Daily and seasonal variations ofAlternaria andCladosporium airborne spores in León (North-West, Spain)

The spores ofAlternaria andCladosporium are present throughout the year in the atmosphere of León (NW Spain), although they show an important seasonal variation. To understand the relationship between the number of spores and climatic factors,Alternaria andCladosporium spores counts for January 1994 to December 1995 were examined by means of correlation analyses. The results of weekly samples of both years showed that the spores concentration of two taxa are significantly and positively correlated with maximum and minimum temperature and sunshine hours and negatively with relative humidity. The statistical analysis of daily samples generally showed the same results. In the hourly distribution of spore concentrations we can see a similar behaviour ofAlternaria andCladosporium, with most spores collected in the 12–14 h period.     

Scanning electron microscopic observation of resting spore clusters ofPolymyxa spp.

Resting spore clusters ofPolymyxa graminis andP. betae, fungal vectors of virus diseases, were observed using the scanning electron microscope. The spore clusters in host plant cells were uncovered using the styrene resin cracking method. Resting spores ofP. graminis were found to be spherical, whileP. betae spores were more irregular in shape.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of the dominant plant species in primary successional volcanic deserts on the Southeast slope of Mount Fuji

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization was observed on four plant species in primary successional volcanic deserts on the Southeast slope of Mount Fuji. The AM colonization of the dominant species, Polygonum cuspidatum, contradicts the conclusion that Polygonaceae are often regarded as being non-mycorrhizal species. The secondary dominant species, Polygonum weyrichii var. alpinum, formed no mycorrhizas. The roots of Cirsium purpuratum, Clematis stans and Campanula punctata ssp. hondoensis, showed a higher percentage of AM colonization than P. cuspidatum. AM colonization and spore density in the rhizosphere soil of P. cuspidatum significantly decreased as elevation increased. AM colonization in roots of Cirsium purpuratum and Clematis stans also tended to decrease with increased altitudes. Cirsium purpuratum and Campanula punctata ssp. hondoensis formed single structural types of Arum- and Paris-type, respectively, whereas P. cuspidatum and Clematis stans formed both Arum- and Paris-type morphologies.     

Ascospore formation and morphology in two species of the genusErysiphe remaining immature on the living host plant

Erysiphe cumminsiana andE. galeopsidis, which have immature asci in the current season, have been recorded from Japan, but the ascospores of both fungi have not been described. In the present experiments, some observations before and after overwintering were made on the cleistothecia ofE. cumminsiana on three species ofCacalia and two species ofLigularia, andE. galeopsidis onGeranium thunbergii. After overwintering, the former fungus developed six to eight, rarely four spores in an ascus and the latter fungus always four spores in an ascus. Their teleomorphic characteristics including those of ascospores are also described.     

Pollination of sevenPlectranthus spp. (Lamiaceae) in southern Natal, South Africa

The genusPlectranthus (Lamiaceae) shows remarkable radiation on the sandstones of southern Natal and northern Transkei in South Africa, where six endemic species occur. Two of these endemic species,P. hilliardiae andP. oribiensis, are included in this study, as well asP. reflexus, for which only limited data are available. The other species that were studied areP. ambiguus, P. ciliatus, P. ecklonii, P. madagascariensis andP. zuluensis. Four of these taxa,P. ambiguus, P. hilliardiae, P. reflexus andP. saccatus var.longitubus, have uniquely long corolla-tubes (20–30mm) and this is related to pollination by nemestrinid flies of the genusStenobasipteron that have proboscides of similar length. Other nemestrinid species of the genusProsoeca have shorter proboscides and pollinate two species ofPlectranthus with shorter corolla-tube lengths (6–15mm). Acrocerid flies, tabanid flies and anthophorid bees are also important visitors to these species. This study on the pollination of seven species of varying corolla-tube lengths shows a correlation between floral tube length and proboscis length of insect visitors, many of which are recorded for the first time as pollinators ofPlectranthus.     

