Three strains representing a novel yeast species were isolated from rotten wood samples collected in Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest in Yunnan Province, PR China. Sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions indicated that the novel species represented a member of the genus Deakozyma. The novel species was related most closely to the type strain of Deakozyma indianensis but they differed by 5.8 % sequence divergence (20 substitutions and 5 gaps) in the D1/D2 domain and by 12.2 % sequence divergence (27 substitutions and 15 gaps) in the ITS region. Interestingly, the novel yeast species was able to ferment glucose and sucrose in Durham tubes, a clear difference from its closest relative D. indianensis, the type species of the genus Deakozyma. The species name of Deakozyma yunnanensis sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains, with NYNU 16742T (=CICC 33160T=CBS 14688T) designated the type strain. As the current description of the genus does not allow the inclusion of sugar fermenting species, the emendation of the diagnosis of the genus Deakozyma Kurtzman and Robnett is proposed.