Candida adriatica sp. nov. and Candida molendinolei sp. nov., two yeast species isolated from olive oil and its by-products
Thirteen strains isolated from virgin olive oil or its by-products in several Mediterranean countries were found to be phenotypically and genetically divergent from currently recognized yeast species. Sequence analysis of the large subunit (LSU) rDNA D1/D2 domain and internal transcribed spacer regions/5.8S rDNA revealed that the strains represented two novel species described as Candida adriatica sp. nov. (type strain ZIM 2334T = CBS 12504T = NCAIM Y.02001T) and Candida molendinolei sp. nov. (type strain DBVPG 5508T = CBS 12508T = NCAIM Y.02000T). Phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated sequences of the small subunit rRNA gene, the D1/D2 region of the LSU rDNA and the translation elongation factor-1α gene suggested that C. adriatica sp. nov. and C. molendinolei sp. nov. should be placed within the Lindnera and Nakazawaea clades, respectively.