Yeasts Associated with Roots of the Endemic Plant Mankyua chejuense

BACKGROUND: Identification of endophytic yeasts inhabiting the internal roots of the Mankyua chejuense tree requires techniques involving biotechnology. There is a need for a culture-based method to isolate and identify yeast strains associated with M. chejuense. METHODS AND RESULTS: We spread homogenized M. chejuense root samples onto glucose-peptone- yeast agar containing antibiotics, Triton X-100, and L-sorbose. A total of 152 yeast isolates were obtained and identified via phylogenetic analysis based on ITS gene sequencing. The results revealed that the root-associated yeast species included the genera Cyberlindnera (140 isolates), Candida (11 isolates), and Kluyveromyces (one isolate). Additionally, three yeast isolates showed high bioethanol production. CONCLUSION: We identified the specific yeast community associated with M. chejuense roots. These yeast isolates may have industrial applications as bioethanol producers. Our findings revealed that Cyberlindnera isolates included C. suaverolens and C. satumus, while Kluyveromyces isolates showed high bioethanol production. KCI Citation Count: 4