A new species ofAdenophora (Campanulaceae) from Korea

Adenophora erecta S. Lee, J. Lee et S. Kim, is described as a new species from an open north-facing mountain slope on the coast of Sukpo-Dong, Ullungdo Is., Kyungsangbukdo, Korea. This species resemblesA. remotiflora Miq., but is well separated by having the leaves compactly arranged along the upper part of the stem, condensed raceme, distinct veins on the corolla and especially shallow dome-shaped epigynous nectar disc.     

Concordant clines and significant correlation between floral and pollen characters in Asarum heterotropoides var. heterotropoides (Aristolochiaceae)

To examine geographic differentiation in Asarum heterotropoides var. heterotropoides in Hokkaido Is. in the northern Japan, in which two putative cryptic species have been suspected to exist, extensive and detailed morphological research on 794 individuals from 44 populations throughout Hokkaido Is. was performed. Among the characters examined, the angle between and tip shape of the calyx lobes and the supratecta of the pollen grains were significantly correlated and were found in similar geographic clines. Among them, the pollen showed two discrete states in almost distinct distribution. Multidimensional scaling analysis showed that individuals within each of the two pollen types had different trends in flower characters. Consequently, we assumed a cline from south to north on Hokkaido Is. For the causes of the cline, the two hypotheses were proposed, primary geographic differentiation or extensive introgressive hybridization between two distinct geographical species existing in the past.     

Transfer of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum strains isolated from potatoes grown at high altitudes to Pectobacterium peruviense sp. nov.

Seven Gram-negative, rod-shaped pectinolytic bacteria strains designated as IFB5227, IFB5228, IFB5229, IFB5230, IFB5231, IFB5232, IFB5636, isolated from potato tubers cultivated in Peru at high altitude (2400–3800 m) were subjected to polyphasic analyses that revealed their distinctiveness from the other Pectobacterium species. Phylogenetic analyses based on five housekeeping genes (gyrA, recA, recN, rpoA and rpoS) clearly showed strains separateness, simultaneously indicating Pectobacterium atrosepticum, Pectobacterium wasabiae, Pectobacterium parmentieri and Pectobacterium betavasculorum as the closest relatives. In silico DNA–DNA hybridization of strain IFB5232^T with other Pectobacterium type strains revealed significant drop in DDH value below 70%, which is a prerequisite to distinguish Pectobacterium peruviense. The ANI values supported the proposition of delineation of the P. peruviense. Genetic REP-PCR fingerprint and detailed MALDI-TOF MS proteomic profile sealed the individuality of the studied strains. However, phenotypic assays do not indicate immense differences.Provided results of analyses performed for seven Peruvian strains are the basis for novel species distinction and reclassification of the strains IFB5227-5232 and IFB5636, previously classified as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. Here, we propose to establish the IFB5232 isolate as a type strain (=PCM2893^T = LMG30269^T = SCRI179^T) with the name Pectobacterium peruviense sp. nov.     

A new anthiine fish (Perciformes: Serranidae),Holanthias kingyo, from the Ryukyu Islands

A new anthiine fish,Holanthias kingyo sp, nov., is described on the basis of two specimens (male and female) from the Ryukyu Is., Japan. The new species is most similar toH. natalensis (Fowler, 1925), known only from South Africa, in having the following characters: dorsal fin soft rays 16 or 17, anal fin soft rays 9, pored lateral line scales 46 or 47, scale rows above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 9 1/2 or 10 1/2, and gill rakers 10 or 11 +24 or 25=34–36. It differs from the latter in having more scales below the lateral line to the origin of the anal fin (27 1/2 vs. 18–24), a U-shaped caudal fin with paddle-like lobes (vs. deeply forked caudal fin with each lobe ending in a long slender filament), the outer margin of the soft anal fin vertical (vs. gently convex) and brown spots on the body in female (vs. spots absent in females).     

低剂量微波辐射对增强UV-B辐射损伤菘蓝幼苗抗氧化酶活性的影响

为了探讨低剂量微波对增强UV-B辐射损伤菘蓝(Isatis indigotica Fort.)的修复作用,将经过10.08 kJ·m-2·d-1辐射损伤(PAR=220 μmol·m-2·s-1)的菘蓝幼苗分别经0、3、6、9和12 s等不同时间的微波辐照(126 mW·cm-2,2 450 MHz),然后测定其幼苗MDA含量、紫外吸收物质含量、抗坏血酸含量以及3种抗氧化酶SOD、CAT和POD活性.结果表明,增强UV-B辐射损伤菘蓝在微波的作用下其菘蓝幼苗中SOD、CAT和POD活性及紫外吸收物质含量、抗坏血酸含量提高,MDA含量得到显著的降低,说明微波对增强UV-B辐射伤害菘蓝幼苗具有修复作用.但是,随着微波剂量的增加,这种修复效应减弱,甚至消失.上述参数的变化说明适量时间的微波处理可以提高菘蓝对增强UV-B辐射的抵抗能力,并在此基础上初步探讨了微波的修复机理.     

西沙群岛的粗根茎莎草夏孢锈菌

在西沙群岛永兴岛发现了我国未曾报道的粗根茎莎草夏孢锈菌Uredo cyperi-stoloni feri Yen.此菌形成大的矩形或纺锤形孢子堆.夏孢子很大,30-43 × 21-29μm,3.5-Sμm厚,有2个明显的腰生芽孔.此菌过去仅见于新加坡.     

NeuN immunoreactivity in the brain of Xenopus laevis

Neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN), discovered in mice brain cell nuclei by Mullen et al. (1992), is used as an excellent marker of post-mitotic neurons in vertebrates. In this study, the expression pattern of NeuN was examined in the Xenopus brain to explore phylogenetic differences in NeuN expression. Anti-NeuN antibody showed selective staining in mouse and Xenopus brain extracts, but the number and molecular weight of the bands differed in Western blotting analysis. In immunostaining, anti-NeuN antibody showed selective staining of neurons, but not glial cells, in the Xenopus brain. Most neurons, including olfactory bulb mitral cells and cerebellar Purkinjie cells, which show no immunoreactivity in birds/mammals, showed NeuN immunoreactivity in Xenopus. This study revealed that anti-NeuN antibody is a useful marker of post-mitotic neurons in amphibians, but it also stains neurons that show no reactivity in more derived animals.