Variation in Gymnoascus reessii Baranetzky

Summary A taxonomic study was made of morphological variability in several cultures ofGymnoascus reessii isolated from dung and soil, mostly in California. There is considerable variation among isolates of this species with regard to cultural and ascocarp characters such as the nature of the free apices of the peridial hyphae. Ascospore characters are quite stable. Although certain isolates possibly could be grouped into varieties, such groupings merge into one another. Hence, at this time it appears that varieties ofG. reessii cannot readily be distinguished. The single heretofore described variety,G. reessii var.deilephilae Hennings, is reduced to synonymy withG. reessii Baran.Supported in part by Botany Department Research Grant # 1344, University of California, Los Angeles, California.     

Variation in Helminthosporium gramineum Rab., the incitant of leaf stripe of barley

Thirty-four monosporous isolates ofH. gramineum Rab., the incitant of leaf stripe of barley, were divided in seven categories on the basis of morphological and cultural characters. Seventy-three Indian and American varieties of barley were tested for their reaction against the seven isolates. Detailed observations on prevalence and severity have been taken and a new method has been developed for calculating infection value in each case. There are distinct differences among the isolates in their prevalence and severity on the barley varieties and thus these isolates are distinct races.     

Selection of salt-tolerant Rhizobium isolates of Acacia nilotica

Among 35 Rhizobium isolates of Acacia nilotica, from different agro-climatic zones, two, ANG4 and ANG5, tolerated up to 850 mm NaCl and one, ANG3, was sensitive to NaCl above 250 mm. Nodulation and nitrogenase activity of the three isolates decreased with increasing concentration of salt up to 150 mm. Nodulation by ANG3 was 15% at 75 mm NaCl and nil at 100 mm. With ANG4 and ANG5, nodulation was only slightly decreased at 150 mm NaCl. Nitrogenase activity associated with plants inoculated with ANG3 was halved at 25 mm NaCl compared with salt-free controls, whereas isolates ANG4 and ANG5 retained 25% and 15% activity, respectively, even at 100 mm NaCl. Salt-tolerant Rhizobium isolates can therefore nodulate and fix N₂ in saline soils.     

Carbon Requirements of Some Nematophagous, Entomopathogenic and Mycoparasitic Hyphomycetes as Fungal Biocontrol Agents

Thirty-three carbon sources were evaluated for their effects on spore germination, hyphal growth and sporulation of 11 fungal biocontrol agents, i.e. the nematophagous fungi Paecilomyces lilacinus, Pochonia chlamydosporia, Hirsutella rhossiliensis, H. minnesotensis and Arkansas Fungus 18, the entomopathogenic fungi Lecanicillium lecanii, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, and the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma viride. Variations in carbon requirements were found among the fungal species or strains tested. All strains studied except for T. viride grew on most carbon sources, although B. bassiana had more fastidious requirements for spore germination. Monosaccharides and disaccharides were suitable for fungal growth. For most isolates, d-glucose, d-mannose, sucrose and trehalose were superior to pectin and soluble starch among the polysaccharides and lactic acid among the organic acids. Both ethanol and methanol could accelerate growth of most isolates but not biomass. d-mannose, d-fructose and d-xylose were excellent carbon sources for sporulation, while d-glucose, sucrose, cellobiose, trehalose, chitin, dextrin, gelatin and lactic acid were better for some isolates. Neither sorbic acid nor linoleic acid could be utilized as a single carbon source. These findings provided a better understanding of the nutritional requirements of different fungal biocontrol agents that can benefit the mass production process.     

Nitrogen requirements of certain isolates of alternaria tenuis auct

Three isolates ofA. tenuis isolated from the diseased leaves ofMangifera indica l. Musa paradisiaca l. andPsidium guajava l. were investigated. They were grown on different sources of nitrogen viz., potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrite, ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride, glycine, DL-valine, L-glutamic acid, urea, thiourea, L-asparagine and peptone. They were also grown on the medium lacking nitrogen. A wide variation was observed in the growth and reproduction of the different isolates. The growth of all of them was good on potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, glycine, DL-valine, L-glutamic acid, L-asparagine and peptone but the sporulation was satisfactory on calcium nitrate only. Sodium nitrite supported moderate growth of banana leaf isolate whereas there was no growth of the other two isolates. None of the organisms could grow on the medium lacking nitrogen as well as on thiourea. The results obtained with the isolates under study have been compared with those of earlier investigators and it has been clearly established that the different isolates ofA. tenuis could show marked differences in their nitrogen requirements.     

Biostatistical studies on western EuropeanDactylorhiza (Orchidaceae)—theD. maculata group

Multivariate analysis tools are exploited on a data set composed of quantitative characteristics collected on 35 populations of plants of theDactylorhiza maculata (L.)Soó group from Western-Europe. These samples lead to four well-defined clusters; this, together with qualitative, cytological and ecological arguments, allows for the recognition of four specific entities:D. maculata s.str.,D. fuchsii (Druce)Soó,D. saccifera (Brongn.)Soó andD. caramulensis (Vermeulen)Tyteca. It is concluded that the floral characters play an essential role in the taxonomical distinction. It also appears that the set of characters measured, as well as the methods exploited, are especially well-suited and valuable tools for the morphological study of the genusDactylorhiza.     

