Chemosystematic studies of the Caribbean junipers based on their volatile oils

Six taxa of smooth leaf margined junipers were collected from the West Indies, Bermuda and the south-eastern United States for chemosystematic analyses of their volatile oils. These taxa were Juniperus bermudiana, J. ekmanii, J. gracilior, J. lucayana, J. silicicola and J. virginiana. Three major groups were found: Hispaniola (J. ekmanii, J. gracilior); Bermuda/Bahamas (J. bermudiana, J. lucayana) and south-eastern United States (J. silicicola, J. virginiana). The hispaniola junipers were found to be unique among the smooth leaf margined junipers of the Western Hemisphere in having a large percentage of bomyl acetate in the leaf oil composition. Systematic implications and possible routes of migration and evolution are discussed.     

Contribution to the chromosome numbers of some species of the genus Juncus L. in Slovakia

The study presents chromosome counts of the following species of the genusJuncus from Slovakía:J. sphaerocarpus, J. capitatus, J. subnodulosus, J. atratus, J. alpino-articulatus subsp.alpino-articulatus, J. triglumis, J. castaneus.     

Revision of Jaegeria (Compositae-Heliantheae)

The genusJaegeria consists of a diploid-polyploid complex of eight species found in moist habitats from Mexico to South America. The distributions, habitats, generic affinities, and tribal placement are discussed. Chromosome numbers were determined for all species exceptJ. axillaris, which is known only from Colombia.J. glabra andJ. pedunculata are diploid (2n = 18) ;J. hirta, J. macrocephala, J. gracilis, andJ. crassa are tetraploid (2n = 36) ;J. bellidiflora is octoploid (2n = 72). One Galápagos Island endemic,J. gracilis, is quite similar to the common mainland species,J. hirta, but the other endemic,J. crassa, is quite distinct from any other species.J. bellidijlora is most similar morphologically toJ. glabra;J. macrocephala is allied toJ. pedunculata. J. axillaris is somewhat distinct from the other species.     

Numerical taxonomy of Juniperus thurifera, J. excelsa and J. foetidissima (Cupressaceae) based on morphological characters

Juniperus excelsa and J. thurifera are considered to originate from the same ancestor. As a result of occurring in geographically isolated refuges – J. excelsa in SE Europe and SW Asia and J. thurifera in SW Europe and NW Africa – their divergence could have taken place at the end of the Tertiary, with the climate cooling. Juniperus foetidissima occurs in SE Europe and SW Asia in territories shared with J. excelsa and is similar to and sometimes misidentified with it. The occurrence of the latter two species over the same area suggests they should be more similar to each other than to the geographically distant J. thurifera . Four populations of J. excelsa ssp. excelsa , four of J. thurifera and two of Juniperus foetidissima were examined on the basis of features of 10 cones and 10 shoots of 18–36 specimens each. Results of discrimination analysis, Mahalanobis distances and cluster analysis showed great similarity to J. excelsa and J. thurifera , while J. foetidissima was more distant. The results support the hypothesis of a common ancestor of J. excelsa and J. thurifera , but suggest another origin of J. foetidissima .  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 483–495.     

Genetic divergence and phylogenetic analysis of genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha</Emphasis> based on nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequence

