干旱胁迫对鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和幼苗生理特性的影响

为探明鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和幼苗生长期的耐旱性,以鹿角杜鹃干种子和90d苗龄幼苗为材料,采用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟不同程度的干旱胁迫,研究干旱胁迫对其种子萌发、早期幼苗生长及幼苗的细胞膜透性、MDA含量、有机渗透调节物质和抗氧化酶活性的影响,并对种子萌发率、早期幼苗生长量与PEG胁迫浓度间进行了回归分析。结果表明:(1)5%~25%PEG胁迫范围内,随着干旱胁迫程度的增加,鹿角杜鹃种子的发芽启动时间推迟,发芽持续时间延长,发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数和幼苗生长量显著降低;重度干旱胁迫(25%PEG)下,鹿角杜鹃种子完全未萌发。(2)发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数以及幼苗生长量的变化均与干旱胁迫程度呈极显著负相关关系,回归分析求得鹿角杜鹃种子萌发的半致死PEG干旱胁迫浓度为15.68%、半致矮PEG干旱胁迫浓度为15.37%。(3)随着PEG胁迫浓度的增加,鹿角杜鹃幼苗叶片SOD活性呈先升后降的趋势,但各胁迫处理仍显著高于CK(0%PEG);细胞膜透性、MDA、脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量、POD和CAT活性则在中度(15%~20%PEG)和重度胁迫下显著升高,与干旱胁迫程度呈极显著正相关关系。研究表明,干旱胁迫显著抑制了鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和早期幼苗生长,使其细胞膜受到损伤,同时鹿角杜鹃可通过体内渗透调节物质和抗氧化酶活性的增加来适应干旱环境,使得自身受抑制、损伤程度降到最低。     

PEG胁迫对紫茎泽兰种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

目的：开展干旱胁迫对紫茎泽兰种子萌发的影响研究，为其入侵机制的揭示和田间防治提供借鉴。方法：采用聚乙二醇（PEG-6000）梯度溶液模拟干旱胁迫环境，研究紫茎泽兰（Ageratina adenophora）种子萌发和幼苗生长对干旱胁迫的响应。结果：随着PEG-6000浓度的增加，紫茎泽兰种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和幼苗根长、根冠比均呈先升后降的趋势，而种子活力指数、幼苗胚根长度、胚轴长度、株高相对增长速率和叶片光合色素含量均呈持续下降趋势。结论：轻度干旱胁迫有利于紫茎泽兰种子萌发，而中度和重度干旱胁迫均不利于紫茎泽兰幼苗生长。紫茎泽兰在种子萌发阶段对干旱具有一定的抗逆性。     

入侵植物牛膝菊种子萌发对PEG模拟干旱胁迫的响应

采用浓度分别为5%、10%、15%、20%和25%的PEG-6000溶液模拟干旱条件,测定不同干旱胁迫条件下牛膝菊的种子萌发时间、萌发率、日相对萌发率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数及幼苗的初生根与胚芽的长度等指标,研究了干旱胁迫对牛膝菊种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响,探讨了经PEG浸种预处理后种子的萌发恢复能力。结果表明:随着水分胁迫的加重,牛膝菊种子萌发和幼苗生长受到抑制程度增加,牛膝菊种子的日相对萌发率、发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数、活力指数及幼苗的初生根长和胚芽长均呈下降趋势;与对照组相比,牛膝菊种子首次萌发时间延迟越长,当PEG浓度为20%、25%时牛膝菊种子未见萌发;本研究建立了水分胁迫PEG浓度与种子萌发率的线性回归方程,得出牛膝菊种子萌发的PEG浓度临界值为12.9%;经PEG浓度为20%、25%处理的种子在适宜条件下可以恢复萌发,浸种时间相同条件下,20%PEG浓度对牛膝菊种子伤害较小,其恢复性较强,25%PEG浓度对牛膝菊种子伤害较大,其恢复性较弱。     

外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸对干旱胁迫下甘草种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

