New species of Phanerogams from Amazonia

Five species from Amazonia are described as new and illustrated:Sagittaria purusana Prance (Alismataceae),Coimarus wurdackii Prance (Connaraceae),Anthodiscus klugii Standley ex Prance (Caryocaraceae), andAnacampta pendula Markgraf andAmbelania longiloba Markgraf, the latter two members of the Apocynaceae.     

Additions to Neotropical Dichapetalaceae

The new speciesTapura panamensis Prance is described as the first record of its genus from Central America. A key toTapura updates that of the Flora Neotropica monograph and a list of exsiccatae studied since the monograph is given.     

A new combination in Maranthes (Chrysobalanaceae)

Maranthes, previously known in the Neotropics only from Panama, has recently been collected in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Prior to publication of the Chrysobalanaceae of theFlora de Nicaragua, the new combinationMaranthes panamensis (Standl.) Prance & F. White is made and based onCouepia panamensis, previously considered conspecific with the AsiaticM. corymbosa Blume.     

New species and combinations in neotropical Lecythidaceae

Lecythis barnebyi Mori andCorythophora amapaensis Pires ex Mori & Prance are described and the following new combinations are coined:Lecythis brancoensis (R. Knuth) Mori,L. schwackei (R. Knuth) Mori,L. alutacea (A. C. Smith) Mori,L. lurida (Miers)Mori, L. holcogyne (Sandwith)Mori, L. corrugata Poiteau subsp.rosea (Spruce ex Berg) Mori, andCorythophora labriculata (Eyma) Mori & Prance.     

New genera and species of Chrysobalanaceae from Malesia and Oceania

Two new genera of Chrysobalanaceae are described.Hunga distributed in New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands and Papua and New Guinea, contains eight species, three new, and five formerly placed in the generaAngelesia, Licania andParinari.Kostermanthus is described to accommodate two species with united filaments formerly placed inParinari andAcioa. Both new genera are quite as distinct as others of the family and have been overlooked by undue emphasis placed on the single character of a bilocular ovary.Licania palawanensis Prance is also described; it is the second species of its genus from Malesia.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
Winter Garden Glory. Adrian Bloom
Gardening with Perennials Month by Month. Joseph Hudek
Flora Europaea. Volume 1, second edition, Psilotaceae to Platanaceae. Edited by T. G. Tutin, N. A. Burgess, A. O. Chater, J. R. Edmondson, V. H. Heywood, D. M. Moore, D. H. Valentine, S. M. Walters and D. A. Webb, assisted by J. R. Akeroyd and M. E. Newton
Bark. The Formation, Characteristics and Usefulness of Bark around the World. Ghillean Tolmie Prance and Anne E. Prance     

Preface to Changes and disturbance in tropical rainforest in South-East Asia. A Discussion Meeting held at the Royal Society on 20 and 21 January 1999

Preface to Changes and disturbance in tropical rainforest in South-East Asia. A Discussion Meeting held at The Royal Society on 20 and 21 January 1999. Organized and edited by D. M. Newbery, T. H. Clutton-Brock and G. T. Prance.     

New taxa ofRubiaceae-Rubieae from Iraq

New species ofCrucianella (1),Asperula (2),Galium (3), and a new subspcies (Galium), most of them endemic to Iraq, are described and their closest affinities discussed. A number of new combinations and status alterations withinCrucianella, Asperula, Galium andCruciata are also published.     

