Moniliella floricola sp. nov., a species of black yeast isolated from flowers

Moniliella yeasts were isolated from flower samples collected in Vietnam using an enrichment medium containing 50 % (w/w) glucose. The yeasts were identified as M. byzovii, M. dehoogii, M. megachiliensis, M. mellis, M. nigrescens and M. spathulata. A group of 20 strains representing a hitherto undescribed species of Moniliella was detected. ITS sequences indicated the presence of four genetic variants differing from each other by 4-14 nt. The strains, however, were identical in the TEF1 sequences and shared 1-2 nt differences in the D1/D2 regions. In the ITS-D1/D2 phylogenetic tree, the strains grouped together and formed a well-supported Glade with insect-associated Moniliella species, including M. pollinis, M. megachiliensis and M. oedocephalis. The new group was most closely related to M. pollinis but differed from the latter by 95 nt (58 substitutions, 37 indels) in the ITS, 36 nt (31 substitutions, five indels) in the D1/D2, and 30 nt (30 substitutions) in the TEF1 sequences. Moniliella floricola sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate this group of isolates. The type strain and MycoBank number of M. floricola sp. nov. are TBY 30.1(T) (=CBS 12758(T) =NRRL Y-63660(T)) and MB 825274, respectively.