High yeast diversity in primeval forest of Shennongjia, including 21 new species characterized by morphological, phylogenetic, and genomic analyses

A groundbreaking study reveals Shennongjia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in China's Hubei Province, as a hotspot for yeast diversity. Researchers identified 161 yeast species from 4,451 isolates, including 21 newly discovered species and 43 new taxonomic combinations. This discovery significantly expands the global record of yeast biodiversity, highlighting Shennongjia's unique ecological significance. The study employed enrichment cultures at varying temperatures to isolate primarily ascomycetous yeasts, followed by morphological, phylogenetic, and genomic analyses. These findings underscore the region's rich microbial diversity and its importance for further conservation efforts.

Qiu, Y., Zhu, H., Zhu, Q., Yang, L., Mao, Y., Wen, Z., Chen, S., Qiu, J., Bai, F., & Han, P. (2025). High yeast diversity in primeval forest of Shennongjia, including 21 new species characterized by morphological, phylogenetic, and genomic analyses. Mycosphere, 16(1), 4723–4782. https://doi.org/10.5943/mycosphere/16/1/35