中国东北石松孢子形态的研究

本文利用扫描电子显微镜对中国东北产的２科３属８种（含变种）石松植物的孢子进行了观察,对每个种的形态特征进行了描述。讨论了各属、种间的差异,为石松植物的系统分类及粉学研究提供资料。     

中国蕨类植物孢子形态的研究Ⅻ.石松科

利用扫描电镜对中国产石松科6属9种1变型植物孢子形态进行了观察.结果表明:石松科植物孢子为四面体形,辐射对称;具三裂缝,裂缝为孢子半径的1/2～3/4或几达赤道线,有些种裂缝具唇状边缘;极面观一般为圆角三角形或近圆形,赤道面观为扇形或近椭圆形;极轴长为23～50 μm,赤道轴长为24～54 μm;由外壁形成孢子表面网状、棒状、脊状、拟网状、瘤状和颗粒状纹饰的轮廓;周壁薄,通常只有1层.从孢粉学特征看,石松属和扁枝石松属孢子形态有交叉,属间特征不明显;而小石松属、卡罗利拟小石松属、垂穗石松属和藤石松属的属间孢子形态特征明显.     

26种丛藓科（Pottiaceae）植物孢子形态及其系统学意义

通过光学显微镜（LM）和扫描电镜（SEM）观察了26种国产丛藓科（Pottiaceae）植物孢子的形态特征,从孢子形态学角度佐证了这些类群在系统演化中的密切关系。结果表明：这26种植物的孢子在形态、近极面形状及孢壁纹饰等方面有较大的相似性,但在孢子大小和表面纹饰的细微结构及其分布等方面又有区别,显示了同科不同属、种间遗传的相似性及遗传分化。     

中国蕨科植物的孢子形态

中国蕨科９属２１种孢子形态的ＳＥＭ观察结果表明,孢壁纹饰是一个稳定的遗传性状,不受植株分布地区,海拔高度,孢子成熟度以及植株叶片的局部变异的影响,属间孢壁纹饰差异显著,为本科分类提供了孢子形态的依据。孢粉学上区分的类型与植物形态上划分的属相一致。ＬｅｐｔｏｌｅｐｉｄｉｕｍＨｓｉｎｇｅｔＳＫＷｕ具有明显的孢壁纹饰特征,从孢粉学角度看划分为一独立属是成立的,本文还讨论了中国蕨科９属间可能的进化路线。     

中国蕨类植物孢子形态的研究ⅩⅢ.叉蕨科

利用扫描电镜对中国产叉蕨科7属34种植物孢子的形态进行了观察。叉蕨科植物孢子为左右对称,极面观为椭圆形,赤道面观为半圆形、超半圆形或豆形;极轴长为18～38μm,赤道轴长为23～57μm;单裂缝,裂缝长度为孢子全长的1/2～2/3;孢子具脊状、翅状、刺状和耳状4种纹饰,孢子表面有时具细刺、颗粒或孔。通过孢粉学分析,叉蕨科依据孢子形态特征和依据孢子体形态特征的分类结果并不一致,孢粉纹饰类型呈现一定程度的属间交叉;支持将叉蕨科和鳞毛蕨科进行重新划分的MAARTEN J.M的新分类系统。     

中国蕨类植物孢子形态的研究XI.石杉科

利用扫描电镜对中国产石杉科2属22种植物孢子形态进行了观察,为石杉科分类和系统演化研究提供依据。结果显示:石杉科植物孢子为三裂缝,四面体形,辐射对称;极面观为钝三角形、圆三角形或近圆形;赤道面观为扇形或近椭圆形;石杉属孢子三边向内凹,马尾杉属孢子三边外凸;极轴长为16～26μm,赤道轴长为22～36μm;孢子具外壁,不具周壁,由外壁形成表面穴状纹饰的轮廓,穴为大小、深浅和密度不等的点状近圆形或不规则条状的凹陷。从孢子形态和纹饰类型看,石杉属和马尾杉属属间差异明显,属内差异不明显。     

山东蛾眉蕨属植物孢子形态的研究

本文在经典分类的基础上,采用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜,对山东分布的蛾眉蕨属3种植物(其中山东蛾眉蕨Lunathyium shandong-ense J.X.Li et F.Z.Li为1新种)的孢子形态进行了系统的观察,结果表明,其孢子形态、周壁纹饰,在种间有着显著的差异,故为本属植物的种间分类提供了孢子形态的依据,本文还讨论了蛾眉蕨属与其亲缘属间的分类问题。     

