Yeast communities structure in fruits of different native plant species of brazilian Cerrado

In this study, we evaluated the occurrence and diversity of endophytic and total (endophytic + epiphytic) yeasts in fruits of seven Cerrado native plant species in two Conservation Units from the Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil. Healthy and mature fruits were collected for the isolation of yeasts using MYGP medium. After five days, the colonies were counted and the morphologically distinct yeasts were isolated axenic culture. The molecular identification of the isolates was performed using ITS region (rDNA). A total of 69 specimens of yeasts were isolated. The Guapira graciliflora (endophytic) and Ouratea hexasperma (total) hosts had higher yeast densities per gram of fruit and together with the Brosimum gaudichaudii showed higher species diversity. Yeasts belonging to the Ascomycota Phylum were predominant. The most frequent genera of yeasts were Candida, Aureobasidium and Hannaella. Others genera such as Hanseniaspora, Meyerozyma, Filobasidium, Cryptococcus, Symmetrospora, Sirobasidium, Meira, Rhodosporidiobolus, Papiliotrema and Erythrobasidium were identified. This is the first report of the occurrence of endophytic yeasts in fruits of G. graciliflora and represents the host with greater density and diversity of species of endophytic yeasts. In addition, expands the knowledge about the occurrence of yeasts associated with the fruits of seven native plant species of the Cerrado.