Four new species of Metschnikowia and the transfer of seven Candida species to Metschnikowia and Clavispora as new combinations.

From comparisons of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and gene sequences for nuclear D1/D2 LSU rRNA, nuclear SSU (18S) rRNA, translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α) and RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (RPB2), the following four new ascosporogenous yeast species were resolved and are described as Metschnikowia anglica (NRRL Y-7298T [type strain], CBS 15342, MycoBank MB 823167), Metschnikowia leonuri (NRRL Y-6546T , CBS 15341, MB 823166), Metschnikowia peoriensis (NRRL Y-5942T , CBS 15345, MB 823164) and Metschnikowia rubicola (NRRL Y-6064T , CBS 15344, MB 823165). The following six species of Candida are members of the Metschnikowia clade and are proposed for transfer to Metschnikowia as new combinations: Candida chrysomelidarum (NRRL Y-27749T , CBS 9904, MB 823223), Candida gelsemii (NRRL Y-48212T , CBS 10509, MB 823192), Candida kofuensis (NRRL Y-27226T , CBS 8058, MB 823195), Candida picachoensis (NRRL Y-27607T , CBS 9804, MB 823197), Candida pimensis (NRRL Y-27619T , CBS 9805, MB 823205) and Candida rancensis (NRRL Y-48702T , CBS 8174, MB 823224). Candida fructus (NRRL Y-17072T , CBS 6380, MB 823206) is transferred to Clavispora as a new combination, and Candida musae is shown to be a synonym of C. fructus. Apparent multiple alleles for ITS, D1/D2, EF1-α and RPB2 were detected in strains of some species.