Figure 2. Differential interference contrast micrograph of budding cells of Nakazawaea atacamensis sp. nov. Micrograph of budding cells grown in YPD broth after 3 days at 25°C. Bars: 5 μm. This image was obtained using differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy.
The novel species N. atacamensis exhibits distinctive phenotypic characteristics compared to other species within the genusNakazawaea , as outlined in Table S2 . N. pomicolaferment D-glucose, while N. laoshanensis is able to ferment glucose and galatactose. In contrast, N. atacamensis ferments both D-glucose, galactose (variable) and sucrose (Tiwari et al. , 2022). One notable difference is the ability of N. atacamensis to assimilate trehalose, while it cannot metabolize inulin and soluble starch. In contrast, N. pomicola and N. laoshanensis are capable of assimilating soluble starch. N. laoshanensis can assimilate DL-Lactate whereas N. atacamensis does not possess this capability. These phenotypic variations highlight the distinct metabolic characteristics of N. atacamensis when compared to other Nakazawaea species, emphasizing its unique physiological profile within the genus.
Nakazawaea is a genus of ascomycetous yeasts belonging to the class Pichiomycetes, order Alaninales, and family Pachysolenaceae (Groenewald et al. , 2023). Currently, Mycobank lists 15 valid species within the genus Nakazawaea . These yeasts have been isolated from diverse habitats, with a predominant association with plant materials such as apples, grapes, and fermented grape musts. They have also been found in sugar cane leaves, decayed wood, and in association with wood-feeding insects like beetles (Yamada et al. , 1994, Kurtzman, 2001, Kurtzman, 2011, Kurtzman & Robnett, 2014, Polburee et al. , 2017, Crous et al. , 2019, Tiwari et al. , 2022). The diversity of Nakazawaea species reflects their ability to thrive in different environments and highlights their importance in various ecological contexts. Their occurrence in plant materials and wood-associated habitats underscores their potential ecological and industrial significance, including their potential involvement in the production of fermented foods and beverages. Recent yeast surveys in mushrooms in China and termites extended the repertoire of species in the genus Nakazawaea (Tiwari et al. , 2022) indicating a wide habitat for Nakazawaea species. In the present study, three strains of a novel species N. atacamensis were isolated from the bark and bark-exuded gum of the N. chilensis in the Atacama Desert, San Pedro, Chile.