Systematic studies in Neotropical <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rinorea</Emphasis> (Violaceae): Two new sections and a new generic segregate

Rinorea, the second most species-rich genus in the Violaceae, has been shown to be polyphyletic with four separate clades recovered in phylogenetic studies. Among these clades is the Rinorea crenata group, which is composed of three Neotropical species. This group has been shown in family- and genus-level molecular phylogenies to be resolved outside of a large clade representing Rinorea s.str. Based on phylogenetic, morphological, and anatomical evidence, Bribria, a new genus, is segregated from Rinorea s.str. and described, with new combinations made for its three species: Bribria apiculata, Bribria crenata, and Bribria oraria. In addition, two new sections in Rinorea s.str. are described to accommodate the remaining Neotropical species: Rinorea sect. Rinorea and Rinorea sect. Pubiflora, which correspond to Group IIa Rinorea and Group IIc Pubiflora, respectively, in W. H. A. Hekking’s monograph of Neotropical Rinorea.     

New and little-known crickets of the subfamily Phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae). 11. The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parendacustes</Emphasis> (Part 2)

Discussions concerning the composition of the genus Parendacustes Chop., in particular, its subgenus Minizacla Gor., are continued. Eleven new taxa of this subgenus are described: P. trusmadi sp. n., P. mulu sp. n., P. brevispina sp. n., P. modispina sp. n., P. longispina sp. n., P. forficula sabah subsp. n., P. doloduo sp. n., P. buton sp. n., P. pallescens sp. n., P. kendari sp. n., and P. lindu sp. n. New data on P. makassari Gor. are also provided.     

Madurastatin B3, a rare aziridine derivative from actinomycete <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nocardiopsis</Emphasis> sp. LS150010 with potent anti-tuberculosis activity

Since the discovery of the first antibiotic, natural products have played an important role in chemistry, biology and medicine. To explore the potential of bioactive compounds from microbes isolated from the southeast of Tibet, China, a crude extract library was constructed and screened against Staphylococcus aureus. The strain Nocardiopsis sp. LS150010 was scaled up and subjected to further chemical studies, resulting in the identification of N-salicyloyl-2-aminopropan-1,3-diol (2) and its rare aziridine derivative, madurastatin B3 (1). Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of 1D, 2D NMR and HRMS data. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed significant inhibitory activity against S. aureus and methicillin resistant S. aureus, with MIC values of 6.25 µg/mL. Compound 1 also showed potent inhibitory activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, as well as activity in a Mycobacterium tuberculosis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin infected THP-1 cell model.     

Revision of the carabid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meroctenus</Emphasis> Gemminger et Harold,with a new status of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenodochus</Emphasis> Andrewes (Coleoptera,Carabidae: Harpalini)

Originally described as a monotypical genus with unclear taxonomic position from Sudan, Meroctenus Gemminger et Harold, 1868 is treated as a polytypical genus of the Selenophori genus group with two subgenera: Meroctenus s. str. and Xenodochus Andrewes, 1941, stat. n. (the latter was previously considered a distinct genus). Within Meroctenus, two species are recognized: M. (Meroctenus) crenulatus Chaudoir, 1843 (type species) and M. (M.) mediocris (Andrewes, 1936), comb, n., transferred to Meroctenus s. str. from Xenodochus. A new subspecies M. (M.) crenulatus orientalis subsp. n. is described from Pakistan. Diagnoses of the genus Meroctenus in new interpretation as well as of its two subgenera are discussed, and a taxonomic review of the subgenus Meroctenus s. str. with a key to the species and subspecies is provided. The following synonymy is proposed: Meroctenus Gemminger et Harold, 1868 = Paregaploa Müller, 1947, syn. n.; Meroctenus crenulatus (Chaudoir, 1843) = Egaploa (Paregaploa) conviva Müller, 1947, syn. n. Lectotypes are designated for Ctenomerus crenulatus Chaudoir, 1843 and Xenodus mediocris Andrewes, 1936.     

A new subspecies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Centaurea cassia</Emphasis> (Asteraceae) from Turkey

A new subspecies in sect. Jacea (Mill.) DC., Centaurea cassia Boiss. subsp. dumanii M. Dinç, A. Duran &; B. Bilgili subsp. nov., collected by the authors from South Anatolia, is described and illustrated. The new subspecies is restricted to Abies cilicica (Ant. &; Kotschy) Carr. subsp. cilicica forest above Göller Yaylas? (C6 Adana-Kozan). Diagnostic morphological characters from C. cassia subsp. cassia are discussed. The ecology, biogeography and conservation status of the new taxon are also presented.     