The taxonomy of some Swartzieae (Leguminosae, subfam. Papilionoideae) from southeastern brazil

Three new species of Swartzieae are described and illustrated:Swartzia alternifoliolata, S. capixabensis, andZollernia cowanii. Swartzia apetala var.blanchetii and var.subcordata are considered to be synonyms ofS. apetala var.apetala, andS. grazielana a synonym ofS. macrostachya var.macrostachya. Keys to southeastern Brazil members ofSwartzia andZollernia are provided.     

Nutritional physiology of type isolates of currently accepted species ofExophiala andPhaeococcomyces

Nutritional physiological and tolerance tests were performed for all type strains of species currently classified in the black yeast generaExophiala andPhaeococcomyces, including some additional type strains of taxa recently reidentified asExophiala species. Most describedExophiala species can be distinguished by physiological characters.Exophiala jeanselmei with its varieties, andE. castellanii should all be retained as separate taxa. The pairs of strainsMycotorula schawii/Exophiala dermatitidis, Hormodendrum negronii/Exophiala jeanselmei var.lecaniicorni andSporotrichum gougerotii/Torula bergeri were found to be conspecific. Phenetic analyses of physiological data support the identity ofPhaeococcomyces exophialae as a yeast-like synanamorph ofExophiala spinifera. The taxonomic positions of the generaNadsoniella, Phaeoannellomyces andWangiella are discussed. The generaExophiala andPhaeococcomyces are unrelated.     

Electrophoretic evidence for the origins of tetraploids and hybrids ofSphenomeris chinensis sensu lato (Lindsaeaceae) in Japan

Hypotheses for the origins of tetraploids and hybrids ofSphenomeris chinensis sensu lato in Japan were tested using electrophoretic analysis of isozymes. Comparison of banding patterns supported the hypothesis that plants having abortive spores had resulted following hybridization between diploidS. chinensis var.chinensis andS. biflora and between diploid var.chinensis andS. gracilis. Results from isozymic analyses also revealed thatS. intermedia probably originated through allotetraploid speciation following hybridization between var.chinensis andS. biflora. There were two electrophoretic variants among tetraploids ofS. chinensis. One variant, restricted to the southern Ryukyu Islands, is probably an allotetraploid of hybrid origin between diploidS. chinensis andS. gracilis. It has been described as a new species,S. yaeyamensis Lin, Kato & K. Iwatsuki. The other variant, morphologically corresponding to var.chinensis, is distributed at least throughout southern Japan and also in northern Thailand. Its origin is uncertain, but one of the parents is probably diploidS. chinensis. Sphenomeris intermedia andS. yaeyamensis occur inland, whereas the parentalS. biflora andS. gracilis are halophilous and rheophllous, respectively.     

Distinction in morphology and esterase isozyme betweenEupatorium glehni (=E. chinense subsp.sachalinense) andE. chinense var.oppositifolium (compositae)

The taxonomic status ofEupatorium chinese var.oppositofolium andE. glehni (=E. chinense subsp.sachalinense) inE. chinense complex semsu Kitamura has long been controversial. In this paper, the degree of divergence between diploids of these two taxa was examined by means of morphological studies including principal component analysis, the electrophoretic analysis of esterase isozyme variation and observations on habitats. The data obtained through the examinations indicate these two taxa are diverged enough to be recognized as distinct biological species. Since the polyploidE. chinense var.oppositifolium is more or less intermediate in morphology between the two diploid taxa, it is considered to have masked the distinction between the two diploid taxa. Also, electrophoretic evidence suggests that polyploidE. chinense var.oppositifolium is not a hybrid or hybrid derivative withE. glehni as a parental species. Possible origin of polyploidE. chinense varoppositifolium is also discussed.     

