Metschnikowiaceae

The Metschnikowiaceae are a family of yeasts in the order Saccharomycetales that reproduce by budding. The family comprises sixteen genera including the type genus Metschnikowia, which is commonly found in floral nectar and dispersed by pollinators on all continents except Antarctica. Originally proposed in 1900 but not validly published until 2013, the family has undergone significant taxonomic revision based on genome-scale studies, leading to the establishment of thirteen new genera in 2024 to better reflect evolutionary relationships. Members are characterized by multilateral budding, often elongated asci, and narrow thread-like ascospores, and they inhabit diverse environments including marine settings, decaying plant material, and especially flower nectar where they can influence pollinator behavior by altering nectar chemistry.

==Taxonomy== The yeast family Metschnikowiaceae is typified by the genus Metschnikowia. The name itself goes back to Franciszek Kamieński, who used "Metschnikowiaceae" in 1900, but that publication did not meet the requirements for valid publication under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (it lacked an acceptable description or diagnosis, so it is treated as invalid under Art. 38.1(a) of the Shenzhen Code). The family was later validly established by Alexander Doweld in 2013.