New Data on the Taxonomy and Distribution of Flat Moths of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agonopterix</Emphasis> Hübner, [1825] (Lepidoptera,Depressariidae) of the Russian Fauna

New data on the distribution and taxonomy of Agonopterix species in Russia are given. The following new synonymy is established: Agonopterix anticella (Erschoff, 1877) = A. abjectella (Christoph, 1882), syn. n., = A. japonica Saito, 1980, syn. n.; A. pullella Hannemann, 1971 = A. dubatolovi Lvovsky, 1995, syn. n. A new species A. volgensissp. n. is described from the Middle Volga Region. Two species are recorded from Russia for the first time, both represented by new subspecies: A. ivinskisi daghestanicasubsp. n. from Daghestan and Armenia, and A. kisojiana dilutasubsp. n. from the southern part of the Russian Far East.     

New species of the Buprestid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphenoptera</Emphasis> Dejean from India and Pakistan with notes on the synonymy and nomenclature of some species of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphenoptera</Emphasis> s. str. (Coleoptera,Buprestidae)

Sphenoptera (s. str.) galkae sp. n. from North Pakistan and. S. (s. str.) jacobsonorum sp. n. from India (Jammu and Kashmir State) are described and compared with closely related species. New synonymy is established for the following taxa: S. hypocrita Mannerheim, 1837 (= S. torrida Jakovlev, 1898; S. ixion Kerremans, 1912, synn. n.), S. bodemeyeri Jakovlev, 1900 (= S. quadrata Kerremans, 1909, syn. n.), S. exoleta Jakovlev, 1908 (= S. politipennis Obenberger, 1927, syn. n.), S. obruta Kerremans, 1909 (= S. chalcosoma Obenberger, 1927; S. abbreviata hetera Obenberger, 1927, synn. n.), S. tragacanthae (Klug, 1829) (= S. maledicta Obenberger, 1920; S. cilicica Obenberger, 1927; S. rambouseki Obenberger, 1927; S. klickai Obenberger, 1927; S. corrosa Obenberger, 1927; S. satrapa Obenberger, 1927; S. syriae Obenberger, 1927; S. vavrai Obenberger, 1927, synn. n.), S. magna Gory et Laporte, 1839 (= S. alexandri Obenberger, 1927, syn. n.). Lectotypes for 74 nominal species and subspecies are designated.     

New Taxa and Host Associations of the Weevil Subfamily Ceutorhynchinae (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) from Thailand

A new subgenus of Mecysmoderes Sch., Enzoellus Korotyaev, subgen. n. (type species Mecysmoderes carinatus Faust), two new genera of the tribe Hypohypurini Colonnelli, Siamohypurus Korotyaev, gen. n. (type species S. samuelsoni Korotyaev, sp. n.), Glikmanellus Korotyaev, gen. n. (type species G. rosti Korotyaev, sp. n.) and eleven new species of the weevil subfamily Ceutorhynchinae are described: Mecysmoderes (Memecyderes) sarukhanovi Korotyaev, sp. n. from Thailand, M. (Enzoellus) gressitti Korotyaev, sp. n. from Thailand and Laos, M. (Enzoellus) muratovi Korotyaev, sp. n., Megahypurus oroszi Korotyaev, sp. n., Cyphohypurus suppantschitschi Korotyaev, sp. n., Siamohypurus samuelsoni Korotyaev, sp. n., S. attilai Korotyaev, sp. n., Glikmanellus rosti Korotyaev, sp. n., all from Thailand; G. baloghi Korotyaev, sp. n. from Sri Lanka; G. obrieni Korotyaev, sp. n. and G. louisae Korotyaev, sp. n., both from India. A key to three species of Megahypurus from Thailand is given. Host plants are determined for Megahypurus alexandri Kor. and Glikmanellus rosti sp. n. from Koh Kood Island in southern Thailand, which were repeatedly collected from a tree of the family Rubiaceae.     

