ABSTRACT

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the microorganisms most appreciated by humans because of its utility in the production of food and drinks, but there are numerous kinds and amounts of yeasts that are not well-characterized in various environments. Recent studies on yeast biodiversity have given more attention to insect ecosystems, because most insects have intimate mutualistic symbiosis with microorganisms including yeasts. This means insects enjoy the benefits of symbionts and their functions, which implies such associated microbes may have properties also useful for human use. Thus, understanding of the diversity and features of yeasts associated with insects is not only essential to elucidate the ecology and evolution of insect-microbial symbiosis but also has great potential for the development of innovative biotechnological tools. In this chapter, we review some cases that display characteristic biochemical or chemical ecological interactions among insects and associated yeasts, particularly those that are found in the phyllosphere and offer significant benefits for insect partners.