Karyology of theScorzonera (Compositae) species from the Iberian Peninsula

A karyological study of 15 taxa ofScorzonera L. from the Iberian Peninsula has been made. The chromosome numbers found inS. hispanica var.pinnatifida, S. baetica, S. reverchonii, S. angustifolia, S. laciniata var.calcitrapifolia and var.subulata (2n = 14) are new. Diploid cytotypes with 2n = 14 and 2n = 12 prevail, andS. hispanica var.crispatula is the only taxon which exhibits autopolyploidy (2n = 14, 28). x = 7 is considered to be the base chromosome number within the genus, with x = 6 being derived from it by translocation. This and detailed karyotype analyses allow to group the Iberian Peninsula species ofScorzonera into three groups.     

Three new species and a new combination in the genusTorulomyces from soil

Seven isolates ofTorulomyces from Asian and Australian soil samples were studied in comparison with known taxa of the genus and withMonocillium indicum, the type species ofMonocillium. Three new species,Torulomyces parviverrucosus, T. laevis, andT. ovatus, are described, andT. brunneus is described as a new combination. Conidial characteristics, especially their shape and surface structure, are useful taxonomic criteria for distinguishing species ofTorulomyces. Monocillium is considered to be a distinct genus.     

Fusarium andDidymella-neglected spores in the air

Summary This paper reports about the occurence ofFusarium- andDidymella spores in the air of Essen/FRG. During the spore season 1990, the spore concentration was measured on several days with a volumetric pollen trap by hourly analysis. The calculated amount of spores per hour is compared to the data of a pluviometer and the values of the relative humidity during the same period.The occurence of both spore types in the air and high relative humidity (>80%) are correlated in a highly significant way (P<0.001). The dispersion of spores starts when rain begins or directly after the precipitation.Didymella reaches higher concentrations thanFusarium in the air (Maximum values:Didymella 30000 spores/m³,Fusarium only 800 spores/m³). During the emission of the spores the temperature varied between 10°C und 20°C degrees. Didymella andFusarium must be an important allergenic source in the outdoor area, because of their allergen-loaded biological aerosols. The question of providing well defined extracts ofDidymella exitialis is given to the pharmaceutical industry.     

Genotypic variation in progeny of the agamic grass complexPennisetum sectionBrevivalvula in West Africa

The genotypic variation of 1180 progeny from 118 genitors belonging to five taxa ofPennisetum sect.Brevivalvula has been estimated by isoenzyme electrophoresis with observations on five enzymatic systems, in order to compare the type of reproduction in polyploid and diploid taxa. A total of 112 different isozyme genotypes has been found, over all taxa. Genotypic variation was found among all progeny of the diploid populations ofP. polystachion andP. subangustum, as a consequence of their sexual reproduction system. At the polyploid level the type of reproduction appears to be predominantly agamic, but genotypic variation in the progeny was not rare: five tetraploid and one hexaploidP. pedicellatum, one pentaploid and one hexaploidP. polystachion and one hexaploidP. hordeoides, in a total of 90 genitors. Genetic relationships have been observed between the diploid sexualP. polystachion andP. subangustum, and, to a lesser extent, with the tetraploids of the same taxa as well. TetraploidP. polystachion andP. pedicellatum share genotypes with most other chromosomal taxa.     

Notes onConocybe (Bolbitiaceae)

The mycological exploration of the Viennese nature preserve Lobau, resulted in the discovery of several new species ofBasidiomycetes; of special interest is the genusConocybe of which the authors present two new taxa:C. lobauensis andC. leporina var.tetraspora. FurthermoreC. neoantipus, C. striatipes andC. caespitosa are discussed, and the new varietiesC. neoantipus var.tucumana and var.carinthiaca as well asC. striatipes var.sejuncta are proposed.     

