24905	China	PV539466	PV539465
	NYNU 249216	China	PV539467	PV539468
Yamadazyma insectorum	CBS 6213^T	South Africa	HQ283372	U45791
Yamadazyma jaroonii	CBS 10790^T	Thailand	AB360437	DQ404493
Yamadazyma kanchanaburiensis	CBS 11266^T	Thailand	NR_137581	KY106534
Yamadazyma keroseneae	CECT 13058^T	UK	FJ235128	FJ357698
Yamadazyma khao-thaluensis	CBS 8535^T	Thailand	HQ283374	HQ283383
Yamadazyma kitorensis	CBS 14158^T	Japan	LC060995	LC060995
Yamadazyma koratensis	TBRC 14868^T	Thailand	LC601013	LC601009
Yamadazyma koratica	CBS 10789^T	Thailand	AB360443	AB354232
Yamadazyma laniorum	CBS 14780^T	USA	KY588337	KY588136
Yamadazyma lessepsii	CBS 9941^T	Panama	AY964671	AY640214
Yamadazyma luoyangensis	NYNU 201023^T	China	MW365549	MW365545
Yamadazyma membranifaciens	CBS 1952^T	India	AJ606465	U45792
Yamadazyma mexicana	CBS 7066^T	Agria cactus	AB054110	U45797
Yamadazyma molendinolei	CBS 18660^T	Italy	PP149061	PP130150
Yamadazyma michaelii	CBS 9878^T	Panama	AY964673	AY520329
Yamadazyma naeodendra	CBS 6032^T	South Africa	AY580316	U45759
Yamadazyma nakazawae	CBS 6700^T	Japan	EU343867	U45748
Yamadazyma oleae	CBS 18662	Italy	NR_199097	PP375118
Yamadazyma olivae	CBS 11171^T	Greece	FJ715432	FJ715430
Yamadazyma ovata	NYUN 191125^T	China	MT990560	MT990559
Yamadazyma paraaseri	NYNU 1811114^T	China	MK682794	MK682805
Yamadazyma paraphyllophila	CBS 9928^T	Taiwan	AY559447	AY562397
Yamadazyma philogaea	CBS 6696^T	South Africa	AB054107	U45765
Yamadazyma phyllophila	CBS 12572^T	Thailand	AB734050	AB734047
Yamadazyma pseudoaaseri	CBS 11170^T	Germany	JN241686	JN241689
Yamadazyma riverae	CBS 14121^T	Brazil	KP900044	KP900043
Yamadazyma scolyti	CBS 4802^T	USA	EU343807	U45788
Yamadazyma siamensis	CBS 12573^T	Thailand	AB734049	AB734046
Yamadazyma sisaketensis	TBRC 17139^T	Thailand	OP811260	OP811260
Yamadazyma songkhlaensis	CBS 10791^T	Thailand	AB360438	DQ404499
Yamadazyma tallmaniae	CBS 8575^T	French Guiana	HQ283378	HQ283385
Yamadazyma tammaniensis	CBS 8504^T	USA	HQ283375	AF017243
Yamadazyma tenuis	CBS 615^T	Russia	HQ283371	U45774
Yamadazyma terventina	CBS 12510^T	Italy	JQ247717	JQ247717
Yamadazyma thunbergiae	JCM 36746^T	Japan	LC805685	LC805685
Yamadazyma trypodendroni	CBS 8505^T	Canada	FJ153212	AF017240
Yamadazyma tumulicola	CBS 10917^T	Japan	AB365463	AB365463
Yamadazyma ubonensis	CBS 12859^T	Thailand	NR_155998	AB759913
Yamadazyma vaughaniae	CBS 8583^T	French Guiana	HQ283364	HQ283381
Yamadazyma vrieseae	CBS 10829^T	Brazil	FJ755905	EU200785
Yamadazyma sp.	CLIB 1610	France	LN870324	LN870343
	14Y124	Japan	LC060705	LC060704
	GE19S08	Taiwan	FJ873424	FJ527153
	DMKU-RG72	Thailand	LC816131	LC816125
Meyerozyma guilliermondii	CBS 2030^T	USA	KY104252	KY108542
Babjeviella inositovora	CBS 8006^T	—	NR_111018	U45848

CBS, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands; DMKU, Culture Collection of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; DSM, German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany; TBRC, Thailand Bioresource Research Center, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Pathumthani, Thailand; Strains marked with “T” are ex-type.