Taxus associated fungal endophytes: anticancerous to other biological activities

Endophytes are the plant microorganisms that flourish inside plants (endosphere) and support the growth under normal and challenging environmental circumstances. Besides biological activities, microbial endophytes are important for their contribution in adaptation and survival of the host plants under stressed environments. While various species of Taxus have been globally recognized mainly due to their anticancer property, emphasis has also been on isolation of taxol producing endophytes in view of the taxonomic (endangered) status of the species. Furthermore, Taxus associated endophytes are also being recognized for the biological activities other than taxol production. The present study reviews the diversity of Taxus associated endophytes along with their biological activities. Available literature on Taxus associated endophytes revealed that T. chinensis has received maximum attention (19.5 %), followed by T. wallichiana (18.5 %), T. baccata (16.4 %), T. cuspidata (11.3 %), and T. mairei (10.3 %); with a minimum number of reports accounted for T. globose (1.0 %), and T. celebica (2.0 %). Most fungal endophytes have been identified as ascomycetes. Basidiomycetous endophytes have been reported in a limited number of studies. No endophytes have yet been identified from three species, namely T. controta (West Himalayan yew), T. floridana (Florida yew), and T. canadensis (Canadian yew). A total of 70 diverse endophytic species have been reported from different Taxus species. Fusarium sp. (25.2 %), Aspergillus sp. (17.6 %), Alternaria sp. (11.3 %), Penicillium sp. and Cladosporium sp. (10.0 %) are the five dominant genera. Furthermore, 59.6 % of studies from the reported literature are related to taxol production by fungal endophytes, 9.6 % related to antimicrobial activity, and a combined 15.3 % related to other biological activities, i.e., antifeeding, antimitogenic, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Additionally, 3.8 % of fungal endophytes were not studied for any of their biological activities. Only three bacterial endophytes namely Burkholderia sp., Enterobacter sp., and Pseudomonas sp., have been recorded from Taxus along with their contribution in plant growth, antagonistic, and antioxidant activities. Isolation and characterization of microbial endophytes from Taxus plant parts is important for the associated ecology and medicinally important biological activities. It will support the much-required conservation strategy of Taxus species. Further, isolation of plant growth promoting microorganisms from Taxus will help in propagation of the species.     

Transmission of Nepoviruses by Xiphinema americanum-group Nematodes

The transmission of North American nepoviruses by putative species belonging to the Xiphinema americanum-group is reviewed. Xiphinema americanum sensu stricto, X. californicum, and X. rivesi each transmit cherry rasp leaf (CRLV), tobacco ringspot (TobRSV), and tomato ringspot nepovirus (TomRSV), and X. bricolensis is a vector of TomRSV. The apparent lack of specificity in the transmission of North American nepoviruses by X. americanum-group species markedly contrasts with the specific associations between European nepoviruses and their vector nematode species. Two complementary projects are described examining the taxonomic identity of putative species in the X. americanum-group, their morphological and genetic relationships, their ontogeny, and their ability to transmit viruses.     

Ultrastructure of the natural and factitious host eggs of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

The surface and structure of the chorion of eggs of Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Anticarsia gemmatalis (Huebner), Heliothis virescens F., Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Sitotroga cerealella (Oliver) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Ephestia kuehniella Zeller and Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), that are hosts of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were studied on SEM and TEM. Other characteristics of these eggs, such as changes in their color during embryonic development, size and volume were also recorded. Sculpturing and texture of the surface of the chorion greatly varied among the species studied, as well as the number of layers of the chorion and their thickness. Eggs of the factitious hosts were among the smallest and their volume was very close to each other. All these characteristics would provide basic information for a better understanding of the host selection behavior and are useful for the development of a suitable artificial host egg for the in vitro rearing of these egg parasitoids.     

New data on the distribution of rare and new fish species in Russian waters of the Barents Sea

New data are presented on the occurrence in the Russian waters of the Barents Sea of 30 species of rare fishes. These data significantly change knowledge on their geographic distribution. For the first time, the presence in the Russian zone of seven species is indicated: Raja lintea (Rajidae), Chimaera monstrosa (Chimaeridae), Gadiculus argenteus thori and Micromesistius poutassou (Gadidae), Gaidropsarus argentatus (Lotidae), Sebastes viviparus (Sebastidae), and Lycodus luetkeni (Zoarcidae).     

