Seven Yeast Strains Isolated from Freshwaters for the First Record in Korea

This study focused on the isolation and characterization of wild yeasts in Korea. The yeasts were identified by phylogenetically analyzing the D1/D2 domains of the 26S rDNA regions. Consequently, we identified seven strains, NNIBRFG856, NNIBRFG3732, NNIBRFG3734, NNIBRFG3738, NNIBRFG3739, NNIBRFG5497, and NNIBRFG6049, which were confirmed to be Kabatiella microsticta, Pichia membranifaciens, Candida vartiovaarae, Candida sake, Debaryomyces hansenii, Candida railenensis, and Schwanniomyces polymorphus, respectively, all of them being new in Korea. Morphological and cultural characteristics of these yeast species were investigated. None of the strains formed ascospores or pseudomycelia. Moreover, these yeasts grew in a pH range of 4–8. NNIBRFG3732, NNIBRFG3738, NNIBRFG3739, NNIBRFG5497, and NNIBRFG6049 were halotolerant or halophilic, and NNIBRFG3732, NNIBRFG3734, and NNIBRFG6049 grew in vitamin-free medium. NNIBRFG3732, NIBRFG3739, and NNIBRFG6049 grew at 35 °C, but not at 40 °C.