Phylogenetic analyses

To infer phylogenetic relationships, newly generated ITS and LSU D1/D2 sequences from five isolates were combined with reference sequences retrieved from the GenBank database (Table 1). Taxon sampling was based on the frameworks established by Avesani et al. (2024) and Seike et al. (2024). Sequence alignment for each region was conducted using MAFFT v. 7.110 with the L-INS-i algorithm, which is optimized for accuracy (Katoh and Standley 2013). Alignments were inspected and edited using BioEdit v7.1.3.0 (Hall 1999), with manual refinements applied to improve character homology across taxa. The final ITS and LSU D1/D2 alignments were concatenated into a single dataset using PhyloSuite v. 1.2.3 (Zhang et al. 2020).

Phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. The most appropriate model of DNA substitution was selected using Modeltest v. 3.04 (Posada and Crandall 1998) with the Akaike information criterion (AIC). The model GTR + I + G was selected for both ML and BI analyses. ML analysis was conducted using RAxML v. 8.2.3 (Stamatakis 2014) with 1,000 bootstrap replicates. BI analysis was conducted using MrBayes v. 3.2.7a (Ronquist et al. 2012) with 50 million generations using the parameter settings described previously (Lu et al. 2024). Each tree was visualized with bootstrap support (BS) values ≥50% and Bayesian posterior probabilities (BPPs) ≥0.95 in FigTree v. 1.4.3 (Andrew 2016).

Abbreviations

GDMCC Guangdong Microbial Culture Collection Center, Guangzhou, PR China;

PYCC Portuguese Yeast Culture Collection, Caparica, Portugal.

Results

Molecular phylogeny

Phylogenetic reconstruction was based on the alignment of the concatenated ITS + LSU D1/D2 dataset, which included 69 ITS and 69 LSU D1/D2 sequences from 69 yeast strains representing 66 species. Phylogenetic trees inferred using both ML and BI methods exhibited similar topologies; therefore, only the tree derived from the ML analysis is presented (Fig. 1). The isolates from Guizhou and Hainan Provinces formed two distinct lineages in the phylogenetic tree (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

Phylogenetic tree of Yamadazyma inferred from maximum likelihood (ML) analysis based on a combined ITS and LSU D1/D2 dataset, with Babjeviella inositovora CBS 8006^T as the outgroup. Bootstrap support (BS) ≥ 50% and Bayesian posterior probabilities (BPPs) ≥ 0.95 are shown. Strains marked with “T” are ex-type. The strains from this study are highlighted in bold.

Strains NYNU 22830 and NYNU 221015, isolated from Guizhou Province, shared identical D1/D2 and ITS sequences, indicating they are conspecific. These strains are closely related to Y. kanchanaburiensis CBS 11266^T (Fig. 1), differing by four nucleotide (nt) substitutions (~0.8%) in the D1/D2 domain and 30 nt mismatches (~4.9%) in the ITS region. In comparison with other Yamadazyma species, they exhibit more than 9 nt substitutions (~1.7%) in the D1/D2 domain and 25 nt mismatches (~4%) in the ITS region. Based on these genetic differences, strains NYNU 22830 and NYNU 2487 are proposed as a new species, named Yamadazyma akebiae sp. nov.

Strains NYNU 24829, NYNU 24905, and NYNU 249216, isolated from Hainan Province, had identical D1/D2 and ITS sequences. These strains formed a well-supported clade within the genus Yamadazyma (Fig. 1) and were closely related to Yamadazyma sp. 14Y124 and Y. tallmaniae CBS 8575^T, differing by 17–18 nt substitutions (~3.1–3.4%) in the D1/D2 domain and 29–33 nt mismatches (~4.7–5.2%) in the ITS region. Based on these genetic differences, these three strains are proposed as a new species, named Yamadazyma henanensis sp. nov.

Taxonomy

Yamadazyma akebiae C.Y. Chai & F.L. Hui, sp. nov.

MycoBank No: 858833

Fig. 2

Type.

China • Guizhou Prov.: Guiyang City, Guiyang Medicinal Botanical Garden, in the phylloplane of Akebia trifoliata, August 2022, L. Zhang & F.L. Hui, NYNU 22830 (holotype GDMCC 2.303 preserved as a metabolically inactive state, ex-type PYCC 9930).

Etymology.

