NeueSilene-Arten (Caryophyllaceae) aus dem Gebiet der Flora Iranica

15 new species are described: Sect.Sclerocalycinae:S. farsistanica, S. stapfii. — Sect.Spergulifoliae:S. paktiensis. — Sect.Auriculatae:S. caroli-henrici, S. daënensis, S. gertraudiae, S. nizvana, S. oligophylla, S. persepolitana, S. pseudaucheriana, S. pseudonurensis, S. renzii, S. salangensis, S. sojakii. — Sect.Brachypodae:S. rasvandica. — All the new species are from Iran with exception ofS. paktiensis andS. parvanica which are from Afghanistan.

Florae Iranicae praecursores 46–60. — Praecursores praecurrentes in Pl. Syst. Evol.142: 239–246 (1983).     

Genetic linkage relationships between two enzyme loci,Est-2 and acph,in the mosquito Aedes (Finlaya) togoi

An esterase locus (Est-2), coding for carboxylesterase, and an acid phosphatase locus (Acph) were genetically studied by agar gel electrophoresis in the mosquito Aedes (Finlaya) togoi. The Est-2 and Acph variants occur as a monomer and a dimer, respectively. Both enzyme loci are linked to the sex locus (M) and s (straw-colored larva); the gene arrangement and recombination distances were Est-2—12.6%—s—31.7%—M—2.9%—Acph—3.2%—Est-3. The Est-3 locus was previously shown to code for carboxylesterase.This work was supported by Grant AI 16983-02 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.     

Linkage of lactate dehydrogenase-2, Ldh-2, in the mouse

An electrophoretically detectable variant of lactate dehydrogenase-2 in Mus musculus has been found and used to locate the structural gene, Ldh-2, on chromosome 6. Gene order and recombination frequencies are estimated as Sig—36.0±4.8—Lc 21.0±4.1—Mi ^wh—20.0±4.0—Ldh-2.     

Omphalotaceae fam. nov. undPaxillaceae,ein chemotaxonomischer Vergleich zweier Pilzfamilien derBoletales

TheOmphalotaceae fam. nov., which include the generaOmphalotus andLampteromyces, are defined on the basis of characteristic sesquiterpenes and of their ability to cause white-rot. Anatomical and morphological features of the representatives of these genera support the creation of this new family. The occurrence of pigments, typical of theBoletales, and of cyanophilous spores, indicate membership of theOmphalotaceae in the orderBoletales. Relationships to the other families of this order — especially to thePaxillaceae — are discussed. The possible functional significance of fungal metabolites is considered.

Herrn Prof. Dr.J. Poelt zur Vollendung seines 60. Lebensjahres gewidmet.—Veränderte Fassung eines Vortrages auf der Tagung der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft, Wien, September 1984.     

Pollination ofDianthus gratianopolitanus (Caryophyllaceae)

Pollination ofDianthus gratianopolitanus was studied in a population of the Swiss Jura mountains. Pollinators of this plant species are reported here for the first time. The flowers were not only visited by butterflies as postulated in the literature, but also by diurnal hawkmoths (Macroglossum stellatarum) and by diurnal and nocturnal noctuid moths. — Nectar is sucrose-dominant, the sugar concentration is moderate but the amino acid concentration is high. Nectar characteristics correspond well with the syndrome ofLepidoptera-pollinated flowers. — Field observations and flower characters (colour, range of the calyx length) suggest thatDianthus gratianopolitanus is an intermediate species in the transition of butterfly to moth pollination. — Lack of reproductive success inDianthus gratianopolitanus can not be attributed to lack of suitable pollinators.     

