RESULTS:

Two strains of an asexual cellobiose-fermenting yeast species were isolated from rotten wood samples collected in Funiu Mountain Nature Reserve in Henan Province central China. Molecular phylogenetic analysis that included the nearly complete small subunit (SSU) the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rDNA showed that these strains belonged to the Candida kruisii clade with Candida kruisii and Candida cretensis as their closest phylogenetic neighbours. The nucleotide differences between the novel strains and the type strains of C. kruisii and C. cretensis were 30 and 36 substitutions respectively in the D1/D2 LSU rDNA 40 and 44 substitutions respectively in the ITS region and 19 and 23 substitutions respectively in the SSU rDNA. The novel strains can also be distinguished from their closest described species C. kruisii and C. cretensis by a number of physiological characteristics and represent a novel species of the genus Candida for which the name Candida funiuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NYNU 14625T ( = CICC 33050T = CBS 13911T). The Mycobank number is MB 811503.

Seven yeast strains were isolated from the gut of insect larvae and decayed wood which were collected from three localities near Nanyang Henan Province China. These strains were identified as two novel species through comparison of sequences in the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and other taxonomic characteristics. Pichia dushanensis sp. nov. was closely related to species in the Pichia clade and produced one to four spheroid ascospores in a deliquescent ascus. The D1/D2 sequence of P. dushanensis sp. nov. differed from its closest relative Issatchenkia (Pichia) sp. NRRL Y-12824 by 3.6  % sequence divergence (16 substitutions and 4 gaps). The species also differed from its four closest known species Candida rugopelliculosa Pichia occidentalis Pichia exigua and Candida phayaonensis by 4.1–4.4  % sequence divergence (22–24 substitutions and 0–2 gaps) in the D1/D2 sequences. Hyphopichia paragotoi sp. nov. belonged to the Hyphopichia clade and its nearest phylogenetic neighbours were Candida gotoi Candida pseudorhagii Candida rhagii and Hyphopichia heimii with 3.2–4.2  % sequence divergence (16–21substitutions and 1 gap) in the D1/D2 sequences. In comparison with previously established species H. paragotoi sp. nov. formed one hat-shaped ascospore in a persistent ascus. The type strain of P. dushanensis sp. nov. is NYNU 14658T ( = CICC 33049T = CBS 13912T) and the type strain of H. paragotoi sp. nov. is NYNU 14666T ( = CICC 33048T = CBS 13913T).

Five yeast strains were isolated from the gut of the groundbeetle Pterostichus gebleri and rotting wood which were collected from two different localities in China. These strains were identified as representing two novel species of the genus Blastobotrys through comparison of sequences in the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene and other taxonomic characteristics. Blastobotrys baotianmanensis sp. nov. produces two to three spherical ascospores per ascus and is most closely related to the type strains of B. elegans B. capitulata B. arbuscula and an undescribed species represented by strain BG02-7-20-006A-3-1. Blastobotrys baotianmanensis sp. nov. differed from these strains by 3.6–8.4 % divergence (21–46 substitutions and 0–4 gaps) in the D1/D2 sequences. Blastobotrys xishuangbannaensis f.a. sp. nov. is closely related to B. nivea B. elegans and B. aristata but the formation of ascospores was not observed on various sporulation media and it differed from its relatives by 6.2–8.5 % divergence (34–43 substitutions and 2–6 gaps) in the D1/D2 sequences. The holotype of Blastobotrys baotianmanensis sp. nov. is NYNU 1581 and the holotype of Blastobotrys xishuangbannaensis f.a. sp. nov. is NYNU 181030.