Molecular phylogeny of the fern genus Elaphoglossum (Elaphoglossaceae) based on chloroplast non-coding DNA sequences: contributions of species from the Indian Ocean area

We performed a phylogenetic analysis of the fern genus Elaphoglossum using two non-coding chloroplast spacers: trnL-trnF and rps4-trnS. The sampling includes 123 species, of which 80 have not been previously sequenced, and for the first time includes species from Africa and the Indian Ocean area. The results of this expanded study largely agree with an earlier molecular study based on a smaller group of neotropical species and with the morphology-based classification of Mickel and Atehortua. We found, however, that some infrageneric groups such as section Elaphoglossum are not monophyletic. Besides section Elaphoglossum pro parte, we recognize six sections: two new monospecific, unnamed sections, and the previously established sections Lepidoglossa, Squamipedia, Amygdalifolia, and "Subulate-scaled clade." We divide the subulate-scaled clade into subsection Setosa (hydathodes present) and Polytrichia (hydathodes absent), and section Elaphoglossum is divided into subsections Platyglossa and Pachyglossa, two groups that do not appear to be supported by any single morphological character. In general, however, the main clades are supported by morphology. Finally, we discuss the species of the Indian Ocean region and their affinities with the neotropical ones. Out of the 11 species pairs postulated by Moran and Smith on the basis of morphology, two are well supported (E. eximium-E. aubertii; E. piloselloides-E. spatulatum) and three are not supported (E. ciliatum-E. humbertii; E. muscosum-E. poolii; E. paleaceum-E. deckenii), and two remain unresolved (E. erinaceum-E. hybridum; E. glabellum-E. acrostichoides) because our molecular markers were not variable enough. Four species pairs could not be tested because specimens were lacking. Unsupported species pairs are best interpreted as morphological convergences. Two additional species pairs are proposed: E. cuspidatum-E. succisaefolium; E. doanense-E. hornei. Placement of the species from the Indian Ocean suggests that at least 13 long-distance dispersal events occurred between the Neotropics and the Indian Ocean-Africa.     

Norian calcareous Algae from the Matese Mountains (northern Campania,Italy)

The Norian portion of the Costa dei Frascari succession (Matese Mountains, northern Campania) provides an example of a calcareous algae association dominated by the family Pseudoudoteaceae; subordinately, Gymnocodiaceae and Dasycladaceae also occur. The present study deals with the record of Garwoodia maxima Dragastan, Garwoodia toomeyi Dragastan, Pseudoudotea magna Dragastan et al., Jabrianella sp., and Asterocalculus heraki Sokac and Grgasovic, from the open-lagoon carbonate deposits which were referred to the portion of the Norian below the Triasina hantkeni Zone.Riassunto. Vengono presentati i risultati di uno studio sistematico condotto sulle alghe calcaree del Norico dei Monti del Matese (Campania settentrionale), per la prima volta segnalate in Italia. La ricca associazione è composta da prevalenti pseudoudoteacee e precisamente: Garwoodia maxima, Garwoodia toomeji, Pseudoudotea magna, Jabrianella sp., oltre a Asterocalculus heraki, Heteroporella zankli e Probolocuspis espakhensis, recentemente attribuito alle Dasycladales da Senowbari-Daryan and Majidifard. I campioni analizzati provengono dalla porzione inferiore della successione della Costa dei Frascari (versante meridionale dei Monti del Matese) i cui 160 m basali sono costituiti da prevalenti calcari granulo-sostenuti e da rare intercalazioni di calcari fango-sostenuti, talora loferitici, spesso dolomitizzati e stromatolitici. Labbondanza di antozoi, chetetidi, gasteropodi di grandi dimensioni e, in particolare, di resti di echinodermi indica che tali sedimenti si sono deposti in un ambiente di open-lagoon caratterizzato da continui scambi con il mare aperto che garantivano condizioni di salinità e ossigenazione delle acque idonee a questo tipo di organismi. In base allassociazione micropaleontologica e considerata lassenza di Triasina hantkeni e di Griphoporella curvata, la cui comparsa avviene a circa 160 m dalla base della successione, questi sedimenti sono stati riferiti alla porzione di Norico sottostante la Zona a Triasina hantkeni (sensu Marcoux et al. 1993).     

A molecular phylogeny of the Canidae based on six nuclear loci

We have reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of 23 species in the dog family, Canidae, using DNA sequence data from six nuclear loci. Individual gene trees were generated with maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) analysis. In general, these individual gene trees were not well resolved, but several identical groupings were supported by more than one locus. Phylogenetic analysis with a data set combining the six nuclear loci using MP, ML, and Bayesian approaches produced a more resolved tree that agreed with previously published mitochondrial trees in finding three well-defined clades, including the red fox-like canids, the South American foxes, and the wolf-like canids. In addition, the nuclear data set provides novel indel support for several previously inferred clades. Differences between trees derived from the nuclear data and those from the mitochondrial data include the grouping of the bush dog and maned wolf into a clade with the South American foxes, the grouping of the side-striped jackal (Canis adustus) and black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) and the grouping of the bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) with the raccoon dog (Nycteruetes procyonoides). We also analyzed the combined nuclear + mitochondrial tree. Many nodes that were strongly supported in the nuclear tree or the mitochondrial tree remained strongly supported in the nuclear + mitochondrial tree. Relationships within the clades containing the red fox-like canids and South American canids are well resolved, whereas the relationships among the wolf-like canids remain largely undetermined. The lack of resolution within the wolf-like canids may be due to their recent divergence and insufficient time for the accumulation of phylogenetically informative signal.     

