Rhodotorula
Encyclopedia
Rhodotorula is a pigmented yeast
, part of the Basidiomycota
phylum, quite easily identifiable by distinctive orange/red colonies
when grown on SDA (Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar
). This distinctive colour is the result of pigment
s 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.
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...
, part of the Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota is one of two large phyla that, together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya within the Kingdom Fungi...
phylum, quite easily identifiable by distinctive orange/red colonies
Colony (biology)
In biology, a colony reference to several individual organisms of the same species living closely together, usually for mutual benefit, such as stronger defense or the ability to attack bigger prey. Some insects live only in colonies...
when grown on SDA (Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar
Sabouraud agar
Sabouraud agar is a type of agar containing peptones. It is used to cultivate dermatophytes and other types of fungi.It was created by, and is named after, Raymond Sabouraud in 1892...
). This distinctive colour is the result of pigment
Pigment
A pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.Many materials selectively absorb...
s 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.