Pollination by fungus gnats in four species of the genus Mitella (Saxifragaceae)

The first example of pollination by fungus gnats in the eudicots is reported. The genus Mitella (Saxifragales) is characteristically produces minute, inconspicuous, mostly dull-coloured flowers with linear, sometimes pinnately branched, petals. To understand the function of these characteristic flowers, we studied the pollination biology of four Mitella species with different floral traits and different sexual expression: dioecious M. acerina , gynodioecious M. furusei var. subramosa , and hermaphroditic M. stylosa var. makinoi and M. integripetala. Flower-bagging experiments showed that wind pollination did not occur in the dioecious and gynodioecious species. Two years of observations of flower visitors at six study sites in Japan revealed that the principal pollinators of all four Mitella were specific species of fungus gnats (Mycetophilidae), which landed on the flowers with their long spiny legs settling on the petals. Characteristically, numerous pollen grains were attached to the fungus gnats in specific locations on the body. Although, on average, 1.3–2.6 fungus gnats visited each inflorescence per day, the fruit set of both bisexual and female flowers exceeded 63%. These results suggest that fungus gnats are highly efficient pollinators of Mitella spp., and that Mitella flowers are morphologically adapted to pollination by fungus gnats.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 144 , 449–460.     

EFFECT OF LIGHT ON AUXIN TRANSPORT AND ELONGATION OF AVENA MESOCOTYL

The present work was undertaken to find if there are relations between light and auxin action on elongation of coleoptilar node and mesocotyl with Avena seedlings. Red light inhibited the elongation of mesocotyl and simultaneously decreased the rate of transport of diffusible auxin through the node. Red light also inhibited the transport of exogenously given IAA through the nodal region. The light inhibition of IAA transport was closely related to the increase of IAA immobilization. As the age proceeds, the ability of IAA immobilization increased with the decrease in the rate of mesocotyl elongation, even if the seedling was grown in complete darkness. The nature of radioactive substances found in the IAA-C¹⁴ treated tissue was examined by paper chromatography. The above results strongly suggested that the increase of IAA immobilization might result in the inhibition of mesocotyl elongation.     

Differential fluorescent-banding patterns in chromosomes of four species of Cycas (Gycadaceae)

Similar karyotypes of In = 22 in Cycas circinalis, C. media var. basaltica, C. revoluia var. rewluta, C. revoluta var. taiwaniana and C. siammsis were compared with each other by using the CMA and DAPI fluorescent staining methods. Their four largest submedian-centromeric chromosomes each had a CMA band at the terminal region in common. Their 12 terminal-centromeric chromosomes commonly displayed CMA bands at the terminal region and the pericentric region. Two of the 12 terminal-centromeric chromosomes carried a CMA band somewhere in the interstitial region of the long arm. C. circinalis alone showed it at a relative position closer to the centromere. The other taxa showed it at a relative position near the terminal region. All of the chromosomes exhibited the DAPI dot at the centromeric region.     

金花茶花药愈伤组织的体细胞减数分裂

金花茶(Camellia petelotii)的小孢子单核期花药,经培养和继代培养6个月后的愈伤组织中,发现有少量体细胞进行减数分裂。在减数第一和第二次分裂中,同源染色体的配对和分离基本正常,最后形成四分体。该愈伤组织经石蜡切片和压片观察,发现其主要由大量的液化细胞和贮藏细胞所组成,此外,还有少部分分生细胞。没有发现进一步的分化。其染色体数目,2n=30者占71.7%其余则为非整倍体。     

Revision of the Euthalia phemius complex (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) based on morphology and molecular analyses

Adults of the Euthalia phemius complex, which is composed of three South‐East Asian nymphalid species, Euthalia phemius, Euthalia ipona, and Euthalia euphemia, were genetically analysed by examining mitochondrial and nuclear genes. The E. phemius complex was also examined morphologically, with particular emphasis on wing markings and male genitalia. No significant differences amongst the three species in the complex were detected with respect to either genetic distance or genital morphology. We therefore conclude that the three currently recognized Euthalia species belong to a single species. Accordingly, E. ipona is synonymized with E. phemius. Euthalia euphemia is treated as a subspecies of E. phemius. Type specimens of all taxa and a synonymic list for the E. phemius complex are also given. In addition, we briefly discuss the evolution and biogeography of the species complex. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 164 , 304–327.     