The specific epithet akebiae refers to Akebia, the plant genus from which the type strain was isolated.

Description.

After 7 days of growth on YM agar at 25 °C, the colonies appear white to cream-colored, lucid, and convex with irregular surfaces and margins. After 3 days of growth in YM agar at 25 °C, cells are ovoid to ellipsoid (2.5–3.9 × 4.1–7.4 μm) and occur singly or in pairs. Budding is multilateral. Pseudohyphae are formed, but true hyphae are absent in slide culture on cornmeal agar after 7 days at 25 °C. No asci or signs of conjugation are observed on YM agar, 5% ME agar, Fowell’s acetate agar, CM agar, or Gorodkowa agar after 6 weeks at 15 or 25 °C. Glucose and galactose are fermented, while sucrose, maltose, lactose, raffinose, trehalose, and d-xylose are not. Glucose, inulin, sucrose, galactose, trehalose, maltose, melezitose, methyl α-d-glucoside, cellobiose, salicin, l-sorbose, l-rhamnose, d-xylose, l-arabinose, d-arabinose, d-ribose, ethanol, glycerol, erythritol, ribitol, d-mannitol, d-glucitol, dl-lactate, succinate, citrate, d-gluconate, d-glucosamine, N-aetyl-d-glucosamine, and d-glucono-1, 5-lactone (delayed) are assimilated. No growth is observed with raffinose, melibiose, lactose, 5-keto-d-gluconate, methanol, galactitol, myo-inositol, 2-keto-d-gluconate, or d-glucuronate. In nitrogen-assimilation tests, growth is present in ethylamine, l-lysine, and cadaverine, while growth is absent in nitrate, nitrite, and creatine. Growth occurs at 35 °C, but not at 37 °C. No growth is observed in the presence of 10% NaCl with 5% glucose, 0.01% cycloheximide, or 1% acetic acid. Starch-like compounds are not produced. Urease activity and diazonium blue B reactions are negative.

Figure 2.

Morphology of Yamadazyma akebiae (ex-type, NYNU 22830). A. Colony on YM agar after 3 days at 25 °C; B. Budding cells on YM agar at 25 °C after 3 days; C. Simple pseudohyphae on CM agar after 3 days at 25 °C; D. Pseudohyphae with blastoconidia on CM agar after 7 days at 25 °C. Scale bars: 10 μm.

Additional isolates examined.

China • Guizhou Province, Guiyang City, Guiyang Medicinal Botanical Garden, in the phylloplane of Sapium sebiferum, August 2022, L. Zhang & F.L. Hui, strain number: NYNU 221015.

GenBank accession numbers.

Holotype GDMCC 2.303^T (ITS: OP566868; LSU D1/D2: OP566866); additional isolate NYNU 221015 (ITS: MZ318445; LSU D1/D2: MZ318422).

Notes.

Physiologically, Y. akebiae sp. nov. differs from its closely related species Y. kanchanaburiensis in its ability to assimilate inulin and dl-lactate and grow in vitamin-free medium (Table 2).

Table 2.

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Physiological characteristics of the new Yamadazyma species and their closely related taxa.

Characteristics	Y. akebiae	Y. kanchanaburiensis*	Y. hainanensis	Y. tallmaniae*
Fermentation of
d-Glucose	+	w	–	+
Galactose	+	w	–	n
Assimilation of
Inulin	+	–	w	n
Sucrose	+	+	–	+
Maltose	+	+	–	+
Melezitose	+	+	–	+
Methyl-α-D-glucoside	+	+	–	+
DL-Lactate	+	–	–	–
D-Glucosamine	+	s	–	+
Growth tests
10%Nacl/5%glucose	–	n	–	+
Vitamin-free medium	+	–	+	n

Yamadazyma hainanensis C.Y. Chai & F.L. Hui, sp. nov.

MycoBank No: 858834

Fig. 3

Type.

China • Hainan Prov.: Wuzhishan City, Wuzhi Mountain, in the phylloplane of Daemonorops margaritae, August 2024, S.L. Lv, NYNU 24829 (holotype GDMCC 2.524 preserved as a metabolically inactive state, ex-type PYCC 10135).

Etymology.

The specific epithet haianensis refers to the geographic origin of the type strain, Wuzhi Mountain, Wuzhishan City, Hainan Province.

Description.

