Chionosphaera pinicorticola sp. nov., a novel basidiomycetous yeast species isolated from pine tree bark in Gyeongju, South Korea.

A novel yeast species, isolated from the bark of pine trees in Gyeongju, South Korea, and designated as KCTC 37304 ^T (ex-type KACC 410729), is characterized by its genetic, morphological and physiological properties. Molecular phylogenetic analysis involving the D1/D2 domain of the 26S LSU rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region confirms that it belongs to the genus Chionosphaera . In comparison to Chionosphaera cuniculicola CBS:10065, the type strain of its closest relative, KCTC 37304 ^T exhibits 8 nucleotide substitutions (~2.07%) in the D1/D2 domain and 54 substitutions (~8.47%) in the ITS region. Morphologically, cells of KCTC 37304 ^T are globose to ovoid, which distinguishes them from the cylindrical cells of C. cuniculicola . Physiologically, KCTC 37304 ^T does not assimilate methanol or ethanol but can utilize succinate and xylitol, further differentiating it from C. cuniculicola . Based on these distinctive genetic, morphological and physiological features, we propose the new species Chionosphaera pinicorticola sp. nov., with KCTC 37304 ^T (ex-type strain KACC 410729) designated as the holotype.