Isolation and Antibiotic Screening of Fungi from a Hydrothermal Vent Site and Characterization of Secondary Metabolites from a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> Isolate

Five new compounds were isolated from Penicillium sp. Y-5-2 including an austin derivative 4, four isocoumarins 9, 11, 12, and 13, together with two known isocoumarins 8 and 10, and six known austin derivatives 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 and one phenol 14. Their structures and relative configurations were established by spectroscopic means. The absolute configurations of 4, 11, and 13 were defined mainly by comparison of quantum chemical TDDFT calculated and experimental ECD spectra. The cyclization of the pentan-2-ol pendant at C-3 in compound 13 allowed the assignment of a new 2,3,4,4a,6,10b-hexahydro-1H-benzo[c]chromene isocoumarin skeleton. New compounds 9, 11, and 13 revealed inhibitory activities against E. coli at MIC values around 32 μg/mL. The known compound 14 showed potent antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis with MIC values 8 and 2 μg/mL, respectively, with no cytotoxicity when tested in vitro. A rapid and efficient technique for selecting antibiotic fungal strain among eight marine-derived fungi was also described.     

Revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhynchospora glomerata</Emphasis> species complex,focusing on the taxonomic status of <Emphasis Type="Italic">R. leptocarpa</Emphasis> (Cyperaceae)

Rhynchospora glomerata and its closest relatives comprise a group of beakesedges widespread and frequent in much of North America. The classification of the R. glomerata complex remains unresolved and controversial. The goals of this study are to determine the number of taxa in the complex and their ranks, and identify their best diagnostic characters. Measurements of eight characters from each of 101 specimens from throughout the geographic range of the complex furnished data for morphometric analyses. These analyses reveal the R. glomerata complex contains three species and no infraspecific taxa: R. capitellata, R. glomerata, and R. leptocarpa. We detected 10 validly published basionyms in the complex, five of which required lectotypification. Accordingly, we designated lectotypes for R. glomerata var. discutiens, R. glomerata var. minor, R. glomerata var. paniculata, and R. glomerata var. robustior, and the second-step lectotype for R. capitellata var. controversa.     

Nematicidal metabolites from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gliocladium roseum</Emphasis> YMF1.00133

A strain of the fungus Gliocladium roseum YMF1.00133 was found to secrete nematicidal metabolites against nematodes Panagrellus redivivus, Caenothabditis elegans and Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in experiments searching for nematicidal fungi. Through bioassay-guided fractionations, a unique trioxopiperazine alkaloid, gliocladin C (compound 1), and an alkylane resorcinol, 5-n-heneicosylresorcinol (compound 2) were obtained from the methanol extract of the fungus and determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis and spectroscopic data. In vitro immersion experiments showed that the ED₅₀ values of compounds 1 and 2 after 24 h incubation were 15 and 30 μg/mL against C. elegans, 50 and 80 μg/mL against P. redivivus, and 200 and 180 μg/mL against B. xylophilus, respectively. The X-ray diffraction data of compound 1 and the nematicidal activity of compounds 1 and 2 were reported for the first time.     

Complete chloroplast genome sequences of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum commersonii</Emphasis> and its application to chloroplast genotype in somatic hybrids with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis>

Key message

Chloroplast genome of Solanum commersonii and S olanum tuberosum were completely sequenced, and Indel markers were successfully applied to distinguish chlorotypes demonstrating the chloroplast genome was randomly distributed during protoplast fusion.

Abstract

Somatic hybridization has been widely employed for the introgression of resistance to several diseases from wild Solanum species to overcome sexual barriers in potato breeding. Solanum commersonii is a major resource used as a parent line in somatic hybridization to improve bacterial wilt resistance in interspecies transfer to cultivated potato (S. tuberosum). Here, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genomes of Lz3.2 (S. commersonii) and S. tuberosum (PT56), which were used to develop fusion products, then compared them with those of five members of the Solanaceae family, S. tuberosum, Capsicum annum, S. lycopersicum, S. bulbocastanum and S. nigrum and Coffea arabica as an out-group. We then developed Indel markers for application in chloroplast genotyping. The complete chloroplast genome of Lz3.2 is composed of 155,525 bp, which is larger than the PT56 genome with 155,296 bp. Gene content, order and orientation of the S. commersonii chloroplast genome were highly conserved with those of other Solanaceae species, and the phylogenetic tree revealed that S. commersonii is located within the same node of S. tuberosum. However, sequence alignment revealed nine Indels between S. commersonii and S. tuberosum in their chloroplast genomes, allowing two Indel markers to be developed. The markers could distinguish the two species and were successfully applied to chloroplast genotyping (chlorotype) in somatic hybrids and their progenies. The results obtained in this study confirmed the random distribution of the chloroplast genome during protoplast fusion and its maternal inheritance and can be applied to select proper plastid genotypes in potato breeding program.

     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Passiflora</Emphasis> subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Decaloba</Emphasis> (Passifloraceae) from Brazil

Three new species from Brazil are described and illustrated. Passiflora cervii, P. jiboiaensis, and P. transversalis all belong to Passiflora subg. Decaloba.     