The genus Jatropha belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae having significant economic importance. The present investigation was undertaken with an aim to understand phylogenetic relationships among seven species (J. curcas, J. glandulifera, J. gossypifolia, J. integerrima, J. multifida, J. podagrica, and J. tanjorensis.) which are widely distributed in India, using nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequence (nrDNA ITS) and to compare the results with multilocus marker analysis systems reported earlier for the same genus. The size variation obtained among sequenced nrDNA ITS regions was narrow and ranged from 647 to 654 bp. The overall mean genetic distance (GD) of genus Jatropha was found to be 0.385. Highest interspecific GD (0.419) was found between J. glandulifera and J. multifida. The least interspecific GD (0.085) was found between J. gossypifolia and J. tanjorensis. The highest intraspecific GD was observed in J. podagrica (0.011) and least in J. gossypifolia (0.002). The phylogram obtained using nrDNA ITS sequence showed congruence with the phylograms obtained using multilocus markers system reported earlier with minor variations. The present study also strongly supports high phylogentic closeness of J. curcas and J. integerrima. The only exception found was J. podagrica which clustered with J. multifida in earlier based on multilocus marker analysis, was clustered with J. curcas in the present analysis. The sequence data generated in the present investigation will help for further studies in intraspecies population, and their phylogentic analysis, biogeographical, molecular evolution studies and also pave way for future phylogetic and/or evolution studies among the other groups belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae.     

Infraspecific variability ofJuniperus L. (Cupressaceae) based on monoterpenoid compositions

The compositions of leaf monoterpenoids from 11 species in the Juniperus section (Juniperus chinensis var. chinensis,J. virginiana, J. communis var. montana,J. rigida, J. chinensis var. globosa,J. chinensis var. sargentii,J. chinensis ‘Kaizuka Variegata’,J. squamata ‘Wilsonii’,J. x media ‘Shimpake’,J. x media ‘Plamosa Aurea’, andJ. squamata ‘Aloderi’) were comparatively analyzed by GC-MS. Of the 24 compounds identified, α-pinene, myrcene, limonene, terpinolene, and bornyl acetate were common to all, but particular combinations differed remarkably among taxa. The simplest composition (eight compounds) was found in.J, chinensis var. chinensis; the most complex (19 compounds), inJ. x media ‘Shimpake’. Cluster analysis generated four distinctive clades within the Juniperus section. The minimum spanning network revealed thatJ. squamata ‘Wilsonii’ andJ. x media ‘Shimpake’ were most similar in their chemical makeup.     

Chemosystematic studies of the western north american junipers based on their volatile oils

Six taxa of western North American denticulate leaved junipers were collected and their volatile leaf oils analysed. Two chemical forms of J. californica (‘A’ and ‘B’) previously reported were found to differ considerably in their concentration of α-pinene, sabinene, β-pinene, camphor and 4-terpineol. However, principal co-ordinate analysis revealed that the chemical forms of J. californica were the most similar taxa in the group and considerably more similar than the two varieties of J. occidentalis are to each other. This group of junipers appears to consist of two major subgroups: (1) J. occidentalis; and (2) J. california, J. monosperma, J. osteosperma; with J. osteosperma being closely related to the northern form of J. californica (:A.) and J. monosperma being most closely related to the southern form of J. californica (‘B’).     

A synopsis of the Juncus hesperius group (Juncaceae, Juncotypus) and their hybrids in western North America

A synopsis of North American species in the Juncus hesperius group is presented. Juncus exiguus, J. hesperius, and J. laccatus form a trio of closely related species in the section Juncotypus, restricted to western North America. They are illustrated and mapped based on extensive field and herbarium studies. A key to North American members of Juncus section Juncotypus, north of Mexico, is presented. Putative hybrids in the group are morphologically intermediate and rare in mixed populations. The following putative hybrid combinations are documented: J. exiguus × J. effusus subspecies pacificus from California; J. exiguus × J. laccatus from California; J. hesperius × J. effusus subspecies pacificus from British Columbia, California, and Washington; J. hesperius × J. laccatus from Washington, and J. hesperius × J. patens from California. Three putative hybrids are illustrated.     

Vier neue Arten der GattungJacaranda (Bignoniaceae) aus dem Südosten Brasiliens

Four new species ofJacaranda have been found in the coastal mountain-ranges of SE-Brazil where they occupy characteristic ecological positions.J. montana andJ. subalpina are related toJ. puberula agg.,J. pulcherrima shows affinities toJ. ulei but also toJ. subalpina. J. crassifolia is very distinct and possibly related toJ. obovata.