After 7 days of growth on YM agar at 25 °C, the colonies appear white to cream-colored, buttery, and smooth, with entire margins. After 3 days of growth in YM agar at 25 °C, cells are ovoid to ellipsoid (2.1–4.6 × 3.4–8.1 μm) and occur singly or in pairs. Budding is multilateral. Pseudohyphae are formed, but true hyphae are absent in slide culture on cornmeal agar after 7 days at 25 °C. No asci or signs of conjugation are observed on YM agar, 5% ME agar, Fowell’s acetate agar, CM agar, or Gorodkowa agar after 6 weeks at 15 or 25 °C. Fermentation is negative. Glucose, inulin (weak), galactose (weak), trehalose, cellobiose (weak), salicin (weak), d-xylose, l-arabinose, d-arabinose, d-ribose (delayed), ethanol, glycerol, erythritol, ribitol, d-mannitol, d-glucitol, succinate, citrate, d-gluconate, N-aetyl-d-glucosamine, and d-glucono-1, 5-lactone are assimilated. No growth is observed with sucrose, raffinose, melibiose, lactose, maltose, melezitose, methyl α-d-glucoside, l-sorbose, l-rhamnose, 5-keto-d-gluconate, methanol, galactitol, myo-inositol, dl-lactate, d-glucosamine, 2-keto-d-gluconate, or d-glucuronate. In nitrogen-assimilation tests, growth is present in ethylamine, l-lysine, and cadaverine, while growth is absent in nitrate, nitrite, and creatine. Growth is observed at 30 °C but absent at 35 °C. No growth is noted in the presence of 10% NaCl with 5% glucose, 0.01% cycloheximide, or 1% acetic acid. Starch-like compounds are not produced. Urease activity and diazonium blue B reactions are negative.

Figure 3.

Morphology of Yamadazyma hainanensis (ex-type, NYNU 24829). A. Colony on YM agar after 7 days at 25 °C; B. Budding cells on YM agar after 3 days at 25 °C; C. Pseudohyphae with blastoconidia on CM agar after 7 days at 25 °C. Scale bars: 10 μm.

Additional isolates examined.

China • Hainan Province, Wuzhishan City, Wuzhi Mountain, in the phylloplane of Pollia sp., August 2024, S.L. Lv, strain numbers: NYNU 24905, NYNU 249216.

GenBank accession numbers.

Holotype GDMCC 2.524^T (ITS: PQ568984; LSU D1/D2: PQ568981); additional isolates NYNU 24905 (ITS: MZ318442; LSU D1/D2: MZ318423) and NYNU 249216 (ITS: MZ318424; D1/D2 LSU: MZ318425).

Notes.

Physiologically, Y. hainanensis sp. nov. differs from its closely related known species, Y. tallmaniae, in several aspects (Table 2). Y. hainanensis sp. nov. is unable to ferment glucose, whereas Y. tallmaniae can. Additionally, Y. hainanensis sp. nov. is incapable of assimilating sucrose, maltose, melezitose, methyl-α-d-glucoside, or d-glucosamine, unlike Y. tallmaniae. Furthermore, Y. tallmaniae can grow in the presence of 10% NaCl with 5% glucose, while Y. hainanensis sp. nov. cannot.

Discussion

Initially, the identification of Yamadazyma was primarily based on phenotypic traits, which resulted in its polyphyletic nature. However, with the advent of molecular phylogenetic techniques, more comprehensive approaches have been employed to address taxonomic challenges within the genus. For example, Y. farinosa was reclassified as Millerozyma farinosa and Y. guilliermondii as Meyerozyma guilliermondii based on concatenated LSU D1/D2 and SSU gene sequences (Kurtzman and Suzuki 2010). Further phylogenetic analysis using combined ITS and LSU D1/D2 sequences recognized Yamadazyma as a well-supported monophyletic clade (Groenewald et al. 2011). In accordance with the Melbourne Code (McNeill et al. 2012), which permits the assignment of related anamorphic and teleomorphic species to the same genus, additional anamorphic Candida species were subsequently reclassified into the genus Yamadazyma, thus broadening its diversity to encompass both teleomorphic and anamorphic forms.

