Taxonomical Studies on Red Yeasts in El-Minia City, Egypt

227 red yeast strains were isolated from air (60 isolates), plant flowers (45 isolates), soil (40 isolates), water (37 isolates) and dairy products (45 isolates). On the basis of 33 different physiological and morphological properties, the isolated strains were assigned to 6 species belonging to 4 genera. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Cryptococcus albidus were the most dominant species among red yeasts of the air, plant flowers, water and dairy products, whereas Cryptococcus albidus and Rhodotorula glutinis were prevailed in soil. Cryptococcus laurentii was represented by considerable number of strains, whereas the other spesies were of low occurrence. Noteworthy was the isolation of 2 different groups of isolates belonging to Rhodotorula glutinis. These groups were differentiated from each other on the basis of rhamnose, cellobiose and arabinitol assimilation and growth at $37^{\circ}C$. Systematic position of Rhodotorula glutinis was discussed.