中国球子蕨科植物孢子形态研究

通过扫描电镜观察,描述了我国球子蕨科4种及分布北美洲的1种植物属种孢子形态特征。根据孢子形态及周壁纹饰特征,探讨种分类归属及等级处理问题。     

广西蕨类植物孢子形态的研究Ⅲ.凤尾蕨科

利用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对广西产凤尾蕨科及其近缘科蕨科、姬蕨科和碗蕨科5属9种植物的孢子形态进行了观察研究,详细描述了9种植物孢子的形态及表面纹饰特征.井栏边草、刺齿凤尾蕨、隆林凤尾蕨、剑叶凤尾蕨、林下凤尾蕨、蕨和碗蕨植物的孢子为三裂缝,辐射对称;极面观为钝三角形,赤道面观为半圆形或超半圆形;栗蕨和姬蕨植物孢子为...     

海南七仙岭7种卷柏属植物的微观形态与生境间的关系分析

为探讨生境对卷柏属(Selaginella)植物微观形态的影响,利用扫描电子显微镜对海南七仙岭采集的7种卷柏属植物的侧叶、中叶、孢子叶的叶表皮形态以及小孢子形态进行全面观察分析,并计算气孔器大小、气孔密度、孢子大小等,比较分析其微观形态的区别及微形态与生境间的关系,为卷柏属植物的分类提供依据。结果显示:(1)同种卷柏属植物的侧叶、中叶与孢子叶在叶表皮形态上具明显差异,尤其是孢子叶上的气孔与营养叶相对较小且稀疏,与孢子叶的繁殖功能相符合。(2)不同种卷柏属植物的叶表皮特征也明显不同,主要表现在叶缘刺、气孔和瘤状突起上,表明这些特征可以作为卷柏属植物种间区分的依据。(3)卷柏属植物的小孢子形态稳定,纹饰多样;部分种间的小孢子形态相似,但可通过纹饰类型、裂缝的曲直进行区分。(4)琼海卷柏的小孢子具有独特的网状纹饰,暗示其具有独特的演化途径。(5)卷柏属植物叶表皮的气孔特征、瘤状突起特征,小孢子的颜色、纹饰,与海拔、生境的湿度有一定的相关性,但其形成机理有待进一步研究。     

New species of Actinomadura isolated from soils in Turkmenia and their antagonistic properties

New species, i.e. Actinomadura polychroma and Actinomadura umbrina are described. The cell wall of the cultures contains meso-diaminopimelic acid galactose, glucose and madurose. The former species is characterized by short spore chains in the form of spirals or pseudosporangia, smooth spore surface, white aerial mycelium and colourless, yellowish-brown or blue-green substrate mycelium. The cultures of this species have no antagonistic activity with respect to various test-microbes. The type culture of A. polychroma is designated as INA 2755. A. umbrina is characterized by formation of short spore chains, which are straight, hooked or spiral, often branching, smooth spore surface, white scanty aerial mycelium and brownish or black-brown substrate mycelium and soluble pigment of the same colour. The strains of this species inhibit the growth of some gram-positive bacteria and have no activity against gram-negative organisms. The type culture of A. umbrina is designed as INA 2309.     

Revision of the family Duboscquellidae with description of Euduboscquella crenulata n. gen., n. sp. (Dinoflagellata, Syndinea), an intracellular parasite of the ciliate Favella panamensis Kofoid & Campbell

Recent recognition that tintinnids are infected by dinophycean as well as syndinean parasites prompts taxonomic revision of dinoflagellate species that parasitize these ciliates. Long overlooked features of the type species Duboscquella tintinnicola are used to emend the genus and family Duboscquellidae, resulting in both taxa being moved from the Syndinea to the Dinophyceae. Syndinean species previously classified as Duboscquella are relocated to Euduboscquella n. gen., with Euduboscquella crenulata n. sp. as the type. As an endoparasitic species, E. crenulata shares with its congeners processes associated with intracellular development and sporogenesis, but differs from closely related species in nuclear and cortical morphology of the trophont, including a distinctively grooved shield (= episome) that imparts a crenulated appearance in optical section. In addition, E. crenulata produces three morphologically distinct spore types, two of which undergo syngamy to form a uninucleate zygote. The zygote undergoes successive division to produce four daughter cells of unequal size, but that resemble the nonmating spore type.     