Determinación de perfiles de producción de metabolitos secundarios característicos de especies del género Alternaria aisladas de tomate

BackgroundMany Alternaria species have been studied for their ability to produce bioactive secondary metabolites, such as tentoxin (TEN), some of which have toxic properties. The main food contaminant toxins are tenuazonic acid, alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), altenuene, and altertoxins i, ii and iii.AimsTo determine the profiles of secondary metabolites characteristic of Alternaria strains isolated from tomato for their chemotaxonomic classification.MethodsThe profiles of secondary metabolites were determined by HPLC MS.ResultsThe Alternaria isolates obtained from spoiled tomatoes belong, according to their morphological characteristics, to the species groups Alternaria alternata, Alternaria tenuissima and Alternaria arborescens, with A. tenuissima being the most frequent. The most frequent profiles of secondary metabolites belonging to the species groups A. alternata (AOH, AME, TEN), A. tenuissima (AOH, AME, TEN, tenuazonic acid) and A. arborescens (AOH, AME, TEN, tenuazonic acid) were determined, with some isolates of the latter being able to synthesize AAL toxins.ConclusionsSecondary metabolite profiles are a useful tool for the differentiation of small spored Alternaria isolates not easily identifiable by their morphological characteristics.     

Karyosystematics ofVeronica sect.Beccabunga (Scrophulariaceae) with special reference to the taxa in Turkey

The chromosome numbers ofVeronica beccabunga subsp.abscondita (2n=18),V. anagallis-aquatica subsp.lysimachioides (2n=18),V. anagallis-aquatica subsp.michauxii (2n=36), and of a presumable hybridV. poljensis × V. anagalloides (2n=36) are new for the relevant taxa. — A new number was found forV. anagalloides subsp.heureka (2n=18). The other counts, ofV. scardica (2n=18),V. anagalloides subsp.anagalloides (2n=18), andV. anagallis-aquatica subsp.oxycarpa (2n=36) agree with earlier findings.—Data from the literature have been critically evaluated, in some cases the relevant vouchers have been checked and, where needed, the original determinations have been revised. For several taxa, comments concerning their systematics and remarks on their distribution in Turkey are given.     

Potential Zoonotic Trematodes Recovered in Stray Cats from Kuwait Municipality,Kuwait

Stray cats are a common feature roaming the streets and alleys of Kuwait; they could be a source of parasites, including trematodes, that affect humans. A survey was conducted to identify feline trematodes and throw the light on their public health significance in Kuwait. Out of 240 stray cats trapped from different localities of Kuwait from June 2011 to May 2012, 59 (24.6%) were found to be infected with 14 species of trematodes. The most common were trematodes of the genus Heterophyes, particularly H. heterophyes and H. dispar that were found in respectively 15.8% and 10.8% of the cats examined. Other trematodes recorded, with lower prevalences, were Heterophyes nocens (2.9%), Haplorchis taichui (3.8%), Stictodora sawakinensis (2.1%), Stellantchasmus falcatus (1.6%), Echinochasmus japonicus (1.6%), and Mesostephanus dottrensi (1.3%). Centrocestus cuspidatus, Galactosomum fregatae, Ascocotyle sp., Mesostephanus appendiculatus, Haplorchis yokogawai, and Pygidiopsis genata showed the lowest prevalence (0.4%) and intensity. The majority of the trematodes are recorded for the first time in Kuwait and even in the Gulf region. The study reveals that stray cats are good indicators of fish-borne trematodes in the environment. As all trematodes recovered are zoonotic, their significance to public health should be considred.     

New records of Adelodrilus (Oligochaeta,Tubificidae), with descriptions of two new species from the North-west Atlantic

Adelodrilus fimbriatus sp.n. is described from bathyal depths off the continental shelf of Eastern United States, A. cristatus sp.n. from sublittoral bottoms on this shelf (off Maryland and New Jersey). The two species are principally distinguished from their congeners by the morphology of their penial setae. New geographical records and morphological notes are given for A. pusillus Erséus (including the first find of Adelodrilus in the Mediterranean Sea), A. cooki Erséus, A. voraginus (Cook), and A. acochlearis Erséus & Loden. A pictorial key to all eleven species of Adelodrilus is provided.     

