Distribution of carotenoids and sterols in relation to the taxonomy of Taphrina and Protomyces.

Species of the genera Taphrina Fr. and Protomyces Unger were screened for the presence of carotenoid pigments and the sterols ergosterol and brassicasterol. All strains produced carotenoids in variable amounts: Taphrina: 0.3--39 micrograms/g dry weight; protomyces: 65--99 micrograms/g dry weight. It was concluded that the two genera cannot be separated on the basis of presence or absence of carotenoids. Thirty strains (24 species) of Taphrina produced brassicasterol as the principal sterol; twenty-one strains (17 species) did not form ergosterol. Only four isolates (4 species) produced ergosterol without formation of brassicasterol. Brassicasterol was the major sterol in 3 species of Protomyces, whereas ergosterol was absent. Brassicasterol is a rather unique sterol within the fungal kingdom and has hitherto not been found in the red yeasts. Therefore, this sterol is of taxonomic significance in contrast with ergosterol, which is widespread among fungi.