中国蹄盖蕨属植物孢子形态的研究

利用扫描电子显微镜对我国产蹄盖蕨属44种植物的孢子进行了观察。结果表明,该属孢子形态为单裂缝,两侧对称,极面观为椭圆形,赤道面观为豆形。外壁表面光滑,由周壁形成表面纹装饰。根据周壁的结构和表面纹饰,可分为两种类型;一是周壁外层发达,形成粗大的脊状纹饰,有11种属此类型;二是周壁外层很薄或不完全发育,由周壁内层或中层形成表面纹饰,有33种属此类型纹饰。本文还就本属的孢子形态特征以及与本属的属下分类关系、本属与邻近属的关系等进行了讨论。     

Taxonomic revision transferring species in Kuklospora to Acaulospora (Glomeromycota) and a description of Acaulospora colliculosa sp. nov. from field collected spores

In a phylogenetic study of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species in Acaulospora (Acaulosporaceae, Glomeromycota) we discovered that species classified in genus Kuklospora, a supposed sister clade of Acaulospora, did not partition as a monophyletic clade. Species in these two genera can be distinguished only by the position of the spore relative to a precursor structure, the sporiferous saccule, as either within (entrophosporoid) or laterally (acaulosporoid) on the saccule subtending hypha. Subsequent spore differentiation follows identical patterns and organization. Molecular phylogeny reconstructed from nrLSU gene sequences, together with developmental data, support the hypothesis that the entrophosporoid mode of spore formation evolved many times and thus represents a convergent trait of little phylogenetic significance. Therefore genus Kuklospora is rejected as a valid monophyletic group and it is integrated taxonomically into genus Acaulospora. Thus Acaulospora colombiana and Acaulospora kentinensis are erected as new combinations (formerly Kuklospora colombiana and Kuklospora kentinensis). Mode of spore formation is demoted from a genus-specific character to one that is included with other traits to define Acaulospora species. In addition we describe a new AM fungal species, Acaulospora colliculosa (Acaulosporaceae), that originated from a tallgrass prairie in North America. Field-collected spores of A. colliculosa are small (<100 μm diam), hyaline or subhyaline to pale yellow and form via entrophosporoid development based on structure and organization of cicatrices and attached hyphae. Each spore consists of a bilayered spore wall and two bilayered inner walls. A germination orb likely forms after the completion of spore development to initiate germination, but this structure was not observed. A character distinguishing A. colliculosa from other Acaulospora species is hyaline to subhyaline hemispherical protuberances on the surface of the outer spore wall layer. A phylogeny reconstructed from partial nrLSU gene sequences unambiguously placed A. colliculosa in the Acaulospora clade.     

Observations on research with spores of Bacillales and Clostridiales species

The purpose of this article is to highlight some areas of research with spores of bacteria of Firmicute species in which the methodology too commonly used is not optimal and generates misleading results. As a consequence, conclusions drawn from data obtained are often flawed or not appropriate. Topics covered in the article include the following: (i) the importance of using well-purified bacterial spores in studies on spore resistance, composition, killing, disinfection and germination; (ii) methods for obtaining good purification of spores of various species; (iii) appropriate experimental approaches to determine mechanisms of spore resistance and spore killing by a variety of agents, as well as known mechanisms of spore resistance and killing; (iv) common errors made in drawing conclusions about spore killing by various agents, including failure to neutralize chemical agents before plating for viable spore enumeration, and equating correlations between changes in spore properties accompanying spore killing with causation. It is hoped that a consideration of these topics will improve the quality of spore research going forward.     

New species, Actinomadura fulvescens sp. nov. and Actinomadura turkmeniaca sp. nov. and their antagonistic properties

Two new species of Actinomadura isolated from soil samples of the Turkmen SSR, i.e. Actinomadura fulvescens sp. nov. and Actinomadura turkmeniaca sp. nov. are described. The first species is characterized by formation of short (1-2 turns) spiral spore chains, smooth spores, scanty white aerial mycelium, colourless or yellowish substrate mycelium on synthetic media and brownish-yellow substrate mycelium and soluble pigment of the same colour on organic media. No melanoid pigment is secreted. The type culture is designated as INA 3321. The cultures of A. fulvescens show antibiotic activity. A. turkmeniaca is characterized by formation of short straight or spiral spore chains, smooth spores, scanty white aerial mycelium, substrate mycelium and soluble pigment of pinkish-violet colour, absence of melanoid pigment. The type culture is designated as INA 3344. The strains of this species have low antibiotic activity. The study on the use of carbon sources by the representatives of 7 species (9 strains) of Actinomadura showed that the majority of the cultures (5 species, 7 strains) produced no growth on the Pridham and Gottlieb medium (ISP-9) with various carbon sources, including glucose. Possibly this medium cannot be used as the main medium for investigation of the spectrum of carbohydrate consumption in Actinomadura.     