Phylogenetics of Miscanthus,Saccharum and related genera (Saccharinae,Andropogoneae, Poaceae) based on DNA sequences from ITS nuclear ribosomal DNA and plastid trnLintron and trnL-F intergenic spacers

DNA sequences were used to assess the monophyly and inter-relationships of Miscanthus, Saccharum and related genera in the Saccharum complex. Three DNA regions were sequenced, including the trnL intron and the trnL-F intergenic spacer of the plastid genome and the ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). Because it was more variable, the ITS region proved most suitable for phylogenetic reconstruction at this level, and the results indicate that Miscanthus s.l. and Saccharum s.l. are polyphyletic. A set of species from Saccharum section Ripidium (clade a) do not group closely with any members of Saccharum s.l.. A number of Miscanthus species from eastern or south-eastern Asia represent a monophyletic group with a basic chromosome number of 19 (clade b), but the other species from Africa and the Himalayas are clearly excluded. There is support for a monophyletic Saccharum s.s. clade including S. officinarum and S. spontaneum that is sister to Miscanthus s.s (clade c). There is no evidence to support the division of some Saccharum s.l. into the genera currently known as Erianthus and Narenga. Saccharum contortum (=Erianthus contortus), S. narenga (=Narenga porphyrocoma) and Erianthus rockii, group more closely with Miscanthus fuscus, a species from the Himalayas and also with the African Miscanthus s.l. species (=Miscanthidium, clade d). Electronic Publication     

叶表皮及种皮特征在黄精族系统学研究中的应用

通过光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对黄精族trib．Polygonateae 7属79种以及相关类群12属15种 的叶下表皮形态及种皮微形态进行了观察。结果表明广义黄精族植物的叶表皮形态和种皮形态可分别 分为4种类型和6种类型。在黄精族中,鹿药属Smilacina和黄精属Polygonatum的叶表皮和种皮特征在 属内表现出一定的多样性,据此可将黄精属植物分为两类：第一类多表现为叶表皮细胞形状不规则,其垂周壁为波曲形或无皱褶但弯曲,种皮表面浅穴状;另一类叶表皮细胞形状为长方形或菱形,其垂周壁 直或无皱褶但弯曲,种皮表面具脊状突起或网状结构。其中,叶表皮细胞垂周壁无皱褶但弯曲为过渡 类型,在两类植物中均有表现。本研究结果还显示出竹根七属Disporopsis和黄精属的互叶类以及鹿药属 同具有波状垂周壁的叶表皮细胞和穴型种皮。舞鹤草属Maianthemum和鹿药属的S．stellata,S．trifolia 等的种皮特征相似。万寿竹属Disporum的叶表皮特征在属内表现得相当一致,但种皮特征在东亚分布 的种和北美分布的种之间区别明显。扭柄花属Streptopus叶表皮和种皮特征在属内没有分化。卵叶扭 柄花S．ovalis的叶表皮和种皮特征与属内其它种之间没有区别,确证了它在本属中的位置。扭柄花属、 万寿竹属、七筋菇属Clintonia与黄精族其它类群差别较大,但前两者与Uvulariaceae科的油点草属Tricyr- tis和细钟花属Uvudaria较为接近,从而支持了Dahlgren将其移至Uvulariaceae的观点。而在与外类群的关系中,铃兰族的铃兰属Convallaria与黄精族具相近的叶表皮和种皮特征。     

叶绿体DNA片段的RFLP分析在黄精族系统学研究中的应用

对广义百合科黄精族6属23种及铃兰族1属1种的叶绿体基因组trnK和rpl16两个基因片段进 行了PCR-RFLP分析,结果表明：trnK基因的PCR产物在各类群间几乎不存在长度变异,均约2600bp,而rpl16基因则在各属之间及黄精属内表现出长度变异,变异范围在1140~1320bp之间;限制性酶切位点的同源性分析显示,黄精属、竹根七属、鹿药属和舞鹤草属构成的狭义黄精族与铃兰族中的铃兰属有较近的亲缘关系,并支持将扭柄花属和万寿竹属从广义百合科黄精族中分出的观点;在狭义黄精族内,黄精属与竹根七属聚成一支,鹿药属与舞鹤草属聚成另一支,为探讨族内属间的系统演化关系提供了分子生物学方面的证据。另外,本研究结果支持将金佛山黄精从鹿药属转隶至黄精属的观点。     

