An Updated Global Species Diversity and Phylogeny in the Genus with Addition of Two New Species from Thailand

Ascomycetous yeast species in the genus (Saccharomycetales, Wickerhamomycetaceae) are isolated from various habitats and distributed throughout the world. Prior to this study, 35 species had been validly published and accepted into this genus. Beneficially, species have been used in a number of biotechnologically applications of environment, food, beverage industries, biofuel, medicine and agriculture. However, in some studies, species have been identified as an opportunistic human pathogen. Through an overview of diversity, taxonomy and recently published literature, we have updated a brief review of . Moreover, two new species were isolated from the soil samples of Assam tea ( var. ) that were collected from plantations in northern Thailand. Herein, we have identified these species as . and . . The identification of these species was based on phenotypic (morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics) and molecular analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of a combination of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA genes support that . and . are distinct from other species within the genus . A full description, illustrations and a phylogenetic tree showing the position of both new species have been provided. Accordingly, a new combination species, . has been proposed based on the phylogenetic results. A new key for species identification is provided.