Observations on the Yeast Lipomyces

Abstract

IN 1946, Starkey¹ isolated and described a soil yeast characterized by a peculiar method of spore formation after a relatively long period of growth on solid medium. Large, round vegetative cells containing fat globules gave rise to irregularly shaped protuberances in which were afterwards formed 4–16 or more lightly pigmented spores. Lodder and Kregervan Rij² considered these spores to be ascospores and erected the genus Lipomyces to include this yeast (L. starkeyi) as well as another soil yeast (L. lipofer) which had originally been described as a Torula. The two species were distinguished primarily on the basis of lactose assimilation, L. starkeyi lacking this ability. Neither species is capable of fermentation, and hitherto germination of the spores has not been observed.