Biodiversity and ecology of Australasian yeasts (fungi)

Abstract

The biodiversity and ecology of yeasts associated with natural habitats have attracted little systematic research in Australasia. Most isolations concern yeasts associated with foods and beverages such as wine, fruit juices, soft drinks, dairy products, high-sugar products and processed meats. Although these yeasts have interesting physiological and biochemical properties (e.g. xerotolerance, preservative resistance, protease and lipase activity), they are similar to species found in products in other countries. Ecological studies of yeasts associated with cactus, hibiscus, morning glory plants and associated insects of New South Wales and Queensland have revealed new species including Pichia opuntiae, Clavispora opuntiae, and Wickerhamiella australiensis, Kodamaea anthophila, Kodamaea kakaduensis, Metschnikowia hibisciand a unique predacious species of Candida. New species of Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula were isolated from soils and pasture grasses in New Zealand. Clinical isolates in the genera Candida and Cryptococcus are similar to those found overseas but Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii is uniquely associated with the red gum tree, Eucalyptus camaldulensis.