以药用植物甘草种子和幼苗为材料,在20%PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫条件下,测定了不同浓度外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)处理甘草种子的发芽势(Gv)、发芽率(Gr)、发芽指数(Gi)和活力指数(Vi)的变化,以及ALA处理幼苗叶片的质膜透性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性糖含量、游离脯氨酸含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性。结果显示:(1)在20%PEG-6000胁迫下,甘草种子萌发受到显著抑制,而各项萌发指标经过不同浓度的ALA进行恢复处理后均有明显提高,且均以10 mg.L-1ALA处理的各项指标值最大,其种子发芽势(75%)、发芽率(91%)比干旱胁迫对照显著提高了35%和30%,发芽指数(36.2)和活力指数(709.7)分别提高至干旱胁迫的2.6和3.5倍。(2)各ALA处理较对照均显著提高了干旱胁迫下甘草幼苗总生物量、可溶性糖的含量及脯氨酸含量,却显著降低了甘草叶片的MDA含量和质膜透性,同时显著提高了干旱胁迫下甘草叶片中的SOD、POD和CAT的活性,且以10 mg.L-1ALA处理后的酶活性最强。研究表明,适宜浓度(10 mg.L-1)的ALA能显著提高干旱胁迫下甘草种子的萌发能力,通过调节渗透调节物质含量和保护酶活性来有效减缓干旱胁迫对甘草幼苗的伤害,提高甘草种子及幼苗的抗旱能力。     

干旱胁迫对远志种子萌发及幼苗生长和生理特性的影响

以远志(Polygala tenuifolia Willd.)为研究对象,采用不同浓度(2.5%~25%)聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟不同程度的干旱胁迫,探讨干旱胁迫对远志种子萌发及幼苗生理生化特性的影响。结果表明:(1)随着干旱胁迫强度的增加,远志种子的发芽启动时间推迟,发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数降低,但种子发芽率在2.5%~15%PEG胁迫下与对照无显著性差异,而在20%PEG胁迫下均显著低于对照,在25%PEG胁迫下种子不能萌发;在干旱胁迫条件下,远志幼苗生物量降低,胚芽生长受到显著抑制,胚根长度则先伸长后缩短。(2)远志幼苗叶绿素含量在2.5%~10%PEG范围内随胁迫强度的增加和时间的延长而持续上升,在15%和20%PEG胁迫下则表现为先上升后下降,在10%PEG胁迫处理第15天时含量最高,为对照的1.34倍。(3)幼苗叶片的游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量随PEG胁迫强度的增加和时间的延长而增加,各指标均在20%PEG胁迫处理第15天时含量最高,分别为对照的1.99倍、1.53倍和1.50倍。(4)随着PEG胁迫时间的延长,远志幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性先上升后下降,并在10%PEG胁迫处理第10天时活性最强;过氧化物酶(POD)活性随着胁迫时间的延长表现出先上升后下降又上升的特性,并在20%PEG胁迫处理第5天时活性最强;叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量在15%和20%PEG胁迫处理下持续上升,在2.5%~10%PEG胁迫范围内先上升后又有所下降。研究发现,远志种子在轻、中度干旱胁迫下仍可正常萌发,而且幼苗能通过调节自身生长、渗透调节物质含量和抗氧化酶活性主动适应干旱环境,对干旱环境表现出较好的适应能力。     

干旱和盐胁迫对华山新麦草种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

模拟华山新麦草野生土壤生境特点,分别采用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)、钙(CaCl2)以及二者混合液3种方式浸种,研究PEG-6000和Ca2+浸种对华山新麦草种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响.结果表明:3种处理下华山新麦草的种子发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数均无显著变化;但PEG-6000浸种后,华山新麦草幼苗可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量增加,蛋白酶、SOD和POD活性增强;CaCl2浸种后,华山新麦草幼苗可溶性糖含量增加,蛋白酶、SOD和CAT活性增强,淀粉酶活性降低;而PEG-6000和CaCl2混合液浸种后,华山新麦草幼苗可溶性糖含量下降,SOD活性降低,华山新麦草生长受阻.据此推测华山干旱和钙离子含量高的生境特点可能是华山新麦草种群濒危的原因之一.     

