Rhodotorula

Taxobox
name = "Rhodotorula"
regnum = Fungi
phylum = Basidiomycota
classis = Urediniomycetes
ordo = Sporidiales
familia = Sporidiobolaceae
genus = "Rhodotorula"
genus_authority = Harrison, 1927
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "R. glutinis"
* "R. minuta"
* "R. mucilaginosa"

Rhodotorula is a pigmented yeast, part of the Basidiomycota phylum, easily identifiable by distinctive orange/red colonies when grown on SDA (Sabaroud's Dextrose Agar). This distinctive colour is the result of pigments that the yeast creates to block out certain wavelengths of light that would otherwise be damaging to the cell. Colony colour can vary from being cream coloured to orange/red/pink or yellow.

"Rhodotorula" is a common environmental inhabitant. It can be cultured from soil, water, and air samples. It is able to scavenge nitrogenous compounds from its environment remarkably well, growing even in air which has been carefully cleaned of any fixed nitrogen contaminants. In such conditions, the nitrogen content of the dry weight of "Rhodotorula" can drop as low as 1%, compared to around 14% for most bacteria growing in normal conditions. [Postgate, John: "The Outer Reaches of Life", page 132-134. Cambridge University Press, 1994]

External links

* [http://www.doctorfungus.org/thefungi/Rhodotorula.htm Rhodotorula at the Dr. Fungus Website]

Notes