Metschnikowia laotica f.a., sp. nov., a dimorphic, pigment-producing yeast species isolated from fruit.

Eight strains with identical sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA genes were isolated from fallen fruits in two distant localities in Laos. These strains represent a novel dimorphic budding yeast species producing invasive pseudohyphae and a brown pigment when growing on media containing quinic acid as the sole carbon source or tryptophan as the sole nitrogen source. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 domains, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the 18S rRNA genes placed the novel species in the Metschnikowia clade close to Candida torresii, Metschnikowia drosophilae and Candida danieliae. The taxonomic name Metschnikowia laotica f.a., sp. nov., reflecting the geographical origin of the isolates, is proposed for the novel species. The type strain is 11-524(T) ( = CBS 12961(T) = NCAIM Y.02124(T) = CCY 64-4-1(T)). The Mycobank number is MB 807383.