     

phlF− mutant of Pseudomonas fluorescens J2 improved 2,4-DAPG biosynthesis and biocontrol efficacy against tomato bacterial wilt

Pseudomonas fluorescens J2 can produce 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG) as the main antibiotic compound and effectively inhibits the wilt pathogens Ralstonia solanacearum and Fusarium oxysporum. The phlF which negatively regulates the 2,4-DAPG synthesis in strain J2 was disrupted by homologous recombination to construct a mutant strain J2-phlF⁻. The mutant J2-phlF⁻ produced much more 2,4-DAPG and showed higher inhibitory effect on R. solanacearum than the wild type strain J2 in vitro. The mutant J2-phlF⁻ also showed more colonization of tomato roots and higher inhibition to R. solanacearum in soil than wild type strain J2. The biocontrol efficiency of mutant J2-phlF⁻ was higher against tomato bacterial wilt than wild type strain J2, but the differences were not significant. However, the application of both strains with organic fertilizer improved the colonization and biocontrol efficiency against tomato bacterial wilt and mutant strain J2-phlF⁻ showed higher biocontrol efficiency against tomato bacterial wilt than wild type strain J2. Both strains, J2 and J2-phlF⁻, could also promote the growth of tomato plants.     

Jania rubens-associated bacteria: molecular identification and antimicrobial activity

Marine macroalgae surfaces constitute suitable substrata for bacterial colonization which are known to produce bioactive compounds. Thus, hereby we focused on heterotrophic aerobic bacteria species associated with coralline red alga Jania rubens (northern coast of Tunisia, southern Mediterranean Sea) and their inhibition against several microbial marine and terrestrial species. The whole collection (19 isolates, J1 to J19) was identified, based on their 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences as Proteobacteria (14 strains), Bacteroidetes (4 strains) and Firmicutes (1 strain). Thirty-six percent of the isolates (J2, J9, J11, J13, J16, J17 and J18) were antibiotic-like producers with in vitro inhibition against Gram + and Gram ? bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans. Highest level of inhibition was revealed for the isolates J2, J9 and J13 identified respectively as Bacillus, Aquimarina and Pseudomonas, with strong activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus and C. albicans, with inhibition diameters of 25 to 35 mm shown by drop test assay on T soy agar plates. Furthermore, we tested inhibition of J. rubens crude organic extracts against human and marine bacteria as well as against all J. rubens isolates, in order to determine the degree of affinity of the epibionts to their proper host. The recovery of strains with antimicrobial activity suggests that J. rubens represent an ecological niche which harbors a specific microbial diversity worthy of further secondary metabolites investigation.     

中国马蓝属(爵床科)新组合和新分类群(英文)

采用广义的马蓝属(Strobilanthes Blume)概念,提出3个新组合:匍匐半插花(S.primulifolia(Nees)Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood),直立半插花(S.cumingiana(Forst.)Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood)和狭叶马蓝(S.atropurpurea var.stenophylla(C.B.Clarke)Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood);描述了8新种:南岭马蓝(Strobilanthes austrosinensis Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood)、冯氏马蓝(S.fengiana Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood)、陶氏马蓝(S.taoana Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood)、启无马蓝(S.wangiana Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood)、景东马蓝(S.atroviridis Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood)、西畴马蓝(S.rostrata Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood)、黄连山马蓝(S.spiciformis Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood)和匍匐马蓝(S.procumbens Y.F.DengJ.R.I.Wood)。对南岭马蓝、黄连山马蓝、景东马蓝和匍匐马蓝的花粉形态进行了观察。     

Development of in vivo somatic mutation system using antibody against hemoglobin Preparation and use of an anti-hemoglobin antibody for identifying C57BL/6 red cells in artificial mixture of DBA/2 and C57BL/6 red cells