Fishborne Trematode Metacercariae in Luang Prabang,Khammouane, and Saravane Province,Lao PDR

Fishborne trematode (FBT) metacercariae were investigated in fish from 3 Provinces of Lao PDR. Total 242 freshwater fish of 40 species were collected in local markets of Luang Prabang (59 fish of 16 species), Khammouane (81 fish of 19 species), and Saravane (97 fish of 14 species), and each of them was examined by artificial digestion method. Four species of metacercariae (Opisthorchis viverrini, Haplorchis taichui, Haplorchis yokogawai, and Centrocestus formosanus) were detected. O. viverrini was detected in 35 fish (14.5%), and their density was 252 per infected fish (Luang Prabang, 88 metacercariae in 5 fish; Khammouane, 187 in 6 fish; Saravane, 303 in 24 fish). H. taichui was found in 102 fish (42.1%), and their density was 485 per infected fish (Luang Prabang, 260 metacercariae in 38 fish; Khammouane, 1,084 in 23 fish; Saravane, 359 in 41 fish). H. yokogawai was detected in 92 fish (38.0%), and their density was 222 per infected fish (Luang Prabang, 362 metacercariae in 17 fish; Khammouane, 126 in 20 fish; Saravane, 214 in 55 fish). Metacercariae of C. formosanus were found in 8 fish (3.3%), and their density was 3 per infected fish. In the present study, it has been confirmed that FBT metacercariae, in particular, H. taichui, H. yokogawai, and O. viverrini, are highly prevalent in fish from Luang Prabang, Khammouane, and Saravane Province, Lao PDR.     

The potential of South African plants in the development of new medicinal products

Southern Africa is an important focal point of botanical and cultural diversity but only a few plant species have hitherto become fully commercialised as medicinal products. In recent years there has been an upsurge in research and development activity, resulting in several new products and new crops. In this review, more than 90 of the best-known and most promising indigenous South African plants are listed and subjectively evaluated in the context of their potential for commercialisation as medicinal products for a variety of applications. The history of product development relating to the following species is briefly discussed and the plants and some of their products are illustrated: Agathosma betulina (buchu), Aloe ferox (bitter aloe), Artemisia afra (African wormwood), Aspalathus linearis (rooibos tea), Bulbine frutescens (burn jelly plant); Cyclopia genistoides (honeybush tea), Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw), Hoodia gordonii (hoodia, ghaap), Hypoxis hemerocallidea (“African potato”), Lippia javanica (fever tea), Mesembryanthemum tortuosum (= Sceletium tortuosum) (kanna, kougoed), Pelargonium sidoides (“Umckaloabo”), Siphonochilus aethiopicus (African ginger), Sutherlandia frutescens (= Lessertia frutescens) (cancer bush), Warburgia salutaris (pepperbark tree) and Xysmalobium undulatum (“Uzara”). The main factors that are apparently responsible for failure or success will be highlighted, especially the importance of marketing strategy, proof of concept and barriers to market entry.     

Differential effects of conjugated linoleic acid isomers on the biophysical and biochemical properties of model membranes

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are known to exert several isomer-specific biological effects, but their mechanisms of action are unclear. In order to determine whether the physicochemical effects of CLA on membranes play a role in their isomer-specific effects, we synthesized phosphatidylcholines (PCs) with 16:0 at sn-1 position and one of four CLA isomers (trans 10 cis 12 (A), trans 9 trans 11 (B), cis 9 trans 11 (C), and cis 9 cis 11 (D)) at sn-2, and determined their biophysical properties in monolayers and bilayers. The surface areas of the PCs with the two natural CLA (A and C) were similar at all pressures, but they differed significantly in the presence of cholesterol, with PC-A condensing more than PC-C. Liposomes of PC-A similarly showed increased binding of cholesterol compared to PC-C liposomes. PC-A liposomes were less permeable to carboxyfluorescein compared to PC-C liposomes. The PC with two trans double bonds (B) showed the highest affinity to cholesterol and lowest permeability. The two natural CLA-PCs (A and C) stimulated lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity by 2-fold, whereas the unnatural CLA-PCs (B and D) were inhibitory. These results suggest that the differences in the biophysical properties of CLA isomers A and C may partly contribute to the known differences in their biological effects.