Insights into the ecology of Schizosaccharomyces species in natural and artificial habitats

Abstract

AbstractThe fission yeast genusSchizosaccharomycescontains important model organisms for biological research. In particular,S. pombeis a widely used model eukaryote. So far little is known about the natural and artificial habitats of species in this genus. Finding out whereS. pombeand other fission yeast species occur and how they live in their habitats can promote better understanding of their biology. Here we investigate in which substratesS. pombe,S. octosporus,S. osmophilusandS. japonicusare present. To this end about 2100 samples consisting of soil, tree sap fluxes, fresh fruit, dried fruit, honey, cacao beans, molasses and other substrates were analyzed. Effective isolation methods that allow efficient isolation of the above mentioned species were developed. Based on the frequency of isolating different fission yeast species in various substrates and on extensive literature survey, conclusions are drawn on their ecology. The results suggest that the primary habitat ofS. pombeandS. octosporusis honeybee honey. Both species were also frequently detected on certain dried fruit like raisins, mango or pineapple to which they could be brought by the honey bees during ripening or during drying. WhileS. pombewas regularly isolated from grape mash and from fermented raw cacao beansS. octosporuswas never isolated from fresh fruit. The main habitat ofS. osmophilusseems to be solitary bee beebread. It was rarely isolated from raisins.S. japonicuswas mainly found in forest substrates although it occurs on fruit and in fruit fermentations, too.