Ogataea pignaliae sp. nov., the teleomorph of Candida pignaliae.

Six ascosporulating Candida pignaliae strains were isolated from epigeal plant parts in Hungary. They share identical D1/D2 LSU rRNA gene sequences with the type strain of C. pignaliae, and the physiological characteristics investigated are also very similar to that of the type strain. The only substantial difference compared to the type strain of C. pignaliae is their ability to assimilate β-glucosides (cellobiose, salicin and arbutin). The majority of the isolation sources of the strains reported in this study have the common feature of containing tannic acid, while the type strain of C. pignaliae was recovered from tanning fluid. We were able to induce ascosporulation also in the type strain of C. pignaliae. Therefore, Ogataea pignaliae Péter, Tornai-Lehoczki & Dlauchy sp. nov. is proposed as the teleomorph of C. pignaliae (F. H. Jacob) S. A. Meyer & Yarrow. The type strain is CBS 6071(T).