Five arthroconidium-producing yeast strains representing a novel Trichosporon-like species were
independently isolated from the UK, Hungary and Norway. Two strains (Bio4T and Bio21) were
isolated from biogas reactors used for processing grass silage, with a third strain (S8) was
isolated from soil collected at the same UK site. Two additional strains were isolated in mainland
Europe, one from soil in Norway (NCAIM Y.02175) and the other from sewage in Hungary
(NCAIM Y.02176). Sequence analyses of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene and
internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicated that the novel species belongs to the recently
reinstated genus Apiotrichum and is most closely related to Apiotrichum scarabaeorum, a
beetle-associated species first found in South Africa. Despite having similar physiological
characteristics, the two species can be readily distinguished from one another by ITS
sequencing. The species name Apiotrichum terrigenum sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate
these strains, with Bio4T (=CBS 11373T=NCYC 3540T) designated as the type strain. The
Mycobank deposit number is MB817431.