Apiotrichum terrigenum sp. nov., a novel soil-associated yeast found in both the UK and mainland Europe

Five arthroconidium-producing yeast strains representing a novel Trichosporon-like species were independently isolated from the UK, Hungary and Norway. Two strains (Bio4T and Bio21) were isolated from a biogas reactor, with a third strain (S8) isolated from soil collected at the same UK site. Two additional strains were isolated in mainland Europe, one from soil in Norway (NCAIM Y.02175) and the other from sewage in Hungary (NCAIM Y.02176). Sequence analyses of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicated that the novel species belongs to the recently resurrected genus Apiotrichum, and is most closely related to Apiotrichum scarabaeorum, a beetle-associated species first found in South Africa. Despite having similar physiological characteristics, the two species can be readily distinguished from one another by ITS sequencing. The species name of Apiotrichum terrigenum sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains, with Bio4T (=NCYC 3540T =CBS 11373T) designated as the type strain.