Natural soil spore banks — can they be used to retrieve lost ferns?

Some fern species form spore banks — reservoirs in the soil of viable spores which remain dormant while buried but germinate in light if brought to the surface. The recently discovered characteristics of these spore banks are described. Enough is now known to suggest that they might have a role in the conservation of endangered fern species as alternatives toex situ collections of sporophytes, gametophytes and spores, the relative merits of which are also considered. Mature sporophytes of several British species have now been raised from natural spore banks in soil samples; if this proves to be possible also for endangered species, some interesting options become available. The possibilities are discussed of augmenting surviving populations and increasing their genetic diversity, even perhaps of retrieving lost populations, by reintroduction of spore bank-derived plants or by stimulating regeneration from spore banksin situ. Botanic gardens are well placed to provide the further research, the regular monitoring of endangered populations, and the taxonomic and horticultural support required to realise these possiblities.     

The Bacillus anthracis spore

In response to starvation, Bacillus anthracis can form a specialized cell type called the spore, which is the infectious particle for the disease anthrax. The spore is largely metabolically inactive and can resist a wide range of stresses found in nature. In spite of its dormancy, the spore can sense the presence of nutrient and rapidly return to vegetative growth. These properties help the spore to persist for long periods of time in the environment, survive host defenses after entering the body, and cause disease when the correct location in the host is reached. The anatomy of the spore is unique among bacteria, being comprised of a series of specialized concentric shells, each of which provides specific critical functions. Surrounding the spore core (which houses the chromosome) is a peptidoglycan layer important for spore dormancy, a protein shell that resists a variety of toxic molecules, and finally an exterior protein and glycoprotein layer that, among other functions, mediates interactions with surfaces, including those encountered by the spore within the host. Detailed molecular analysis of these shells has shed considerable light on how each layer determines specific spore properties. Future work, especially on the outermost spore layer, is likely to advance therapeutics, methods for spore decontamination and other critical biodefense technologies.     

Morphogenesis of bacillus spore surfaces

Spores produced by bacilli are encased in a proteinaceous multilayered coat and, in some species (including Bacillus anthracis), further surrounded by a glycoprotein-containing exosporium. To characterize bacillus spore surface morphology and to identify proteins that direct formation of coat surface features, we used atomic-force microscopy (AFM) to image the surfaces of wild-type and mutant spores of Bacillus subtilis, as well as the spore surfaces of Bacillus cereus 569 and the Sterne strain of Bacillus anthracis. This analysis revealed that the coat surfaces in these strains are populated by a series of bumps ranging between 7 and 40 nm in diameter, depending on the species. Furthermore, a series of ridges encircled the spore, most of which were oriented along the long axis of the spore. The structures of these ridges differ sufficiently between species to permit species-specific identification. We propose that ridges are formed early in spore formation, when the spore volume likely decreases, and that when the spore swells during germination the ridges unfold. AFM analysis of a set of B. subtilis coat protein gene mutants revealed three coat proteins with roles in coat surface morphology: CotA, CotB, and CotE. Our data indicate novel roles for CotA and CotB in ridge pattern formation. Taken together, these results are consistent with the view that the coat is not inert. Rather, the coat is a dynamic structure that accommodates changes in spore volume.     

The filamentous fungal pellet and forces driving its formation

Filamentous fungi play an important role not only in the bio-manufacturing of value-added products, but also in bioenergy and environmental research. The bioprocess manipulation of filamentous fungi is more difficult than that of other microbial species because of their different pellet morphologies and the presence of tangled mycelia under different cultivation conditions. Fungal pellets, which have the advantages of harvest ease, low fermentation broth viscosity and high yield of some proteins, have been used for a long time. Many attempts have been made to establish the relationship between pellet and product yield using quantitative approaches. Fungal pellet formation is attributed to the combination of electrostatic interactions, hydrophobicity and specific interactions from spore wall components. Electrostatic interactions result from van der Waals forces and negative charge repulsion from carboxyl groups in the spore wall structure. Electrostatic interactions are also affected by counter-ions (cations) and the physiologic conditions of spores that modify the carboxyl groups. Fungal aggregates are promoted by the hydrophobicity generated by hydrophobins, which form a hydrophobic coat that covers the spore. The specific interactions of spore wall components contribute to spore aggregation through salt bridging. A model of spore aggregation was proposed based on these forces. Additionally, some challenges were addressed, including the limitations of research techniques, the quantitative determination of forces and the complex information of biological systems, to clarify the mechanism of fungal pellet formation.