NaCl胁迫对烤烟K326种子萌发及幼苗生理生化特性的影响

以烤烟品种K326为材料,研究不同浓度NaCl胁迫处理下种子萌发及幼苗生理生化指标的变化。结果表明,低浓度NaCl处理对幼苗生长具有一定的促进作用,而高浓度NaCl胁迫处理具有显著或极显著抑制作用;随着NaCl处理浓度的增加,发芽势、发芽指数、简单活力指数、形态指标、钾离子含量、单株干鲜重均呈明显下降趋势,而钠离子含量则相反;随着NaCl处理浓度的增加以及胁迫时间的延长,K326幼苗叶片中丙二醛、游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量及电解质渗透率均呈上升趋势,而可溶性蛋白、叶绿素含量及根系活力变化则相反。     

PEG预处理对青稞种子萌发和幼苗生理特性的影响

选择国内外28份青稞品种材料幼苗第一片展开叶,分别测定其相对含水量和失水率,并选择其中对水分胁迫敏感与不敏感的材料各1份,研究不同浓度(5%～30%)聚乙二醇(PEG)预处理对青稞种子萌发、幼苗生长和生理特性的影响,探讨短期水分胁迫对青稞生长发育的调节作用。结果显示:(1)28个青稞材料中‘旱地紫青稞’幼苗叶片的相对含水量最高(60.16%)、‘大麻青稞’最低(38.98%),而离体失水率‘旱地紫青稞’最低(8.80%)、‘大麻青稞’最高(20.20%)。说明‘大麻青稞’对水分胁迫最敏感,而‘旱地紫青稞’最不敏感。(2)随着胁迫程度的增加,青稞种子的萌发率和生根率,幼苗的根长、苗高和鲜重均呈先增加后降低的趋势,‘旱地紫青稞’和‘大麻青稞’种子分别在15%和10%PEG处理下发芽和生根最佳且均与对照差异显著(P<0.05),两品种的幼苗根长、苗高和鲜重均在10%PEG处理下表现最佳,但‘大麻青稞’与对照差异不显著。(3)‘旱地紫青稞’幼苗叶片可溶性蛋白和叶绿素含量随PEG处理浓度增加而逐渐增加,而丙二醛含量和相对电导率则逐渐降低,并在30%PEG处理下效果差异极显著(P<0.01);‘大麻青稞’叶片可溶性蛋白和叶绿素含量随PEG处理浓度增加呈先增加后降低的趋势,丙二醛含量和相对电导率呈先降低后增加的趋势,并在20%PEG处理下最佳。研究表明,短时间低浓度PEG处理对青稞种子萌发、幼苗生长及可溶性蛋白、叶绿素、丙二醛含量和相对电导率等生理指标的改善均有一定的促进作用;高浓度PEG处理却具有抑制作用,且高浓度PEG胁迫条件下,耐旱性强比耐旱性弱品种的自我调控能力更强。     

紫穗槐幼苗根系生理特性和解剖结构对PEG-6000模拟干旱的响应

采用PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫处理,测定了紫穗槐幼苗根系的可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质、丙二醛、游离脯氨酸含量及SOD、POD酶活性变化以及解剖结构特征,旨在比较不同干旱程度对紫穗槐幼苗根系生理指标、内部解剖结构的影响,探索紫穗槐幼苗对水分胁迫的适应能力,揭示紫穗槐幼苗根系对土壤水分胁迫的响应和调控机制。结果表明:丙二醛含量变化显示当PEG-6000溶液浓度超过50g/L以后,紫穗槐幼苗根的膜系统开始受到损伤,并在PEG-6000溶液浓度达到250g/L受损程度显著增强,达到了对照的1.6倍,同时启动渗透调节作用(游离脯氨酸含量显著增加),达到了对照的3.8倍,在PEG-6000溶液浓度低于200g/L时,紫穗槐幼苗根系中至少没有启动以游离脯氨酸为主的渗透调节过程。可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白质含量及SOD、POD酶活性的变化印证了胞内发生的生理代谢变化,在PEG-6000溶液浓度为200g/L时,可溶性糖含量仅为0.121mg/g,达到最低点,随后上升,当PEG-6000溶液浓度进一步增加到250g/L时,紫穗槐幼苗根系中的可溶性糖含量则迅速回升到0.64mg/g,为对照组的63.37%。可溶性蛋白质含量在低浓度PEG-6000溶液(50g/L)处理下即有明显反应,下降到对照的61.5%,随后呈波动性变化。SOD和POD活性对PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫的响应规律类似,均对PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫处理迅速响应且活性增加。当PEG-6000溶液浓度达到50g/L至100g/L时,抗氧化酶的合成量最高,而后活性下降。60d的PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫处理影响了紫穗槐幼苗根系的生长发育,随着PEG-6000溶液浓度增加,维管柱的直径变大,木质部厚度增大,导管直径变小、但导管密度增加,当PEG-6000溶液浓度达到250g/L时,导管密度比对照组增加了41.3%,木质部厚度比对照组增加了91.5%。以上结果表明,PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫处理下,不同胁迫程度紫穗槐内部生理和根系解剖结构变化不同,通过改变自身生理代谢和根系内部解剖结构,以适应土壤水分胁迫的逆境条件,来满足自身生长和发育的需求平衡。     

