The occurrence and distribution of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous associated with Cyttaria hariotii parasitizing three Nothofagus species (N. dombeyi, N. antarctica and N. pumilio) in northwestern Patagonia (Argentina), as well as the factors that may affect this distribution were herein studied. Between 2000 and 2007, samples were obtained from 18 different locations. Based on physiological tests and morphological characteristics of sexual structures, 72 isolates were identified as X. dendrorhous. Representative strains were studied by MSP-PCR fingerprinting and sequence analysis of the ITS region. MSP-PCR fingerprints were similar for the newly isolated strains, and were also identical to the profiles of the strains previously found in this region. Patagonian strains appear to be a genetically uniform and distinct population, supporting the hypothesis that the association with different host species has determined genetically distinct X. dendrorhous populations worldwide. X. dendrorhous was recovered from N. dombeyi and N. antarctica. Approximately half the sampling sites and samples were positive for X. dendrorhous, but the isolation recovery rate was low. X. dendrorhous was absent in the early stages of ascostromata maturation, becoming more abundant in later stages. The present work represents a step forward in the understanding of the natural distribution and ecology of this biotechnologically relevant yeast.

Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (Phaffia rhodozyma) asociado a estromas de Cyttaria hariotii en bosques de Nothofagus en el noroeste de la Patagonia. Se estudió la ocurrencia y la distribución de Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous asociado a Cyttaria hariotii en tres especies de Nothofagus (N. dombeyi, N. antarctica y N. pumilio) del noroeste de la Patagonia (Argentina), y los factores que podrían afectar esta distribución. El muestreo se realizó entre 2000 y 2007 en 18 sitios diferentes. Según las pruebas fisiológicas y las características morfológicas de las estructuras sexuales, 72 de los aislamientos obtenidos se identificaron como X. dendrorhous. Se estudiaron cepas representativas mediante la técnica de MSP-PCR fingerprinting y secuenciación de la región ITS. Los perfiles de MSP-PCR fueron similares, tanto entre los nuevos aislamientos como entre estos y los de cepas previamente obtenidas en la región. Aparentemente, las cepas patagónicas forman una población genéticamente uniforme y distinta de otras poblaciones. Esto apoya la hipótesis de que la asociación con diferentes especies hospedadoras ha determinado la diferenciación genética de X. dendrorhous en todo el mundo. X. dendrorhous se recuperó de N. dombeyi y de N. antarctica. Aproximadamente la mitad de los sitios de muestreo y de muestras fueron positivos para X. dendrorhous, pero la tasa de aislamiento fue muy baja. X. dendrorhous está ausente en estadios tempranos de maduración de ascostromas y se hace más abundante en estadios más tardíos. El presente trabajo contribuye al mejor entendimiento de la distribución natural y la ecología de esta levadura, de relevancia biotecnológica.

The diversity of yeasts collected from different sites in Antarctica (Admiralty Bay, King George Island and Port Foster Bay and Deception Island) and their ability to produce extracellular enzymes and mycosporines were studied. Samples were collected during the austral summer season, between November 2006 and January 2007, from the rhizosphere of Deschampsia antarctica, ornithogenic (penguin guano) soil, soil, marine and lake sediments, marine water and freshwater from lakes. A total of 89 isolates belonging to the following genera were recovered: Bensingtonia, Candida, Cryptococcus, Debaryomyces, Dioszegia, Exophiala, Filobasidium, Issatchenkia (Pichia), Kodamaea, Leucosporidium, Leucosporidiella, Metschnikowia, Nadsonia, Pichia, Rhodotorula, and Sporidiobolus, and the yeast-like fungi Aureobasidium, Leuconeurospora and Microglossum. Cryptococcus victoriae was the most frequently identified species. Several species isolated in our study have been previously reported to be Antarctic psychophilic yeasts, including Cr. antarcticus, Cr. victoriae, Dioszegia hungarica and Leucosporidium scottii. The cosmopolitan yeast species A. pullulans, C. zeylanoides, D. hansenii, I. orientalis, K. ohmeri, P. guilliermondii, Rh. mucilaginosa, and S. salmonicolor were also isolated. Five possible new species were identified. Sixty percent of the yeasts had at least one detectable extracellular enzymatic activity. Cryptococcus antarcticus, D. aurantiaca, D. crocea, D. hungarica, Dioszegia sp., E. xenobiotica, Rh. glaciales, Rh. laryngis, Microglossum sp. 1 and Microglossum sp. 2 produced mycosporines. Of the yeast isolates, 41.7% produced pigments and/or mycosporines and could be considered adapted to survive in Antarctica. Most of the yeasts had extracellular enzymatic activities at 4ºC and 20ºC, indicating that they could be metabolically active in the sampled substrates.

