Ogataea neixiangensis sp. nov. and Ogataea paraovalis f.a., sp. nov., two methanol-assimilating yeast species isolated from rotting wood.

Four yeast strains were isolated from rotting wood samples collected in the Baotianman Nature Reserve in Henan Province, central China. The sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer regions showed that these four strains represent two different undescribed yeast species belonging to the Ogataea clade. Ogataea neixiangensis sp. nov. produces two to four hat-shaped ascospores per ascus, and its closest relative among recognized species is Candida nitratophila. Ogataea paraovalis f.a., sp. nov. is closely related to Candida ovalis but the formation of ascospores was not observed on various sporulation media. The type strain of O. neixiangensis sp. nov. (MycoBank number MB 820697) is NYNU 16951T (=CICC 33166T=CBS 14695T), and the type strain of O. paraovalis f.a., sp. nov. (MycoBank number MB 820698) is NYNU 167106T (=CICC 33168T=CBS 14697T).