Four yeast isolates were obtained from rotting wood and galleries of passalid beetles collected in different sites of the Brazilian Amazonian Rainforest in Brazil. This yeast produces unconjugated allantoid asci each with a single elongated ascospore with curved ends. Sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer-5.8 S region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene showed that the isolates represent a novel species of the genus Spathaspora. The novel species is phylogenetically related to a subclade containing Spathaspora arborariae and Spathaspora suhii. Phylogenomic analysis based on 1884 single-copy orthologs for a set of Spathaspora species whose whole genome sequences are available confirmed that the novel species represented by strain UFMG-CM-Y285 is phylogenetically close to Sp. arborariae. The name Spathaspora marinasilvae sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the novel species. The holotype of Sp. marinasilvae is CBS 13467 T (MycoBank 852799). The novel species was able to accumulate xylitol and produce ethanol from  d-xylose, a trait of biotechnological interest common to several species of the genus Spathaspora.

Three yeast isolate candidates for a novel species were obtained from rotting wood samples collected in Brazil and Colombia. The Brazilian isolate differs from the Colombian isolates by one nucleotide substitution in each of the D1/D2 and small subunit (SSU) sequences. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor 1-α gene sequences of the three isolates were identical. A phylogenetic analysis showed that this novel species belongs to the genus Ogataea. This novel species is phylogenetically related to Candida nanaspora and Candida nitratophila. The novel species differs from C. nanaspora by seven nucleotides and two indels, and by 17 nucleotides and four indels from C. nitratophila in the D1/D2 sequences. The ITS sequences of these three species differ by more than 30 nucleotides. Analyses of the sequences of the SSU and translation elongation factor 1-α gene also showed that these isolates represent a novel species of the genus Ogataea. Different from most Ogataea species, these isolates did not assimilate methanol as the sole carbon source. The name Ogataea nonmethanolica sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The holotype of Ogataea nonmethanolica is CBS 13485T. The MycoBank number is MB 851195.

Two yeast strains (NYNU 211162 and NYNU 211275) were isolated from rotting wood collected in the Baotianman Nature Reserve, Henan Province, central China. Phylogenetic analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region revealed that the strains represent a phylogenetically distinct species within the genus Spencermartinsiella. The name Spencermartinsiella henanensis fa., sp. nov. is proposed for this species with holotype CICC 33543T (Mycobank MB 851142). S. henanensis sp. nov. differed by only 3 nt (~0.5 %) substitutions from the closest known species S. europaea NCAIM Y.01817T in the D1/D2 domain, but by 33 nt (~6 %) substitutions, 34 nt (~3.8 %) substitutions, 30 nt (~5.6 %) substitutions and 75 nt (~9.9 %) substitutions in the ITS region and the partial TEF1, COXII and RPB2 genes. Additionally, S. henanensis sp. nov. can be physiologically distinguished from S. europaea by its ability to assimilate inulin, inability to assimilate ethylamine and cadaverine, and incapability of growth at 30 °C.

Two apiculate strains (NYNU 181072 and NYNU 181083) of a bipolar budding yeast species were isolated from rotting wood samples collected in Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest in Yunnan Province, southwest PR China. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics and the results of phylogenetic analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the actin (ACT1) gene, the two strains were found to represent a single novel species of the genus Hanseniaspora, for which the name Hanseniaspora menglaensis f.a., sp. nov. (holotype CICC 33364T; MycoBank MB 847437) is proposed. In the phylogenetic tree, H. menglaensis sp. nov. showed a close relationship with Hanseniaspora lindneri, Hanseniaspora mollemarum, Hanseniaspora smithiae and Hanseniaspora valbyensis. H. menglaensis sp. nov. differed from H. lindneri, the most closely related known species, by 1.2 % substitutions in the D1/D2 domain, 2.5 % substitutions in the ITS region and 5.4 % substitutions in the ACT1 gene, respectively. Physiologically, H. menglaensis sp. nov. can also be distinguished from H. lindneri by its ability to assimilate d-gluconate.

Four isolates of Spathaspora species were recovered from rotting wood collected in two Brazilian Amazonian biomes. The isolates produced unconjugated allantoid asci with a single elongated ascospore with curved ends. Sequence analysis of the ITS-5.8S region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that the isolates represent two different novel Spathaspora species, phylogenetically related to Sp. boniae. Two isolates were obtained from rotting wood collected in two different sites of the Amazonian forest in the state of Pará. The name Spathaspora brunopereirae sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The holotype of Spathaspora brunopereirae sp. nov. is CBS 16119T (MycoBank MB846672). The other two isolates were obtained from a region of transition between the Amazonian forest and the Cerrado ecosystem in the state of Tocantins. The name Spathaspora domphillipsii sp. nov. is proposed for this novel species. The holotype of Spathaspora domphillipsii sp. nov. is CBS 14229T (MycoBank MB846697). Both species are able to convert d-xylose into ethanol and xylitol, a trait with biotechnological applications.