Dry stigmas,water and self-incompatibility in Brassica

The evolution of dry stigmas has been accompanied by the development — in the pollen — of mechanisms for accessing water from the stigmatic epidermis. Development of self- and cross-pollen on the stigmatic surface has been examined in Brassica oleracea, focusing on the hydration of the grains. Unlike self-compatible (SC) Arabidopsis thaliana, pollen hydration of self-incompatible (SI) Brassica oleracea is preceded by a latent period of between 30–90 min, which is significantly shortened by inhibition of protein synthesis in the stigma. Physiological experiments, some with isolated pollen coatings, indicate that during the latent period signals passing from the pollen to the sigma are responsible for readying the stigmatic surface for penetration and — after self-pollination — activation of the SI system. The changes at the stigma surface include the expansion of the outer layer of the cell wall beneath the grain. This expansion does not occur following self-pollination, when coating-derived signals stimulate a stigmatic response which interrupts hydration and arrests grain development. Cell manipulation studies suggest that self grains are not inhibited metabolically, but are physiologically isolated from the subjacent stigmatic papilla. This focusing of the SI response at the pollen-stigma interface ensures that a single papilla can simultaneously accept cross-pollen and reject self-grains. The evolution of this highly efficient SI system is disussed in the perspective of pathogen-defence mechanisms known also to be located in epidermal cells.     

Ether-induced segmentation disturbances in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary Drosophila embryos, exposed to ether between 1 and 4 h after oviposition, develop defects ranging from the complete lack of segmentation to isolated gaps in single segments. Between these extremes are varying extents of incomplete and abnormal segmentation. On the basis of both their temporal and spatial characteristics, five major phenotype classes may be distinguished: headless — unsegmented or incompletely segmented anteriorly; gap — interruptions of segmentation not obviously periodic; alternating segment gaps — interruptions with double segment periodicities; fused segments; and short segments — truncations with single segment periodicities. Many defects resemble known mutant phenotypes. The disturbances in segmentation are predominantly global and frequently accompanied by alterations in segment specification, such that the segments obtained show no resemblance to the normal homologues. These features, together with the distinctive spatiotemporal characteristics of the defects, all point to segmentation as a dynamic process. The regular spacing of the segments and the fact that the entire range of defects is inducible by ether are further consistent with the hypothesis that at least part of the segmentation process may consist of physicochemical reactions coordinated over the whole body. The relationship between our data and data from genetic and other analyses are briefly discussed.     

A recombination hotspot in the maize A1 intragenic region

Summary We find that recombination between two alleles of the maize A1 locus that contain transposon insertions at known molecular positions can occur at 0.04–0.08 cM per kbp (centimorgan per kilobase pair), which is two orders of magnitude higher than the recombination rate for the whole maize genome. It is however, close to the rates found within the bronze locus, another maize structural gene for which both genetic and molecular data are available. This observation supports the idea that the genome consists of regions that are highly recombinogenic — in some cases, at least, structural genes — interspersed with regions that are less recombinogenic.     

Genetic mapping,distribution, and properties of an aconitase isozyme in Anopheles albimanus (Diptera:Culicidae)

Electrophoretic analysis of the developmental stages and tissues of Anopheles albimanus showed that qualitatively similar allozymes of aconitase (Acon-2) occur at all stages, and the enzyme is widespread in every larval and adult tissues. Relative heat stabilities of the allozymes were investigated by electrophoresis of heated aqueous extracts and by heating the enzyme in situ in acrylamide gels after electrophoretic separation in Tris-citrate and Tris-maleate buffer systems. The pupal aconitase in the crude extract is more stable to heat than the larval and adult enzyme. The presence of citrate ions in the gel increased the stability of aconitase to heat. Studies of substrate specificities indicated that cis-aconitic acid is the best substrate but citric acid can also serve as a substrate. Zymograms developed with isocitric acid as a substrate showed no aconitase electromorphs and produced only isocitrate dehydrogenase bands. Aconitase has a pH optimum of 8.0 and this enzyme is completely inhibited if treated in situ with ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA), p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), and urea at concentrations higher than 5mm, 5×10^–5 m, and 2 m, respectively. Acon-2¹⁰⁰ and Acon-2¹⁰⁵ do not respond differently to the above treatments. Genetic crosses involving a holandric translocation, pericentric inversions, visible mutants, and allozyme markers were analyzed to map the aconitase (Acon-2) locus on the left arm of chromosome 3. The gene sequence (and map distances) on 3L is centromere—esterase-8 (Est-8)—2—esterase-4 (Est-4)—25—esterase-2 (Est-2)—9—Acon-2—5—phosphoglucomutase (Pgm)—7—esterase-6 (Est-6).     

