Kluyveromyces van der Walt (1971)

Publisher Summary This chapter studies the genus Kluyveromyces. In the determination of asexual reproduction, multilateral budding occurs on a narrow base. Cells are ovoid, ellipsoid, cylindrical, or elongate. Pseudohyphae may be formed, but true hyphae are not produced. In sexual reproduction it is seen that conjugation may or may not precede ascus formation. The ascospores are smooth, reniform, bacilliform, ellipsoidal, or spherical and tend to agglutinate after liberation. One to four ascospores are formed per ascus. In physiology and biochemistry it is seen that glucose is fermented vigorously by most species. This study further examines the phylogenetic placement. The type of species mentioned is Kluyveromyces marxianus. The species accepted are Kluyveromyces aestuarii, Kluyveromyces dobzhanskii, Kluyveromyces lactis, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Kluyveromyces nonfermentans, and Kluyveromyces wickerhamii. The systematic discussion of the species includes synonyms, growth on YM agar, growth in glucose yeast extract broth, Dalmau plate culture on corn meal agar, CoQ, Mol% G1C, gene sequence accession number, type strain, cell carbohydrates, formation of ascospores, origin of the strains studied, complementary mating types, systematics, ecology, biotechnology, agriculture and food, and clinical importance.