A Review of the Fauna of the Planthopper Family Lophopidae (Homoptera,Fulgoroidea) from Vietnam with Descriptions of New Genera and Species and with Taxonomic Notes

Six new species are described from Vietnam, Apia simplexsp. n., Bisma angulatasp. n., Pitambara trypetoidessp. n., Sarmatoca cathemerinagen. et sp. n., Maracota soulieraegen. et sp. n., and Serida castaneasp. n., and Zeleja thoracalissp. n. from Malaysia. Two new genera, Maracotagen. n. (type species M. soulierae sp. n.) and Sarmatocagen. n. (type species S. cathemerina sp. n.), and a new subgenus Zelomachasubgen. n. (type species Zeleja thoracalis sp. n.) in the genus Zeleja are erected. The genus Binaluana Soulier-Perkins et Stroiński is downgraded to a subgenus of Zeleja Melichar. The genus Silvispina Wang et Soulier-Perkins with an uncertain systematic position is attributed to the subfamily Lophopinae and the tribe Lophopini. The placement of the genus Elasmoscelis Spinola (and, correspondingly, the tribe Elasmoscelini) in the subfamily Menoscinae, the genus Epiptyxis Gerstaecker in the tribe Menoscini, and the genus Jivatma Melichar in the tribe Lophopini is substantiated. New records of 11 species are given from Vietnam, some being first records for this country.     

New Data on the Taxonomy of the Weevil Subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caucasoplinthus</Emphasis>, Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plinthus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The taxonomic composition of the subgenus Caucasoplinthus Davidian, 1995 is revised. The immunis and granulosus groups are downgraded to subgroups of the silphoides and fallax groups, respectively; the voriseki subgroup is transferred from the fallax to the fausti group. Plinthus attilai Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. and P. ljudae Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. are described from Turkey and Abkhazia, respectively. New data on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of some little-known species are presented. The following new synonymy is established: Molytes vittatus Motschulsky, 1839 (= Meleus irroratus Reitter, 1884, syn. n., = Meleus faldermanni Faust, 1884, syn. n., = Meleus difficilis Faust, 1884, syn. n.).     

In vitro assessment of antimicrobial activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of moss <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atrichum undulatum</Emphasis> (Hedw.) P. Beauv.

Bryophytes, the shade loving plants, have tremendous medicinal properties. The aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv. were analysed for antimicrobial properties against the fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum and the bacteria Escherichia coli, Bacillus mycoides, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. The study is an attempt to investigate the medicinal properties of Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv. using disc-diffusion method. No inhibition was observed against A. fumigatus and P. mirabilis. For bacteria S. typhi and E. coli (20 and 15 mm), aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Atrichum showed significant inhibition. However, alcoholic extract was found remarkably effective against bacteria rather than aqueous extract.     

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Synthetic Pyranochromenones and (Coumarinyloxy)acetamides

Four (1, 2, 4 and 6) synthetic quaternary ammonium derivatives of pyranochromenones and (coumarinyloxy)acetamides were synthesized and investigated for their antimicrobial efficacy on MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. One of the four compounds screened i.e. N,N,N-triethyl-10-((4,8,8-trimethyl-2-oxo-2,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrano[3,2-g]chromen-10-yl)oxy)decan-1-aminium bromide (1), demonstrated significant activity against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and M. tuberculosis with MIC value of 16, 35, and 15.62 µg/ml respectively. The cytotoxicity evaluation of compound 1 on A549 cell lines showed it to be a safe antimicrobial molecule, TEM study suggested that the compound led to the rupture of the bacterial cell walls.     

Production of macrolide antibiotics from a cytotoxic soil <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> sp. strain ZDB

Crude extract from a culture of a soil Streptomyces sp. strain ZDB showed toxicity towards Artemia salina and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Chlorella vulgaris, and Chlorella sorokiniana. Large scale fermentation of the strain led to the isolation of the macrolide antibiotics, bafilomycins A1 (1), B1 (2), and D (3) together with nonactic acid (4) and bostrycoidin-9-methyl ether (5). Structures of the antibiotics were determined based on spectral data analysis. We describe the isolation of the compounds and characterization of the producing strain.     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Davilla</Emphasis> (Dilleniaceae) from Bahia,Brazil

Three new species of Davilla (Davilla sessilifolia, Davilla minutifolia and Davilla aymardii) from Bahia, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Affinities and diagnostic characteristics of each species are discussed. The new species belong to Davilla sect. Homalochlaena.