On the phytosociological status of Juncus maritimus on British saltmarshes

Summary Six noda occurring on British saltmarshes in whichJuncus maritimus is an important constituent are described. Using numerical techniques these noda are related to previously described communities. It is suggested that two noda be incorporated in theHalimionetum portulacoidis andAtriplici — Agropyretum pungentis while three others are considered to form theJuncus maritimus — Oenanthe lachenalii Ass. R. Tx. 1937 which is included within theArmerion maritimae. The status of theTriglochin — Juncus maritimus nodum remains uncertain. The affinities between northern European and MediterraneanJ. maritimus communities are discussed and it is suggested that the differences between them are not as great as might be supposed from their conventional assignment to separate classes. The variation within theJuncetum gerardii is discussed and it is considered that most of the vegetation described as theJunco — Caricetum extensae may be incorporated in theJuncetum gerardii.Nomenclature follows Hubbard (1968) forPoaceae, and Clapham, Tutin & Warburg (1962) for other British vascular plants. Bryophyte nomenclature is according to Warburg (1963).I should like to thank Dr. H. J. B. Birks for providing the necessary computer programs, I. C. Prentice for comments and criticism and Miss S. Bishop for help in preparing the figures.     

Fünf neue Arten der GattungAnthemis (Compositae) aus Iraq und Afghanistan

Five new species ofAnthemis sect.Anthemis from the Flora Iranica region are described:A. gillettii (subsect.Anthemis) from NW. Iraq and adjacent Iran is allied toA. damascena.—A. kurdica (subsect.Anthemis) also grows in Iraqi Kurdistan.—A. hamrinensis (subsect.Rascheyana; akin toA. plebeia) is distributed in the Jabal Hamrin region at the extreme outer margin of the Zagros chains.—A. kandaharica (subsect.Anthemis) andA. freitagii (subsect.Rascheyana) are distributed in Afghanistan.

Anschrift des Herausgebers: Hofrat Univ.-Prof. Dr.Karl Heinz Rechinger, Beckgasse 22, A-1130 Wien, Österreich.     

The chemical control of salvinia molesta (Mitchell) and some related toxicological studies

Laboratory trials were performed to screen the potentials of four herbicides — PARAQUAT, DIQUAT, TOK E-25 and DALAPON — for the chemical control of Salvinia molesta. The herbicides were applied as aerial sprays, and their phytotoxic effects were assessed by visual estimation. Paraquat and Diquat have been found to be the more promising.The toxicities of the four herbicides were tested on three aquatic organisms associated with the plant in the aquatic environment —larva of Nymphula responsalis, Rasbora trilineata and Poecilia reticulata. An attempt was made to correlate the toxicological results with the application rates of the herbicides in terms of safety factors. TOK E-25 has been found to be most toxic, the others being relatively safe.     

Localization of genes coding for biochemical traits on the second chromosome of Drosophila imeretensis Sokolov (D. littoralis Meigen)

We have investigated 13 alleles of four genes coding for acid phosphatase, -and -esterases, and malic enzyme. The genes were localized and their positions regarding the centromere are as follows: Acph-1—centromere—Me—cu—dt—-Est—[Inversion 2t]—-Est. The occurrence of crossing-over in Drosophila imeretensis males, as well as the tetrameric structure of malic enzyme, was confirmed.     

