During studies on the endophytic yeast communities associated with fruits from Vietnam, three fermenting yeast strains were isolated from fruits of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the ITS regions and D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that these strains represented a single species of the Yamadazyma clade that was distinct from the other related species. The new species represented a basal branch of the clade formed by the Yamadazyma species i.e. Y. insecticola and Y. takamatsuzukensis. Based on the phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic characteristics, the studied strains were assigned to a novel species of the genus Yamadazyma, for which the name Yamadazyma cocois f.a., sp. nov. is proposed. The holotype is VCIM 4241, with the ex-type cultures VTCC 920004=VKM Y-3049=KBP Y-6091 code 17-68. The MycoBank number is MB 834435.
Keywords: Cocos nucifera; Yamadazyma; new yeast species.