A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MARINE AND TERRESTRIAL STRAINS OF RHODOTORULA

Yeasts of the genus Rhodotorula obtained from subtropical marine environments were classified by comparing them critically with type and authentic cultures. No distinctive metabolic differences ascribable to environmental influence were observed in comparing marine and terrestrial isolates. Identifications of species were based on requirements for vitamins, ability to assimilate selected carbohydrates, and capacity to utilize nitrate nitrogen. The difficulties encountered in delimiting species by relying entirely on established metabolic characteristics are presented. Recharacterization of available type cultures indicates the existence of synonymy and the occurrence of divergent metabolic strains within recognized species.