Kondoa qatarensis f.a., sp. nov., a novel yeast species isolated from marine water in Qatar. Issue 2 (9th January 2019) - Fotedar, Rashmi
Abstract : During a study of yeast diversity in marine waters of the Arabian Gulf surrounding Qatar, 30 strains were isolated that represent a novel species of Kondoa . The isolates were obtained from five locations along the Qatari coast. Species identifications were based on sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene. Five strains were selected for further study. The novel species was closely related to Kondoa aeria (CBS 8352 T ) and Kondoa malvinella (CBS 6082 T ) but differed from the two species by 5.6 % sequence divergence (16 substitutions and 14 gaps) in the ITS region. On the basis of D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene, the novel species differed from K . aeria by only >0.35 % sequence divergence (2 substitutions and 0 gaps) and 1.5 % sequence divergence (9 substitutions and 1 gap) to that of K. malvinella . Although the novel species showed a close similarity in the D1/D2 domains to K. aeria (CBS 8352 T ), based on the significant differences (16 substitutions) in ITS regions and on the basis of physiological and biochemical tests, viz ability to grow at 35 °C, and inability to assimilate, sucrose, raffinose, d, l -lactate, succinate, citrate and nitrite, these strains are considered as novel species of Kondoa . The species name of Kondoa qatarensis f.a., sp. nov. is proposed with specimen 2Y109 as the holotype.