扁蓿豆和苜蓿种子萌发期抗旱性和耐盐性比较

为明晰扁蓿豆[Medicago ruthenica(Linn.)Trautv.]和苜蓿(Medicago varia Martin.)种子萌发期的抗旱性和耐盐性强弱,以不同浓度的聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)和Na Cl溶液模拟干旱和盐胁迫,研究了不同程度干旱和盐浓度对采自甘肃景泰的扁蓿豆和苜蓿品种阿尔冈金(M.varia Martin.cv."Algonquin")种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,干旱胁迫和盐胁迫降低了扁蓿豆和苜蓿种子的发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数,抑制了胚芽和胚根的生长。-0.3~-0.9 MPa和-1.5 MPa的PEG处理下苜蓿和扁蓿豆种子的相对发芽率间无显著差异,-1.2 MPa的PEG胁迫下苜蓿种子的相对发芽率显著高于扁蓿豆。-0.3~-1.2MPa的PEG胁迫下苜蓿种子的相对发芽指数均显著高于扁蓿豆,其相对芽长无显著差异。Na Cl渗透势为-0.9~-1.5 MPa时,苜蓿种子的相对发芽率显著高于扁蓿豆;-0.3~-1.2 MPa的Na Cl胁迫下苜蓿种子的相对发芽指数和相对活力指数均显著高于扁蓿豆。通过种子萌发期的相对发芽率、相对发芽指数、相对活力指数、相对胚根长和相对胚芽长5项指标,应用隶属函数法对参试材料种子萌发期抗旱性和耐盐性进行综合评价的结果表明,苜蓿品种阿尔冈金种子萌发期的抗旱性、耐盐性均强于来自景泰的扁蓿豆。此结果和人们以往对扁蓿豆和苜蓿的认识"扁蓿豆的抗旱性和耐盐性优于苜蓿"不一致。     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Molecular phylogeny of Phebalium (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and related genera based on the nrDNA regions ITS 1+2

Parsimony analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS 1 & ITS 2) for 38 taxa sampled from the Phebalium group (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and two outgroups confirm that, with the exception of Phebalium sensu stricto and Rhadinothamnus, six of the currently recognised genera within the group are monophyletic. The data indicate that Phebaliums. str. is paraphyletic with respect to Microcybe, and Rhadinothamnus is paraphyletic with respect to Chorilaena. Rhadinothamnus and Chorilaena together are the sister group to Nematolepis. Drummondita, included as an outgroup taxon, clustered within the ingroup as sister to Muiriantha and related to Asterolasia.The phylogeny suggests that the evolution of major clades within a number of these genera (e.g. Phebalium) relates to vicariance events between eastern and south-western Australia. Leionema is an eastern genus, with the most basal taxon being the morphologically distinct Leionema ellipticum from northern Queensland. Leionema also includes one species from New Zealand, but this species (as with some others) proved difficult to sequence and its phylogenetic position remains unknown. Taxonomic changes at the generic level are recommended.The authors wish to thank Paul G.Wilson, PERTH, for advice and discussion, and Paul Forster, BRI, for collecting and providing material of Leionema ellipticum. The project was supported by a Melbourne University Postgraduate Award (to BM), the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), Australian Systematic Botany Society and Wolf Den (Australia) Investments.     

