Pichia heedii
Encyclopedia
Pichia heedii is a species of yeast
in the family Saccharomycetaceae
. Described in 1978, it was found growing on a dead senita cactus plant (Lophocereus schottii) in the Sonoran Desert
of Baja California
, Mexico. The species was named to honor William B. Heed and his contributions to the study of desert-adapted yeasts.
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
in the family Saccharomycetaceae
Saccharomycetaceae
The Saccharomycetaceae are a family of yeast in the order Saccharomycetales that reproduce by budding. Species in the family have a cosmopolitan distribution distribution, and are present in a wide variety of habitats, especially those with a plentiful supply of carbohydrate sources...
. Described in 1978, it was found growing on a dead senita cactus plant (Lophocereus schottii) in the Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
of Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico. The species was named to honor William B. Heed and his contributions to the study of desert-adapted yeasts.