Moniliella floricola sp. nov., a species of black yeast isolated from flowers

Moniliella yeasts were isolated from flower samples collected in Vietnam using an enrichment medium containing 50 % (w/w) glucose. The yeasts were identified as M. byzovii, M. dehoogii, M. megachiliensis, M. mellis, M. nigrescens and M. spathulata. A group of 20 strains representing a hitherto undescribed species of Moniliella was detected. ITS sequences indicated the presence of four genetic variants differing from each other by 4-14 nt. The strains, however, were identical in the TEF1 sequences and shared 1-2 nt differences in the D1/D2 regions. In the ITS-D1/D2 phylogenetic tree, the strains grouped together and formed a well-supported clade with insect-associated Moniliella species, including M. pollinis, M. megachiliensis and M. oedocephalis. The new group was most closely related to M. pollinis but differed from the latter by 95 nt (58 substitutions, 37 indels) in the ITS, 36 nt (31 substitutions, five indels) in the D1/D2, and 30 nt (30 substitutions) in the TEF1 sequences. Moniliella floricola sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate this group of isolates. The type strain and MycoBank number of M. floricola sp. nov. are TBY 30.1^T (=CBS 12758^T=NRRL Y-63660^T) and MB 825274, respectively.

Moniliella sojae sp. nov., a species of black yeasts isolated from Vietnamese soy paste (tuong), and reassignment of Moniliella suaveolens strains to Moniliella pyrgileucina sp. nov., Moniliella casei sp. nov. and Moniliella macrospora emend. comb. nov

The presence of yeasts at different steps of Vietnamese soy paste production was studied. Yeast growth occurred during primary soybean fermentation, with the cell density reaching 4.106 c.f.u. ml-1, and terminated during brine fermentation. The dominant species were Pichia kudriavzevii and Millerozyma farinosa. Over the span of 14 years, nine strains of Moniliella were isolated. The strains had identical PCR fingerprints generated with primer (GAC)5 and identical D1/D2 and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. A D1/D2-based phylogeny indicated that the strains were closest to a group of four previously assigned as Moniliella suaveolens strains. Together they form a new lineage that is well separated from all known species, including M. suaveolens (over 12.7 % divergence). ITS sequences indicated the presence of four species differing from each other by 9-57 nt. The name Moniliella sojae sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the strains isolated from Vietnamese soy paste, Moniliella pyrgileucina sp. nov. is proposed for PYCC 6800 and Moniliella casei sp. nov. is proposed for CBS 157.58. An emended combination Moniliella macrospora is proposed for CBS 221.32 and CBS 223.32. The type strains and MycoBank numbers are: M. sojae sp. nov., SS 4.2T=CBS 126448T=NRRL Y-48680T and MB 822871; M. pyrgileucina sp. nov., PYCC 6800T=CBS 15203T and MB 823030; M. casei sp. nov., CBS 157.58T=IFM 60348T and MB 822872; M. macrospora emend. comb. nov., CBS 221.32T (=MUCL 11527T) and MB 822874.

Moniliella byzovii sp. nov., a chlamydospore-forming black yeast isolated from flowers

Yeasts of the genus Moniliella were isolated from 651 flower samples collected in Vietnam, using an enrichment medium containing 50 % glucose. Species of the genus Moniliella were found in 5 % of the samples and 54 strains were isolated. The strains were identified based on D1/D2 LSU rRNA gene sequences as M. megachiliensis (15 strains), M. dehoogii (14 strains), and M. mellis (2 strains). The remaining 23 strains could not be reliably placed under any known species. Among them, 12 strains isolated from flowers of Ipomoea pes-caprae and Calotropis gigantea were peculiar for the intensive formation of chlamydospores. These strains could be subdivided into pigmented and non-pigmented groups. Both groups were identical in PCR fingerprints generated with primer (GAC)5 and in D1/D2 and ITS sequences. The yeast was closely related to M. fonsecae but differed from the latter by 52 nt (or 10.3 % of divergence) in the D1/D2 sequence and 71 nt (or 16.9 % of divergence) in the ITS sequence. The name Moniliella byzovii sp. nov. is proposed for this novel species. The type strain is TBY 2041.7(T) = CBS 12757(T) = NRRL Y-63661(T). The MycoBank number is MB 803186.

Moniliella carnis sp. nov. and Moniliella dehoogii sp. nov., two novel species of black yeasts isolated from meat processing environments

Thirteen strains of yeasts typical of the genus Moniliella were isolated from fermenting meat and meat processing tools in Vietnam. PCR fingerprints generated by primer (GAC)5 subdivided the strains into two distinctive genetic groups. In a phylogenetic tree based on D1/D2 large subunit rRNA gene sequences, the strains formed a well-supported clade with Moniliella spathulata and Moniliella suaveolens but represented two new lineages. The names Moniliella carnis sp. nov. and Moniliella dehoogii sp. nov. are proposed. The two novel species can be distinguished from each other and from known species of Moniliella based on phenotypic characteristics. It is assumed that the yeasts were associated with fatty substances that contaminated the meat processing tools. The type strain of Moniliella carnis is KFP 246T ( = CBS 126447T = NRRL Y-48681T) and the type strain of Moniliella dehoogii is KFP 211T ( = CBS 126564T = NRRL Y-48682T).