Wenyingozyma spermophthori f.a., sp. nov., a novel yeast species isolated from Spermophthorus apuleiae beetles while infesting ironwood fruits in Brazil.

A novel species of the Wenyingozyma clade is proposed to accommodate four isolates based on distinct phylogenetic clustering in a multigene phylogenetic analysis. All isolates were obtained from Spermophthorus apuleiae beetles. Yeasts were recovered externally or internally from both male and female beetles, in Limeira and Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. Isolates showed identical sequences for D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene, SSU rRNA gene and ITS region. This novel species is related to Ogataea nonmethanolica, differing by 14 nucleotide substitutions (nts) and 2 indels on the D1/D2 (97% identity), 37 nts and 5 indels on the ITS sequences (93% identity), 10 nts on the SSU (99% identity) and by 20 nts on TEF1-α sequences (97% identity). The novel species differs from its closest relative by the assimilation of l-sorbose as the sole carbon source, which is positive for O. nonmethanolica and negative for the novel species. The name Wenyingozyma spermophthori sp. nov. (holotype strain CBS 19397T) is proposed to accommodate these isolates.