In this study, two novel species—Y. akebiae sp. nov. and Y. hainanensis sp. nov.—are described based on a combination of molecular phylogenetic analyses and phenotypic characteristics. Phylogenetically, Y. akebiae sp. nov. is closely related to Y. kanchanaburiensis, forming a moderately supported clade. In contrast, Y. hainanensis sp. nov. forms a distinct branch clearly separated from other Yamadazyma species; however, a more robust phylogenetic placement for this species awaits further validation. The sequence divergences of the LSU D1/D2 and ITS regions between the new species and their closest relatives are below the similarity thresholds typically used to define species boundaries in ascomycetous yeasts (Kurtzman and Robnett 1998; Vu et al. 2016). Phenotypically, the two species share traits such as colony morphology, color, and cell shape, but can be differentiated from their closest relatives by distinct physiological and biochemical characteristics (Table 2). The integration of genetic, phylogenetic, and morphological data strengthens the reliability of species delimitation.

Yeast classification has traditionally relied on their ability to ferment sugars, typically measured by CO₂ production (Kurtzman et al. 2011). Most ascomycetous yeasts, with few exceptions, are capable of sugar fermentation, whereas basidiomycetous yeasts generally are not. Interestingly, the three Chinese strains identified as Y. hainanensis sp. nov. were negative for sugar fermentation (Table 2), a rare feature within Yamadazyma. Only two other species, Y. paraaseri and Y. andamanensis, have been reported to lack this ability (Am-In et al. 2011; Gao et al. 2021; Avesani et al. 2024).

To date, 68 species of the genus Yamadazyma have been formally described, including the two introduced in this study (Avesani et al. 2024; Seike et al. 2024). Of these, 12 species have been recorded in China (e.g., Y. diospyri, Y. paraphyllophila, Y. insectorum, Y. akitaensis, Y. olivae, Y. dushanensis, Y. luoyangensis, Y. ovata, Y. paraaseri, Y. triangularis, Y. akebiae, and Y. hainanensis) (Gao et al. 2021; Cai et al. 2022). As one of the most biodiverse countries globally, China is likely home to many more undescribed Yamadazyma species. Ongoing surveys and taxonomic efforts are essential for a more complete understanding of species richness within the genus.

Numerous Yamadazyma species have been studied extensively, and some strains are used in agriculture and biotechnology (González-Gutiérrez et al. 2024; Lopes et al. 2018; Cai et al. 2022). While these yeasts are known to inhabit diverse ecological niches, environmental changes—especially those driven by climate change—are affecting both terrestrial and aquatic habitats (Jain et al. 2020). Such shifts may influence the global distribution and diversity of Yamadazyma species. Future research should therefore not only continue to document novel species and their distribution but also assess how climate variability may impact this ecologically and industrially important genus.

Acknowledgments

We extend our sincere gratitude to Lin Zhang and Shi-Long Lv for their invaluable assistance in collecting samples from the Guizhou and Hainan Provinces.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Use of AI

No use of AI was reported.

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31570021) and the Agricultural Biomass Green Conversion Technology University Scientific Innovation Team in Henan Province, China (Grant No. 24IRTSTHN036).

Author contributions

Author ORCIDs

Peng Wang https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8289-9640

Chun-Yue Chai https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0284-5560

Qiu-Hong Niu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1695-7117

Feng-Li Hui https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7928-3055

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

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﻿Abstract

Key words:

﻿Introduction

﻿Materials and methods

﻿Sample collection and yeast isolation

﻿Phenotypic characterization

﻿DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing

﻿Phylogenetic analyses

﻿Abbreviations

﻿Results

﻿Molecular phylogeny

﻿Taxonomy

﻿ Yamadazyma akebiae C.Y. Chai & F.L. Hui, sp. nov.

Type.

Etymology.

Description.

Additional isolates examined.

GenBank accession numbers.

Notes.

﻿ Yamadazyma hainanensis C.Y. Chai & F.L. Hui, sp. nov.

Type.

Etymology.

Description.

Additional isolates examined.

GenBank accession numbers.

Notes.

﻿Discussion

﻿Acknowledgments

﻿Additional information

Conflict of interest

Ethical statement

Use of AI

Funding

Author contributions

Author ORCIDs

Data availability

﻿References

Abstract

Introduction

Materials and methods

Sample collection and yeast isolation

Phenotypic characterization

DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing

Phylogenetic analyses

Abbreviations

Results

Molecular phylogeny

Taxonomy

Yamadazyma akebiae C.Y. Chai & F.L. Hui, sp. nov.

Yamadazyma hainanensis C.Y. Chai & F.L. Hui, sp. nov.

Discussion

Acknowledgments

Additional information

References