Yeasts in the Flowers of Wild Fleabane [Erigeron annus (L.) Pers.]

BACKGROUND: Yeasts associated with fleabane flowers were identified using isolation methods previously applied in yeast biotechnology. A culture-based approach was required for isolation of many yeast strains associated with fleabane. METHODS AND RESULTS: We spread homogenized fleabane flowers onto GPY medium containing chloramphenicol, streptomycin, Triton X-100, and Lsorbose. We isolated 79 yeast strains from the flowers of wild fleabane, and identified the yeasts via phylogenetic analysis of isolates from agar plates. The yeast species included 39 isolates of Aureobasidium pullulans, 17 of the genus Candida, 14 of the genus Rhodosporidium, 6 of the genus Cryptococcus, and 3 of the genus Rhodotorula. CONCLUSION: Yeast isolates associated with fleabane flowers included A. pullulans (39 isolates) and other yeast species (40 isolates). Such yeast isolates may have biotechnological potential.