The Leiognathus splendens complex (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) with the description of a new species, Leiognathus kupanensis Kimura and Peristiwady

Taxonomic analysis of a group of morphologically similar ponyfishes (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) establishes the Leiognathus splendens complex comprising four valid species: L. jonesi James, 1971, widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from Mauritius to Papua New Guinea, north to Hainan I. (China), and south to Brisbane, Australia; L. kupanensis sp. nov., currently known only from Kupang, Timor, Indonesia; L. rapsoni Munro, 1964, currently known only from India, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, and L. splendens Cuvier, 1829, widely distributed in the eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans, from India to Papua New Guinea, and from southern Japan to northern Australia. The L. splendens complex can be defined by the following combination of characters: body depth 42–60% of standard length; mouth protruding downward; slender, minute teeth uniserially on jaws; lower margin of orbit above the horizontal through the gape when mouth closed; breast almost completely scaled; lateral line complete, and a dark blotch on top of spinous dorsal fin. Diagnostic characters of the members are as follows: L. jonesi—anterior dorsolateral body surface with a semicircular naked area on nape, and a paler dark blotch on spinous dorsal fin; L. kupanensis—anterior dorsolateral body surface widely naked; L. rapsoni—cheek scaled; L. splendens—anterior dorsolateral body surface completely scaled and a jet black blotch on spinous dorsal fin.     

Mutations and modifications support a ‘pitted-flexiball’ model for α-crystallin

α-Crystallin is renown for resisting crystallization and electron microscopic image analysis. The spatial conformation thus remaining elusive, the authors explored the structure and chaperone functioning by analyzing the effects of site-directed mutagenesis, the properties of naturally occurring aberrant forms of α-crystallin and the influence of chemical modifications. The authors observed that the globular multimeric structure, as well as the chaperoning capacity are remarkably tolerant towards changes and modifications in the primary structure. The essential features of the quaternary structure—globular shape, flexibility, highly polar exterior and accessible hydrophobic surface pockets—support a ‘pitted-flexiball’ model, which combines tetrameric subunit building blocks in an open micelle-like arrangement.     

Molecular phylogeny ofForsythia (Oleaceae) based on chloroplast DNA variation

Phylogenetic relationships of ten wild species and several cultivars ofForsythia were reconstructed based on the chloroplast (cp) DNA variation. A total of 216 cpDNA variants, 44 of which were potentially phylogenetically informative, was detected using 24 restriction endonucleases. Phylogenetic analysis usingFontanesia andAbeliophyllum as outgroups revealed four well defined species groups in the genus: 1)F. suspensa, 2)F. europaea — F. giraldiana, 3)F. ovata — F. japonica — F. viridissima, and 4)F. koreana — F. manshurica — F. saxatilis. The amount of support for each monophyletic group was evaluated by various methods including character number, decay analysis, parsimony bootstrapping, Neighbour-Joining (NJ) — bootstrapping, NJ-jackknifing, and the topology-dependent permutation tail probability (T-PTP) test. The data do not support the hybrid origin ofF. intermedia fromF. suspensa andF. viridissima. The disjunctly distributed European species,F. europaea, was identified as a sister species of the ChineseF. giraldiana and it was probably derived through recent long distance dispersal.     

Breeding systems and pollination inVigna minima (Leguminosae,Papilionoideae)

Four types of floral breeding systems—(i) chasmogamy, (ii) aerial pseudocleistogamy, (iii) subterranean pseudocleistogamy and (iv) obligate subterranean true cleistogamy—are observed in the populations ofVigna minima inhabiting the Western Ghats (India). Five categories of phenotypes are recognized based on the number and kinds of floral breeding systems found in a given individual. The frequencies of different categories of phenotypes not only show intra- and interpopulation variation, but also fluctuate from generation to generation suggesting differences in the genetic structure of populations. This polymorphism in the breeding system of a single species is unique and may be adaptive. Obligate subterranean true cleistogamy and amphicarpy appear to be adaptations to jungle fires and soil erosion.—The flowers are of the flag-blossom type and insect visitors act as tripping agents. The tripping mechanism together with the polymorphic floral breeding system result in a balanced mixture of selfing and outcrossing. Such a recombination system may enhance the fitness ofV. minima which is essentially a colonizing species.     

