The molecular systematics of 337 strains of basidiomycetous yeasts and yeastlike fungi, representing 230 species in 18 anamorphic and 24 teleomorphic genera, was determined by sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the largesubunit rDNA. The data were compared with published sequences of other basidiomycetous fungi. The results demonstrated that the yeast species and genera are phylogenetically distributed among the Microbotryum , Sporidiobolus, Agaricostilbum and Erythrobasidium clades of the Urediniomycetes ; the Tremellales, Trichosporonales ord. nov., Filobasidiales and Cystofilobasidiales clades of the Hymenomycetes ; and the Ustilaginales, Microstromatales and Malasseziales clades of the Ustilaginomycetes. Genera such as Bensingtonia, Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula and Sporobolomyces are polyphyletic, i.e. they occur in two or more clades. In contrast, other genera, e.g. Bullera, Cystofilobasidium, Fellomyces, Filobasidiella, Filobasidium, Kondoa, Kurtzmanomyces , Leucosporidium, Rhodosporidium, Sporidiobolus and Udeniomyces, are monophyletic. The majority of the species can be identified using D1/D2 analyses, although the internal transcribed spacer region is required to distinguish closely related species. The intergenic spacer region is recommended for additional differentiation of species and strains.

Basidiomycetous yeasts in the Urediniomycetes and Hymenomycetes were examined by sequence analysis in two ribosomal DNA regions: the D1/D2 variable domains at the 5' end of the large subunit rRNA gene (D1/D2) and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2. Four major lineages were recognized in each class: Microbotryum, Sporidiobolus, Erythrobasidium and Agaricostilbum in the Urediniomycetes; Tremellales, Trichosporonales, Filobasidiales and Cystofilobasidiales in the Hymenomycetes. Bootstrap support for many of the clades within those lineages is weak; however, phylogenetic analysis provides a focal point for in-depth study of biological relationships. Combined sequence analysis of the D1/D2 and ITS regions is recommended for species identification, while species definition requires classical biological information such as life cycles and phenotypic characterization.

Basidiomycetous yeasts in the Urediniomycetes and Hymenomycetes were examined by sequence analysis in two ribosomal DNA regions: the D1/D2 variable domains at the 5' end of the large subunit rRNA gene (D1/D2) and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2. Four major lineages were recognized in each class: Microbotryum, Sporidiobolus, Erythrobasidium and Agaricostilbum in the Urediniomycetes; Tremellales, Trichosporonales, Filobasidiales and Cystofilobasidiales in the Hymenomycetes. Bootstrap support for many of the clades within those lineages is weak; however, phylogenetic analysis provides a focal point for in-depth study of biological relationships. Combined sequence analysis of the D1/D2 and ITS regions is recommended for species identification, while species definition requires classical biological information such as life cycles and phenotypic characterization.

Mangrove forests inhabit the shoreline regions of tropical and subtropical marine habitats, where they are the basis of a multi-trophic level food web that drives the shellfish and fisheries industries. Yeasts, and other fungi, have significant roles in these ecosystems as they decompose plant organic material and serve as a food source for small invertebrates. Studies designed to examine yeast communities of mangrove regions of the Florida Everglades and the Bahamas demonstrated the repeated presence of an undescribed teleomorphic basidiomycetous yeast. The yeast is heterothallic, with a sexual cycle that can be observed on artificial media. Mating between compatible pairs produces polymorphic basidia. Some basidia are globose, ovoid or lageniform, with longitudinal to oblique and transverse septa, whereas other basidia are navicular with one to three transverse septa. Basidiocarps and ballistoconidia are absent. Molecular sequence analysis of a partial region (D1/D2 domains) of the large subunit rRNA demonstrated that the yeast is phylogenetically distinct from other teleomorphic Tremellales with close relationships to the anamorphic species Cryptococcus dejecticola, Cryptococcus bestiolae and Bullera dendrophila. The molecular and phenotypic data indicate that this teleomorph should be classified in a novel genus. Therefore, Kwoniella mangroviensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (Type strain CBS 8507), is proposed.

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