Meniscomyces senecionis sp. nov., a novel anamorphic basidiomycete yeast species

A novel basidiomycete yeast, designated as NYNU 2211380, was isolated from a leaf of <i>Senecio scandens</i> collected in the Baotianman Nature Reserve, Henan Province, central China. Phylogenetic analyses of the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region revealed its close relationship to <i>Meniscomyces layueensis</i>, differing by 3.4% mismatches (14 substitutions and 6 gaps) in the D1/D2 domain and 12.4% mismatches (35 substitutions and 37 gaps) in the ITS region. The novel strain also exhibits distinct physiological traits, including an inability to assimilate maltose and cellobiose and the ability to utilize d-xylose, d-ribose, glycerol, ribitol, d-mannitol, dl-lactate and d-gluconate. Based on phylogenetic and phenotypic data, the strain represents a new species in the genus <i>Meniscomyces</i>, for which the name <i>Meniscomyces senecionis</i> sp. nov. (Holotype: CICC 33585; MycoBank: MB 857392) is proposed.