Cryptococcus terrestris sp. nov., a tremellaceous, anamorphic yeast phylogenetically related to Cryptococcus flavescens

Cryptococcus terrestris sp. nov. (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycotina, Tremellomycetes, Tremellales) is typified by CJDX4 Y23(T) (=CBS 10810(T) =NRRL Y-48451(T)), isolated from forest soil in Oklahoma, USA. This species is most readily identified by the sequence of the D1/D2 domain region of the 26S rDNA and ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region. Additional strains from Oklahoma (C107DX4 Y11 =CBS 10813 =NRRL Y-48452) and Brazil (Ep11c =CBS 10812 =NRRL Y-48454; 56e =CBS 10811 =NRRL Y-48453) either had identical sequences or differed minimally. C. terrestris differs physiologically from the most closely related species, Cryptococcus flavescens, by the weak or delayed assimilation of ribose and salicin, and differs from Cryptococcus aureus by the utilization of nitrate and nitrite and growth in vitamin-free medium.