| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4356939 | Fungal Biology | 2014 | 11 Pages |
•Psychrophilic lithic yeasts were isolated from worldwide rock samples.•Yeasts were identified by 26S rDNA gene D1/D2 and ITS (1 and 2) sequencing.•Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula were the most frequently isolated genera.•A consistent part of yeasts (about 40 %) belong to species so far not described.•Taxonomic and ecological significance is discussed.
Yeast strains isolated from rock samples collected from worldwide cold regions were identified by sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the 26S rDNA gene and the ITS region followed by molecular phylogeny. Over 77 % of yeasts isolates were Basidiomycota. Cryptococcus (orders Filobasidiales and Tremellales) and Rhodotorula (order Cystobasidiales) were the most frequent genera. About 40 % of yeast isolates belonged to undescribed species.Almost all isolates were psychrotolerant. Urease and esterase were the most widely extracellular enzymatic activity at 4 °C and 20 °C. None of the strains exhibited extracellular protease, DNAse, cellulase, chitinase, and laccase activity.The taxonomic and ecological significance of yeasts associated to worldwide cold rocky habitats is discussed.
