Distribution and species diversity of wild yeasts isolated from flowers in Korea

Various indigenous yeasts were isolated and obtained from flowers in the Republic of Korea, and their distribution and species diversity were studied. Seventy-seven flowers were collected from 25 areas in Korea, and 502 yeast strains were isolated from these flowers. A total of 50 species were identified by comparing large subunit rDNA gene sequence homology with the type strains of yeasts. The analysis of yeast distribution showed that the dominant yeast species were Aureobasidium pullulans, A. leucospermi, and Filobasidium magnum in each region and flower samples. Except for the above three yeast species, no species of yeasts showed any meaningful distribution among the habitat regions and sources. In conclusion, 50 species of indigenous yeasts were obtained from flowers that can be used as industrial resources, and the data could be used for further research on yeast diversity and interactions between yeast and its host.