A cellular specific-locus mutation test is described for detecting mutant cells in mammals. The test is based upon the use of specific anti-C57BL/6J mouse hemoglobin antibody that binds hemoglobin “single” (hemoglobin s, present in C57BL/6J mouse) and not hemoglobin “diffuse” (hemoglobin d, present in DBA/2J mouse). Attempts to purify such antibody from pony and rabbit antisera through cross-absorption were unsuccessful. Immunization of LP/J mouse with C57BL/6J hemoglobin produced antiserum that reacted with s hemoglobin but not with d hemoglobin. In a fluorescent antibody technique, this antibody was found to label fixed red blood cells from C57BL/6J mice but not from DBA/2J mice. In a mixture of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J red cells, the C57BL/6J cells could be differentiated by their bright fluorescence from the non-fluorescent DBA/2J cells. Reconstruction experiment with artificial mixtures of DBA/2J and C57BL/6J cells showed that s hemoglobin bearing cells could be detected in DBA/2J red cells at frequencies as small as 0.4×10^?6. Thus, the system is sensitive enough to detect d → s mutation in DBA/2J mice. Amino acid comparison of the globin chains of s and d hemoglobins shows that our antibody can probably detect mutations leading to a substitution of serine or proline by alanine at β²⁰ position and/or a substitution of threonine by alanine at β¹³⁹ position.     

Mitochondrial DNA variation and phylogenetic relationships of Jasus spp. (Decapoda: Palinuridae)

The seven species of rock lobster in the genus Jasus have a fragmented circumpolar distribution, inhabiting continental or island waters of the Southern Ocean. Gene flow between nominal species is possible as the planktonic larval stages of Jasus are widely dispersed in major oceanic gyres. Restriction endonuclease analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from five species ( J. verreauxi, J. novaehollandiae, J. edwardsii, J. lalandii and J. tristani ) was used to assess taxa previously defined only by morphological criteria. Intraspecific mtDNA nucleotide sequence diversity was generally high (0˙33–0˙99%). An absence of episodic population bottlenecks and extinctions, attributable to a teleplanic (far wandering) and prolonged pelagic stage, may be a significant factor contributing to this variation. New Zealand ( J. edwardsii ) and Australian ( J. novaehollandiae ) populations appear to be conspecific and should be referred to as J. edwardsii ; however, a significant difference in the magnitude of mean sequence diversities between these populations may indicate restrictions to gene flow across the Tasman Sea. The genome of J. verreauxi is highly distinct from the genomes of the other species (nucleotide sequence diversity: 14˙92–16˙67%), supporting the existence of 'verreauxi' and 'lalandii' groups within Jasus . High sequence diversities separating J. edwardsii, J. lalandii and J. tristani (4˙41–7˙36%) indicates longterm reproductive isolation. Hypotheses for the evolution of 'lalandii' group Jasus , which suggest a relatively recent divergence of J. lalandii and J. tristani , are not supported by phylogenetic reconstruction. Instead, it gives systematic validity to the grouping of J. lalandii with J. edwardsii as proposed by the existing taxonomy.     

Genetic and phenotypic analysis of seizure susceptibility in PL/J mice

Epilepsy is one of the most common but genetically complex neurological disorders in humans. Identifying animal models that recapitulate human epilepsies is important for pharmacological studies of anticonvulsants, dissection of molecular and biochemical pathogenesis of epilepsy, and discovery of epilepsy susceptibility genes. We discovered that the PL/J inbred mouse strain is susceptible to handling- and rhythmic tossing–induced seizure. The tonic–clonic and generalized seizures observed after induction were accompanied by abnormal EEGs, similar to seizures observed in EL and SWXL-4 mice. PL/J mice also had an extremely low threshold to electroconvulsive seizures compared to other strains and showed variable sensitivity to pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures. Gross neurostructural abnormalities were not found in PL/J mice. Crosses with the seizure-resistant C57BL/6 J strain revealed semidominant inheritance of the rhythmic tossing seizure trait with low penetrance. F2 progeny indicated that the genetic inheritance of seizure susceptibility in PL/J is non-Mendelian. We crossed DBA/2 J mice, which are resistant to rhythmic tossing seizure but susceptible to audiogenic seizures, to PL/J. We found that seizure penetrance in (DBA/2 J × PL/J)F1 mice was similar to the penetrance in (C57BL/6 J × PL/J)F1 mice but the severity and frequency of seizure were higher in (DBA/2 J × PL/J)F1 mice. The PL/J strain serves as an interesting new model for studying the genetics, neurobiology, and pharmacology of epilepsy.     

