Morphological characteristics and molecular-genetic identification of carotenesynthesiring yeast-like fungi

Abstract

Strains of yeast-like fungi – sources of carotenoids were isolated from natural sources. Based on morphological examination of yeast colonies and cells and nucleotide sequence analysis of 18S rRNA genes strains were referred to genera Cystofilobasidium, Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Sporobolomyces, Rhodosporidiobolus. Two new genera of yeast-like fungi (Cystofilobasidium, Rhodosporidiobolus) and three new species (Rhodosporidium azoricum, Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae, Rhodotorula graminis) were entered in to the stock of Belarusian collection of non-pathogenic microorganisms. Selected strains may be potentially used in biotechnological manufacturing of carotene-containing food and feed additives.