New species and new combinations in Peruvian Orchidaceae

seventeen new species and combinations are proposed in the generaChondrorhyncha, Cischweinfia, Cochlioda, Eloyella, Encyclia, Kefersteinia, Koellensteinia, Macroclinium, Rodriguezia, Solenidiopsis, andStenia. All new species are illustrated. A key is provided for 2-flowered species ofMacroclinium, PeruvianSigmatostalix, and PeruvianStenia. Solenidium (Solenidiopsis) peruvianum Schltr. is lectotypified.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Biological control of three floating water weeds,<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eichhornia crassipes,Pistia stratiotes</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salviniamolesta</Emphasis> in the Republic of Congo

Since 1999, four specific weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) were released in the Republic of Congo against three exotic floating water weeds: Neochetina eichhorniae Warner and N. bruchi Hustache against water hyacinth, Neohydronomus affinis Hustache against water lettuce, and Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands against water fern. Recoveries of exotic weevils were made from all 24 release sites except one, and all four species have established and spread (up to 800 km for water hyacinth weevils). Within a few years of releases, control of water fern and water lettuce was such that fishing and navigation could be resumed, while reductions of water hyacinth populations were only beginning.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

A molecular phylogeny of Hebeloma species from Europe

In order to widen the scope of existing phylogenies of the ectomycorrhizal agaric genus Hebeloma a total of 53 new rDNA ITS sequences from that genus was generated, augmented by sequences retrieved from GenBank, and analysed using Bayesian, strict consensus and neighbour joining methods. The lignicolous Hebelomina neerlandica, Gymnopilus penetrans, and two species of Galerina served as outgroup taxa. Anamika indica, as well as representatives of the genera Hymenogaster and Naucoria, were included to test the monophyly of Hebeloma, which is confirmed by the results. Hebeloma, Naucoria, Hymenogaster and Anamika indica cluster in a strongly supported monophyletic hebelomatoid clade. All trees largely reflect the current infrageneric classification within Hebeloma, and divide the genus into mostly well-supported monophyletic groups surrounding H. crustuliniforme, H. velutipes, H. sacchariolens, H. sinapizans, and H. radicosum, with H. sarcophyllum being shown at an independent position; however this is not well supported. The section Indusiata divides with strong support into three groups, the position of the pleurocystidiate Hebeloma cistophilum suggests the possible existence of a third subsection within sect. Indusiata. Subsection Sacchariolentia is raised to the rank of section.     

Phylogenetic investigations of Sordariaceae based on multiple gene sequences and morphology

The family Sordariaceae incorporates a number of fungi that are excellent model organisms for various biological, biochemical, ecological, genetic and evolutionary studies. To determine the evolutionary relationships within this group and their respective phylogenetic placements, multiple-gene sequences (partial nuclear 28S ribosomal DNA, nuclear ITS ribosomal DNA and partial nuclear β-tubulin) were analysed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Analyses of different gene datasets were performed individually and then combined to generate phylogenies. We report that Sordariaceae, with the exclusion Apodus and Diplogelasinospora, is a monophyletic group. Apodus and Diplogelasinospora are related to Lasiosphaeriaceae. Multiple gene analyses suggest that the spore sheath is not a phylogenetically significant character to segregate Asordaria from Sordaria. Smooth-spored Sordaria species (including so-called Asordaria species) constitute a natural group. Asordaria is therefore congeneric with Sordaria. Anixiella species nested among Gelasinospora species, providing further evidence that non-ostiolate ascomata have evolved from ostiolate ascomata on several independent occasions. This study agrees with previous studies that show heterothallic Neurospora species to be monophyletic, but that homothallic ones may have a multiple origins. Although Gelasinospora and Neurospora are closely related and not resolved as monophyletic groups, there is insufficient evidence to place currently accepted Gelasinospora and Neurospora species into the same genus.     

Die GattungKarschia — Bindeglied zwischen bitunicaten Ascomyceten und lecanoralen Flechtenpilzen?

The genusKarschia, in the earlier sense, including saprophytes and parasites on lichens, has been thought to be a non-lichenized parallel genus of the lichen genusBuellia. Modern workers included it on the one hand inBuellia, on the other hand combined it with bitunicate ascomycetes. It is now proved thatKarschia is heterogeneous and contains but superficially similar members both of the genusBuellia of theLecanorales and of typical or masked bitunicateAscomycetes. Therefore, it can not be regarded as a link betweenLecanorales andDothideales. The type species ofKarschia belongs to theDothideales.