Hybridisation,genomic constitution and generic delimitation inElymus s. l. (Poaceae: Triticeae)

Intergeneric crosses were made between representatives of the genomically-defined generaElymus, Agropyron, Elytrigia, Pseudoroegneria, andThinopyrum. The genomic constitution ofElytrigia repens, the type species ofElytrigia, is shown to be SSH, a genomic combination otherwise found only inElymus. The S genome ofPseudoroegneria has almost always a dominant influence on the morphology of the taxa of which it is a component.Wang (1989) showed that the J genome inThinopyrum and the S genome have considerable homoeology, with a mean c-value of 0.35 in diploid SJ hybrids. A genetic coherence from S to SJ^e, J^e, J^eJ^b, and J^b can be expected, agreeing with the continuous morphologic variation pattern observed. Because of the absence of morphological discontinuities between the taxa,Pseudoroegneria (S),Elymus (SH, SY, sometimes with additional genomes),Elytrigia (SSH, SSHX), andThinopyrum (SJ, SJJ, J) are best treated as a single genus,Elymus, following the generic concept ofMelderis in Flora Europaea and Flora of Turkey. The basic genomic constituents ofElymus will then be the S and/or J genomes.Agropyron, with diploids, tetraploids, and hexaploids based on the P genome is morphologically distinct from other genera inTriticeae. In a few species ofElymus andPseudoroegneria, a P genome is an additional constituent. In these cases the P genome has a negligible morphological influence. Therefore, it seems reasonable to maintainAgropyron as a separate genus.     

Étude cytotaxinomique de quelquesDipsacaceae d'Iran

Chromosome numbers for 28 Iranian populations ofDipsacaceae, corresponding to 14 taxa, are presented. New are those forScabiosa aff.olivieri var.pinnatisecta, S. persica, Pterocephalus canus, P. kurdicus, Dipsacus strigosus, Cephalaria dichaetophora, C. hirsuta, C. microcephala, C. subindivisa andC. aff.sublanata. Except forC. syriaca (x = 5) andC. dichaetophora (x = 7 : new basic chromosome number forCephalaria), all species examined are characterized by the basic chromosome number (x = 9). Instances of aneusomaty, B-chromosomes, aneuploidy, dysploidy, and polyploidy have also been found.

     

Life cycle and morphology ofMelampsora yezoensis onSalix serissaefolia

Uredinial and telial states of aMelampsora species occurring on the leaves ofSalix serissaefolia were for the first time recorded. Field observations and inoculation experiments showed that the spermogonial and aecial states of the fungus were formed onChelidonium majus var.asiaticum andCorydalis incisa. The fungus was identified asMelampsora yezoensis based on the morphological observation of all the spore states. Urediniospores were able to infectS. erocarpa andS. pierotii as well asS. serissaefolia andS. jessoensis. Salix serissaefolia, S. eriocarpa, andS. pierotii are new uredinial and telial hosts ofM. yezoensis, andC. majus var.asiaticum andC. incisa are new spermogonial and aecial hosts of the fungus. Contribution No. 124, Laboratories of Plant Pathology and Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry University of Tsukuba.     

Some Entolomataceae (Agaricales) from Costa Rica

A preliminary account of Entolomataceae from Costa Rica is presented. Three new taxa are described, two inClitopilus, one inRhodocybe, and three new combinations are proposed inInocephalus. Five taxa ofClitopilus are reported for the first time from Costa Rica and a key to species is provided. Four species ofRhodocybe are discussed and a key to the six species known from Costa Rica is also provided.Alboleptonia earlei, Inocephalus murraii, Inocephalus quadratum, Rhodocybe incarnata andRhodocybe pseudonitellina are now known to occur in Costa Rica.     

DNA relatedness among saturn-spored yeasts assigned to the generaWilliopsis andPichia

Saturn-spored species assigned to the generaWilliopsis andPichia were compared from extent of nuclear DNA complementarity. Of thePichia spp., four were recognized as distinct taxa:P. dispora, P. saitoi, P. zaruensis andPichia sp. nov. AmongWilliopsis spp., the following were accepted:W. californica, W. mucosa comb. nov.,W. pratensis, W. saturnus var.saturnus, W. saturnus var.mrakii comb. nov.,W. saturnus var.sargentensis comb. nov.,W. saturnus var.subsufficiens comb. nov. andWilliopsis sp. nov. The newPichia andWilliopsis species are described elsewhere. Moderate (36–68%) DNA relatedness was detected between the formerPichia sargentensis and varieties ofW. saturnus again demonstrating that nitrate assimilation is not a reliable criterion for separating yeast species.