Taxogenomic Characterization and Comparative Genomic Analysis of Hermanozyma buritii sp. nov., f.a., a Yeast Species Isolated From Plants and Soil

ABSTRACT Four yeast isolates with an affinity to Hermanozyma ubatubensis and Hermanozyma aechmeae (Ascomycota, Saccharomycotina, and Metschnikowiaceae) were obtained from plant and soil samples collected at different localities in Brazil. Analyses of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rDNA gene and phylogenomic data indicate that these isolates represent a new species within the Herm. ubatubensis clade. We propose the name Hermanozyma buritii sp. nov., f.a. to accommodate these isolates. The holotype is CBS 19561. The MycoBank number is MB864970. To further characterize this species, genome sequence data were analyzed for genes involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism and compared with those of Herm. ubatubensis , Herm. aechmeae , and other phylogenetically related yeast species with publicly available genomes from the genera Australozyma , Helenozyma , Metschnikowia , and Tanozyma . Although sporulation and other evidence of sexual reproduction were not observed, genome analyses revealed the presence of the MATα locus in the strain examined. Herm. buritii exhibited the highest diversity of mating pheromone genes among the analyzed species, with five α‐pheromone copies (two variants) and seven mf a loci encoding three distinct peptides, suggesting a potentially versatile mating system. Herm. buritii produced a red‐maroon pigment when cultivated in the presence of iron, consistent with pulcherrimin formation through the binding of pulcherriminic acid to ferric iron (Fe 3+ ). In addition, all four genes required for pulcherriminic acid biosynthesis were identified in its genome. The phenotypic characteristics of the novel species were compared with those of Herm. ubatubensis and Herm. aechmeae .