Two strains of a novel ascomycetous yeast species were isolated from rotting wood samples collected in Jiuxi Mountain Forest Park in Yunnan Province, southwest China. Both strains formed one or two spherical ascospores in persistent asci. Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA gene revealed that the novel strains represented a phylogenetically distinct species belonging to the genus Torulaspora. This novel species differed from the type strains of the closest known species, Torulaspora nypae and Torulaspora maleeae, by 0.9 and 1.2 % nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 domain and 5.3 and 6 % nucleotide substitutions in the ITS region, respectively. The novel species can also be distinguished from T. nypae and T. maleeae in terms of the ability to assimilate ribitol, succinate and citrate, and its ability to grow at 37 °C. The species name of Torulaspora jiuxiensis sp. nov. is proposed with holotype CBS 16004T (Mycobank MB 844535).

Six yeast isolates were obtained from rotting wood samples in Brazil and frass of a cerambycid beetle larva in French Guiana. Sequence analysis of the ITS-5.8S region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that the isolates represent a novel species of Cyberlindnera. This novel species is related to Cyberlindnera japonica, Cyberlindnera xylosilytica, Candida easanensis and Candida maesa. It is heterothallic and produces asci with two or four hat-shaped ascospores. The name Cyberlindnera dasilvae sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the novel species. The holotype of Cy. dasilvae is CBS 16129T and the designated paratype is CBS 16584. The MycoBank number is 838252. All isolates of Cy. dasilvae were able to convert xylose into xylitol with maximum xylitol production within 60 and 72 h. The isolates produced xylitol with values ranging from 12.61 to 31.79 g l-1 in yeast extract-peptone-xylose medium with 5% xylose. When the isolates were tested in sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate containing around 35-38 g l-1d-xylose, isolate UFMG-CM-Y519 showed maximum xylitol production.

Four isolates of two novel ascosporogenous species belonging to the clade Starmera were obtained from cactus tissues and rotting wood in Brazil. Results of analyses of the sequences of the ITS and D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene indicated that the two isolates of the cactophilic species are related to Starmera caribaea and Starmera pilosocereana, yeasts that are associated with cacti and require an organic source of sulfur for growth. We propose the novel species Starmera foglemanii sp. nov. (CBS 16113T; MycoBank number: MB 834400) to accommodate these isolates. The other two isolates are phylogenetically related to Candida dendrica, Candida laemsonensis and Candida berthetii, also in the Starmera clade. The novel species name Starmera ilhagrandensis sp. nov. (CBS 16316T; MycoBank number: MB 834402) is proposed for this species.

Five yeast strains were isolated from rotting wood samples collected in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest, Yunnan Province, PR China. Phylogenetic analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene indicated that these strains represent two novel species of the genus Kazachstania. Kazachstania jinghongensis sp. nov. produces one to two spherical ascospores per ascus, and is most closely related to Kazachstania lodderae and Kazachstania spencerorum. Kazachstania jinghongensis sp. nov. differed from the type strains of the two latter species by 13-24 substitutions in the D1/D2 domains and by 39-56 substitutions in the ITS regions. Kazachstania menglunensis f.a., sp. nov. is a member of the Kazachstania jiainica subclade, but the formation of ascospores was not observed on various sporulation media. Kazachstania menglunensis sp. nov. differed from other members of the subclade by 23-26 substitutions in the D1/D2 domains and by more than 67 substitutions in the ITS regions. The holotype of Kazachstania jinghongensis sp. nov. is NYNU 17944 (CBS 15232) and the holotype of Kazachstania menglunensis sp. nov. is NYNU 18913 (CBS 16054).

Three strains of a novel yeast species were isolated from rotting wood in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest, Yunnan Province, PR China. Sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions showed that the novel species represents a member of the genus Saturnispora. It differed from its closest known species, Saturnispora sekii CBS 10931T, by 1.3 % nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 domains and by 2.2 % nucleotide substitutions in the ITS regions, respectively. In contrast to Saturnispora sekii, the novel yeast species was unable to assimilate glycerol, dl-lactate, succinate and citrate, and grow at 37 °C. The name Saturnispora galanensis sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains, with NYNU 1797 as the holotype.