Fruit dimorphism inPhaseolus sublobatus (Fabaceae) and its evolutionary significance

Populations of the annualPhaseolus sublobatus from different ecogeographical zones are genetically differentiated. In twelve populations from the western ghats (Maharashtra range) chasmogamous flowers are arranged in peduncled capitate racemes borne in leaf axils of higher nodes. One population (Poona Race S₄) has additional inflorescences, also with chasmogamous flowers, on the main axis between the cotyledonary node and the ground. When the pods of these flowers ripen, the inflorescence gradually coils and, eventually, gets bury the fruits in the soil. This phenomenon is not known in any other plant.—The seed-coat patterns as revealed by SEM, and germination behaviour of both aerial and subterranean seeds are similar, and both types of seeds lack dormancy.—Heavy seed predation selection pressure is probably the principal cause for the evolution of fruit dimorphism inP. sublobatus. The origin of geocarpy in relation to fruit dimorphism and seed predation is discussed.     

Ultrastructure de l'équipement sensoriel de la mandibule chez la larve duSpeophyes lucidulus Delar. (Coléoptère cavernicole de la sous-famille desBathysciinae)

Summary The sensorial organization of the mandible of theSpeophyes lucidulus larva is studied by means of electron microscopy.This sensorial apparatus is remarkably homogeneous, i.e. it includes only mechanoreceptors: — tactile receptors such as trichoide sensillae in the external edge of the mandible, — proprioceptors such as campaniform sensillae and scolopidia which are the more numerous.The latter, end in the zone of the mandible which are widely concerned with strains and deformations during mandibular movements.Furthermore, these receptors present certain original morphological features which are described below.Résumé L'organisation sensorielle de la mandibule de la larve duSpeophyes lucidulus est étudiée au microscope électronique. L'équipement sensoriel est remarquablement homogène puisqu'il ne comprend que des mécanorécepteurs: — récepteurs tactiles, comme les sensilles trichoïdes du bord externe de la mandibule, — propriocepteurs, comme les sensilles campaniformes d'une part et les récepteurs scolopidiaux d'autre part, qui sont les plus abondants.Ceux-ci se terminent dans les zones de la mandibule qui sont le plus fortement soumises à des tensions et des déformations lors des mouvements mandibulaires. Ces récepteurs présentent en outre certaines caractéristiques morphologiques originales que nous décrivons.

     

Five primary trisomics from translocation heterozygote progenies in common bean,Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Summary Twelve distinct phenotypic groups of plants were isolated from nondisjunction progenies of 11 translocation heterozygote stocks. All the plants in these phenotypic groups originated in the light weight seed class. Five of the 12 phenotypic groups of plants have been verified as primary trisomics. They are all phenotypically distinguishable from each other and from disomics. One of the five primary trisomic groups, puckered leaf, was directly recovered as a primary trisomic from the original translocation heterozygote progenies. Three of the five trisomics — weak stem, dark green leaf, and convex leaf — originated first as tertiary trisomics. The related primary trisomics were isolated later from progenies of selfed tertiary trisomics. The fifth group, chlorotic leaf, originated at a low frequency among the progenies of three other trisomics: puckered leaf, convex leaf, and dark green leaf. The chlorotic leaf did not set seed under field conditions. The remaining four groups — puckered leaf, dark green leaf, convex leaf, and weak stem — are fertile, though sensitive to high temperature conditions. The transmission rate of the extra chromosome on selfing ranges from 28% to 41%. Physical identification of the extra chromosome has not been achieved for any of the five trisomic groups. Two trisomic groups, dark green leaf and convex leaf, have produced tetrasomics at low frequency. The phenotypes of these two tetrasomics are similar to the corresponding trisomics but more exaggerated.Fla. Agr. Expt. Stn. Journal Series No. 7137