Effect of metanotal secretion ingestion on oviposition in a tree cricket, Truljalia hibinonis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

The female Truljalia hibinonis ingests metanotal secretions of the male during copulation. The effect of ingestion on oviposition behavior was compared between three female groups: females that copulated once with an intact male (a male that had not been manipulated; M group); females that copulated once with a male from which most of the metanotal secretion had been removed (NO group); and females that copulated once with an intact male followed by being artificially supplied with metanotal secretion three times (MS group). There were no obvious differences in female fecundity across the three groups. However, within the MS group, intake of an optimal amount of metanotal secretion increased the number of eggs laid. This effect appeared quickly after ingestion and was most effective on the first bout (eggs laid during the first few days after copulation) after ingestion of the metanotal secretion. In contrast, the number of eggs laid had a negative correlation with the amount of metanotal secretion ingested when the amount exceeded the optimal in this experimental arrangement.     

CHANGES IN THE LEVELS OF NICOTINAMIDE NUCLEOTIDES AND IN ACTIVITIES OF NADP-DEPENDENT DEHYDROGENASES AFTER A BRIEF ILLUMINATION OF RED LIGHT

A brief red irradiation caused an immediate rise of NADPH level and an immediate drop of NADP level in coleoptilar node of etiolated Avena seedling. With the duration of the dark incubation after the red irradiation, the level of NADPH gradually fell, and the NADP level rose higher than in non-irradiated materials. Such NADP-dependent dehydrogenases as glucose-6-phosphate, isocitrate and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases were activated immediately after the red irradiation.     

Isolation of microsatellite markers from Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. using a dual PCR technique

We developed seven microsatellite loci from Pinus densiflora using a dual polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Of 186 clones from a library based on suppression PCR, 127 contained microsatellite sequences. Of these, 43 candidates were determined sequences of both flanking regions, and 16 regions from this group were chosen as development markers. Seven of these primer pairs successfully amplified polymorphic single loci among 83 resistant trees against pine wood nematode. The observed heterozygosity of the seven microsatellite markers ranged from 0.247 to 0.843. Mendelian inheritance was confirmed using megagametophytes.     

Synonymy of Etiennea Matile-Ferrero with Hemilecanium Newstead (Hemiptera: Coccidae), based on morphology of adult females, adult males and first-instar nymphs, and description of a new potential pest species from the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

The genus Etiennea Matile‐Ferrero is synonymized with Hemilecanium Newstead (Hemiptera: Coccidae). We base this decision on a morphological comparative study of adult females, adult males and first‐instar nymphs (crawlers), including a phylogenetic analysis. We recovered a sister group relationship between the type species of the two genera, Etiennea villiersi Matile‐Ferrero and Hemilecanium theobromae Newstead; that is, each was more closely related to the other than either was to other species in their respective genera. All species hitherto included in Etiennea are transferred to Hemilecanium: H. bursera (Hodgson & Kondo) comb. nov., H. cacao (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. candelabra (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. capensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. carpenteri (Newstead) comb. nov., H. cephalomeatus (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. combreti (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. ferina (De Lotto) comb. nov., H. ferox (Newstead) comb. nov., H. gouligouli (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. halli (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. kellyi (Brain) comb. nov., H. madagascariensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. montrichardiae (Newstead) comb. nov., H. multituberculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. petasus (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. sinetuberculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. tafoensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. ulcusculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., and H. villiersi (Matile‐Ferrero) comb. nov. Keys to the adult females of all 26 species and known adult males and first‐instar nymphs are provided. The adult males and first‐instar nymphs of H. theobromae Newstead and E. villiersi Matile‐Ferrero are for the first time fully described and illustrated. One new potential pest species of Hemilecanium, H. uesatoi Kondo & Hardy sp. nov., which was collected on three islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, is described and illustrated based on the adult female, adult male and first‐instar nymph. We discuss evidence that H. uesatoi is a new introduction to the Ryukyu Archipelago. The first‐instar nymphs of Hemilecanium can be divided into two distinct morphological groups, the petasus group and the theobromae group.