ABSTRACT
The genus Debaryomyces comprises generalist species of salt- and cold-tolerant ascomycetous yeasts able to colonize extreme environments, diverse ecological niches (e.g., soil, fruits, seawater, plants, insects, and air) and also the base of Arctic polythermal glaciers as well as a variety of fermented food products. 1,2 The most representative species is Debaryomyces hansenii with its anamorph Candida famata. D. hansenii is extremophilic, due to its osmo-, xero-, and halo-tolerance, showing remarkable phenotypic plasticity and robust genotypes that allow it to persist in highly contrasting environments without needing to adapt to local conditions. D. hansenii is the most frequently encountered species of the genus in extreme cold, dry, salty, acidic, and deep-sea habitats. 1–4