Distribution of Lectin Binding Sites in Xenopus laevis Egg Jelly

Eggs from the anuran Xenopus laevis are surrounded by a thick jelly coat that is required during fertilization. The jelly coat contains three morphologically distinct layers, designated J1, J2, and J3. We examined the lectin binding properties of the individual jelly coat layers as a step in identifying jelly glycoproteins that may be essential in fertilization. The reactivity of 31 lectins with isolated jelly coat layers was examined with enzyme-linked lectin-assays (ELLAs). Using ELLA we found that most of the lectins tested showed some reactivity to all three jelly layers; however, two lectins showed jelly layer selectivity. The lectin Maackia amurensis (MAA) reacted only with J1 and J2, while the lectin Trichosanthes kirilowii (TKA) reacted only with J2 and J3. Some lectins were localized in the jelly coat using confocal microscopy, which revealed substantial heterogeneity in lectin binding site distribution among and within jelly coat layers. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) bound only to the outermost region of J3 and produced a thin, but very intense, band of fluorescence at the J1/J2 interface while the remainder of J2 stained lightly. The lectin MAA produced an intense fluorescence-staining pattern only at the J1/J2 interface. Several lectins were also tested for the ability to inhibit fertilization. WGA, MAA, and concanavalin A significantly inhibited fertilization and WGA was found to block fertilization by preventing sperm from penetrating the jelly. Using Western blotting, we identified high-molecular-weight components in J1 and J2 that may be important in fertilization.     

Systematic revision of Jorunna Bergh, 1876 (Nudibranchia: Discodorididae) with a morphological phylogenetic analysis

The genus Jorunna is characterized by a dorsum covered withcaryophyllidia, a prostate with two sections, a penis usuallyunarmed but occasionally armed with hooks, a copulatory spine,the presence of an accessory gland and a labial cuticle smoothor armed with jaw elements. The examination of 216 non-typespecimens, 30 types, and a review of the literature show thatthere are 16 valid species of the genus Jorunna: J. tomentosa(Cuvier, 1804); J. funebris (Kelaart, 1859); J. pantherinaAngas,1864; J. rubescens (Bergh, 1876); J. labialis (Eliot, 1908);J. parva (Baba, 1938); J. spazzola (Marcus, 1955); J. hartleyi(Burn, 1958); J. alisonaeMarcus, 1976; J. lemchei (Marcus, 1976);J. evansi (Eliot, 1906); J. pardusBehrens & Henderson, 1981;J.ramicolaMiller, 1996 and J. onubensis Cervera, García-Gómez& García, 1986. In addition, two new species fromthe Eastern Pacific are described: J. osae n. sp. and J. tempisquensisn. sp. We propose two new combinations: Jorunna parva and J.evansi. New records for the genus Jorunna are provided fromItaly, Algeria, Seychelles, Madagascar, Thailand, Marshall Islands,New Caledonia, Île de la Réunion, Sudan, PapuaNew Guinea, Indonesia, Panama, Costa Rica, Bahamas, and SouthernMexico. We present the first preliminary phylogenetic analysisof this cryptobranch dorid genus, based on morphological anatomicaldata, and discuss the biogeography and evolution of severalcharacters in this group. The phylogeny supports the hypothesisthat the genus Jorunna is a monophyletic group and shows thatKentrodoris is nested within it. (Received 31 December 2004; accepted 10 January 2008)