ITS sequence and electrophoretic karyotype comparisons of Candida ethanolica with Pichia deserticola and Candida odintsovae with Pichia rabaulensis

The large subunit (26S) ribosomal DNA D1/D2 domain sequences are available for almost all currently recognized yeast species These sequence data have been increasingly used in yeast species identification. Previous studies have shown that strains with greater than 1% substitution in the D1/D2 domain usually represent separate species. The ITS region has also been proved to be a useful region for yeast taxonomy with similar intra-specific variations However, recent studies have found that yeast species with similar or identical D1/D2 sequences may have quite different electrophoretic karyotypes or ITS data Combined analysis of the D1/D2 and ITS regions for yeast species identification has been recommended