Co-Authors:
Abu-Ghosh, S., Department of Postharvest Science, The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Bet Dagan 50250, Israel, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel
Droby, S., Department of Postharvest Science, The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Korine, C., Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 84990, Israel, The Dead Sea and the Arava Science Center, Tamar Regional Council, Neveh Zohar 86910, Israel
Abstract:
We studied the epiphytic yeast species of the plants of the Negev Desert and the Dead Sea region, Israel, which are considered one of the most extreme hyper-arid lands in the world. For this purpose, we developed isolation protocols; we performed morphological, cultural and molecular identification tests and compared yeast diversity between the locations and the plants. The composition of the yeast populations present in the study's plants underwent seasonal fluctuations, whereas differences in community compositions were significant within sites. The maximum number of species of yeast occurred in autumn and Cryptococcus spp. were predominant year round. The isolated yeast strains showed an unusual tolerance to extreme growth conditions, such as high temperatures (up to 72% viability at 50°C), lethal hydrogen peroxide and NaCl concentrations. These results suggest that epiphytic yeasts inhabit the plants of the Dead Sea region and the Negev Desert have a community structure that is unique to the plant species and have a high tolerance to the harsh conditions that enables them to adapt to an arid ecosystem. © 2014 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.