The use of karyotyping in the systematics of yeasts

The use of electrophoretic karyotyping in systematics of yeasts is discussed. New data are provided on the karyotypes of the medically important fungi Hortaea werneckii, Filobasidiella (= Cryptococcus) neoformans, and Malassezia species. Hortaea werneckii has twelve to eighteen bands of chromosomal DNA, ranging in size between 500 and 2300 kb. The karyotypes of Filobasidiella neoformans consist of seven to fourteen bands of chromosomal DNA. The varieties neoformans and bacillispora cannot be separated by their karyotypes, and no obvious correlation was found with serotypes, geography or habitat. All strains of Malassezia pachydermatis studied have similar karyotypes consisting of five bands, whereas in M. furfur, four different karyotypes are prevalent. However, each of these karyotypes is stable.