Yeasts have been associated with mankind from early ages. Among these, fermentative yeasts played the most relevant role, due to its importance in the food industry. The biotechnological implications of these yeasts have been extensively studied. However there is a lack of information about its distribution in nature and ecology. In this study samples of Cyttaria hariotii, ascomycete fungus parasite of trees of the genus Nothofagus, were collected in Nahuel Huapi National Park (Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina). 72 isolates were obtained using a selective culture medium with 8% ethanol. Identification of the isolates was based on morphological and physiological tests, and then sorted into five groups. Three groups were assigned to the genera Saccharomyces, Pichia and Kloeckera respectively. The Saccharomyces group was the prevailing one, and was sorted into three subgroups. Two of them were related to S. bayanus and /or S. uvarum. All the isolates were psychrotolerant and the maximum growth temperature ranged between 35 and 37 _C. This work contributes to the knowledge of the biodiversity of yeasts in the region and represents the first massive isolation of Saccharomyces yeasts in natural environments of Patagonia.

Las levaduras han estado asociadas al hombre desde épocas muy tempranas. Entre estas se destacan las fermentadoras debido a su importancia en la industria de los alimentos. Las implicancias biotecnológicas de estas levaduras han sido extensamente estudiadas, sin embargo la distribución en la naturaleza y la ecología de estas no se encuentra igualmente documentada. El presente estudio se realizó en el Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi (Noroeste Patagónico, Argentina) sobre Cyttaria hariotii, hongo ascomicético parásito de árboles del género Nothofagus. Mediante el uso de un medio selectivo con etanol 8 % se obtuvieron 72 aislamientos. Los mismos fueron ordenados en cinco grupos en base a pruebas morfológicas y fisiológicas, tres de los cuales fueron asignados a los géneros Saccharomyces, Pichia y Kloeckera. El grupo Saccharomyces presentó el mayor número de aislamientos y se subdividió en tres subgrupos, dos de ellos presentan alta afinidad con S. bayanus y/ó S. uvarum. La totalidad de los aislamientos fueron psicrotolerantes y la temperatura máxima de crecimiento osciló entre 35 y 37 _C. El presente trabajo contribuye al conocimiento de la biodiversidad de levaduras de la Patagonia y representa el primer aislamiento masivo de levaduras sacaromicéticas en ambientes naturales de la región.

Yeast biodiversity at the acid aquatic environment of the Agrio River and Caviahue Lake was studied. All water samples analyzed contained yeasts in variable concentrations (25 - 1192 UFC L-1). 202 yeasts strains were isolated and on the basis of morphological and physiological studies were assigned to five genera: Candida, Cryptococcus, Cystofilobasidium, Rhodotorula and Sporobolomyces. Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula were the most abundant genera, comprising the 98% of the isolated yeast strains. The results of the tests mentioned above suggested the existence of at least eighteen different yeast species. This work provides the first quantitative and qualitative data on yeasts from an aquatic acid environment of natural origin in Argentina.

Se estudió la biodiversidad de levaduras presente en el ambiente acuático ácido del Río Agrio y el Lago Caviahue. En todas las muestras de agua analizadas se encontraron levaduras en concentraciones variables (25 - 1192 UFC L-1). Fueron aisladas un total de 202 cepas de levaduras, las cuales en base a estudios morfológicos y fisiológicos fueron asignadas a cinco géneros: Candida, Cryptococcus, Cystofilobasidium, Rhodotorula y Sporobolomyces. Los géneros Cryptococcus y Rhodotorula fueron los más abundantes, correspondiendo ambos al 98% del total de las levaduras aisladas. Asimismo, los resultados de las pruebas antes mencionadas sugieren la existencia de al menos dieciocho especies. Este trabajo representa el primer registro cuantitativo y cualitativo de levaduras de un ambiente acuático ácido de origen natural de la Argentina.