Robertozyma Q.M. Wang & F.Y. Bai gen. nov. MycoBank MB828824.

Etymology: the genus is named in honour of Dr. V. Robert for his contributions to the yeast taxonomy.

This genus is proposed for the branch represented by strain CGMCC 2.4451 which formed a separate clade. Member of the Cystobasidiales (Cystobasidiomycetes). The genus is mainly circumscribed by the phylogenetic analysis of the seven genes dataset, in which it occurred as a separate branch within the Cystobasidiales (Fig. 4).

Sexual reproduction not known. Colonies orange, butyrous. Budding cells present. Pseudohyphae and hyphae not produced. Ballistoconidia not formed.

Type species: Robertozyma ningxiaensis Q.M. Wang, F.Y. Bai & A.H. Li.

Note: Robertozyma and its closely related genera, Begerowomyces and Halobasidium, have a similar colony morphology, however, they can be distinguished by some physiological characters (Table S1.27). Robertozyma does not assimilate sucrose, melezitose, D-xylose and ethanol, whereas species of Begerowomyces and Halobasidium can use them. Begerowomyces species assimilate erythritol and galactitol, whereas species of Robertozyma and Halobasidium do not assimilate these two carbon resources.