中国鸢尾属植物根茎中异黄酮类成分分布的初步研究及其系统学意义

本文对鸢尾属Iris 22个种(基本上包括了各个亚属的代表)及其近缘属植物射干属Belamcanda的 射干 B．chinensis(L．)DC．进行了根茎的异黄酮类成分的比较分析研究。结果表明,鸢尾属植物和射干 中普遍具有异黄酮类成分,这是它们的特征性成分之一。根据化学成分的特征,鸢尾属可以分为两大类 群：只含异黄酮甙元的类群和既含异黄酮甙又含甙元的类群。从化学成分的分布特征来看,无附属物亚 属subgen．Limniris只含异黄酮甙元,是一个比较自然的类群。鸡冠状附属物亚属subgen．Crossiris,除小 花鸢尾 I．speculatrix Hance外,是一个较自然的类群。野鸢尾亚属subgen．Pardanthopsis和射干属的成分 非常相似,有着密切的亲缘关系,是鸢尾属中原始的类群。从化学成分特征来看,野鸢尾亚属与琴瓣鸢 尾亚属subgen．Xyridion、鸡冠状附属物亚属、须毛状附属物亚属subgen．Iris都有着一定的联系。根据化 学成分、孢粉学、细胞学等特征,认为：华夏鸢尾I．cathayensis Migo和长白鸢尾I．mandshurica Maxim．为无附属物亚属与须毛状附属物亚属两亚属之间的过渡类型。小花鸢尾是无附属物亚属向鸡冠状附属物亚属过渡的中间类型。扁竹兰I．confusa Sealy和扇形鸢尾I．wattii Baker可能是同一个种。     

The late Miocene bovids from Platania (Drama Basin,Greece), with description of a new species of Palaeoryx

This study presents the new fossil material of bovids from the recently discovered upper Miocene locality of Platania, Drama (Greece). The material was excavated from 2012 to 2016 and yielded approximately 760 specimens attributed to hipparions, rhinos, cervids, giraffids, suids, proboscideans, hyaenids, and turtles. The bovid material described here includes six taxa of Antilopinae and one of Bovinae. Antilopines are represented by Gazella sp., Gazella cf. ancyrensis, Prostrepsiceros aff. syridisi, cf. Palaeoreas, Palaeoryx minor nov. sp., and Tragoreas? aff. oryxoides. Bovines are recorded by a single boselaphine attributed to Miotragocerus sp. Departing from other Palaeoryx species, the new species P. minor has rather straight and weakly divergent horn-cores tilted backwards, obtuse facial and occipito-parietal angles, and smaller cranial and horn-core size, though associated with a proportionally large toothrow. Miotragocerus sp. from Platania seems to be conspecific to the Miotragocerus sp. from the end-Vallesian Nikiti-1 fauna (Greece). The bovid assemblage of Platania shows a mix of both Vallesian and Turolian taxa indicating a likely late Vallesian-early Turolian age.     

Affinities of Phylacia and the daldinoid Xylariaceae, inferred from chemotypes of cultures and ribosomal DNA sequences

A chemotaxonomic evaluation using hplc profiling was undertaken to resolve the infrageneric and intergeneric affinities of over 150 strains of Xylariaceae. Daldinia placentiformis, Hypoxylon nicaraguense, H. polyporus, and Phylacia sagrana were found to contain 8-methoxy-1-naphthol, which is apparently absent in Annulohypoxylon, Hypoxylon, and related genera with bipartite stromata. D. placentiformis and other species of Daldinia and Entonaema produced this naphthol, 5-hydroxy-2-methylchromone, isosclerone derivatives, and ‘AB-5046’ phytotoxins. Phylacia sagrana differed from most Daldinia spp., except for D. caldariorum, by producing eutypine derivatives in addition to the above compounds. Indolylquinones were observed in H. nicaraguense and H. polyporus. Isosclerones were also identified in the A. multiforme complex, but Hypoxylon and other Annulohypoxylon and most Hypoxylon spp. studied Annulohypoxylon spp. contained 5-methylmellein as the major metabolite of their cultures. Based on the occurrence of the above metabolites, further mellein-type dihydroisocoumarins, teleomorphic and anamorphic Xylariaceae with Nodulisporium-like anamorphs (‘Hypoxyloideae’) were divided into various chemotypes. A comparison of their 5.8S/ITS nuc-rDNA sequences agreed in some important aspects with the above results: H. nicaraguense and H. polyporus appeared basal to a clade comprising Daldinia, Entonaema, and Ph. sagrana. The latter species appeared allied to D. caldariorum, but was distantly related to Pyrenomyxa morganii and Hypoxylon s. str.     

Taxonomic position of the superorder Fusulinoida Fursenko in the Foraminifera system

Comparative morphological analysis of the test and apertural structures in lower and higher members of the superorder Fusulinoida and class Miliolata has shown that they are similar in test, developmental trends from primitive forms with a tubular chamber to complex supermultichamber tests of the fusulinoid shape. As series of sections were compared, supplementary inner deposits at the bottom of chambers of endothyrids (tubercles, rostra, chomata) showed homology with the teeth of Miliolata. The high magnesium composition of the test wall and some ultrastructural features shared by the two groups support their affinity and suggest the assignment of the superorder Fusulinoida to the class Miliolata as an early phylogenetic lineage.