A taxonomical revision ofThymus sect.Teucrioides (Lamiaceae)

TheThymus teucrioides Boiss. & Spruner aggregate is revised and the following new taxa, all from the alpine zone in the Greek mountains, are described:Th. leucospermus Hartvig from the calcareous mountains of Pindhos and Mt Parnassos in Sterea Ellas,Th. rechingeri Hartvig with the subsp.macrocalyx Hartvig from calcareous mountains in Sterea Ellas and N Peloponnissos, andTh. teucrioides subsp.alpinus Hartvig from the serpentine areas of N Pindhos. In the variableTh. teucrioides s. str. many characters have turned out to be markedly geographically correlated and many local populations can be distinguished by a particular combination of characters.Dedicated to Prof.K. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Characterization and classification of fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from tap water and surface water

A total of 665 fluorescent pseudomonads, isolated from surface water and from different types of tap water, were classified into 22 groups defined by the results of the following 5 tests: hydrolysis of casein or gelatin, production of N₂ from NO _inf3 ^sup- , and growth on sucrose, ethanol and d-sorbitol, respectively. Differences in colonial morphology and in the degree of proteolysis revealed that these groups were inhomogeneous. A more detailed subdivision was achieved by adding the following characters: growth on l-arabinose, d-mannitol, meso-inositol, and adonitol, respectively, and hydrolysis of Tween-80. Repeating the tests for hydrolyzing enzymes, denitrification, and growth on the carbohydrates and alcohols with strains stored in the laboratory for 1 to 3 years revealed that most characters, except hydrolysis of Tween-80, denitrification, and growth on sucrose, were very stable.Forty-five biotypes of the fluorescent pseudomonads were defined, based on the results of the repeated tests and the results of tests on nine aromatic compounds. The observed changes of some characters in a number of isolates did not diminish the value of this classification, but indicated that close relationships exist between many biotypes. About half of the biotypes described in this paper are similar to those defined by Stanier, Palleroni and Doudoroff (1966) and by Doudoroff and Palleroni (1974a), confirming the wide-spread occurrence of well-definable biotypes of fluorescent pseudomonads.Representatives of some biotypes were most frequently isolated from surface water and from tap water prepared from surface water. Tap water prepared from anaerobic or aerobic ground water contained representatives of biotypes which were typical of these water types. Some pseudomonads were found to grow especially in filters. The observed relationships between origin of the fluorescent pseudomonads and their classification into biotypes as defined in this paper supported the presented classification.     

On subspecific taxa ofHypericum empetrifolium (Hypericaceae) from Crete

The morphology, altitudinal distribution and phytocoenology ofHypericum empetrifolium Willd., var.oliganthum Rech. fil. and var.tortuosum Rech. fil. are reassessed and as a result, the taxa are treated at subspecific rank. Essential characters proved to be growth form, number of flowers, foliage and epidermal surface characters, shape of seeds and testa sculpturing.The different growth forms can be interpreted as adaptations to the local habitats.Hypericum empetrifolium Willd. subsp.empetrifolium is a low subshrub of various vegetation types known as phrygana whereasHypericum empetrifolium Willd. subsp.oliganthum (Rech. f.)Hagemann grows as a cushion-like dwarf shrub in chasmophyte associations rich in relic species.Hypericum empetrifolium Willd. subsp.tortuosum (Rech. f.)Hagemann is confined in the high mountain regions and grows as a true dwarf espalier shrub with low spreading shoots.Dedicated to Hofrat Univ.-Prof. DrK. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Taxonomic significance of biométric characters and the consequences for classification and biostratigraphy, exemplified through moussoneliform daonellas (Daonella, Bivalvia; Triassic)

The middle Triassic bivalve genusDaonella Mojsisovics, 1874 would be an ideal guide fossil (worldwide distribution, high evolutionary rates); however, the classification of daonellas is difficult. Most daonellas lack distinct characters and have a wide range of morphologic variation. A new taxonomic attempt was necessary to get a coherentDaonella classification. The new taxonomic concept proposed herein consists of four steps. (1) Biometric characters are defined unambiguously, based on landmarks and pseudolandmarks. (2) The taxonomic significance of biometric characters is analyzed. Several characters depend significantly on growth stage of specimens or on the lithology of fossil localities. In addition, the intercorrelations between biometric characters are studied to exclude weighting in some morphologic features. The study of the taxonomic significance of biometric characters shows, how important a careful selection of taxonomic characters is. (3) Most daonellas are not determinable by univariate or bivariate methods. The principle component analysis (PCA) is applied to detect groups of similar holomorphs in multivariate space. (4) The interpreted groups from PCA are applied to a canonical discriminant function analysis. This analysis helps in deciding whether two groups are sufficiently distinct to be separated as different species. This new taxonomic concept was applied to moussoneliform daonellas of the middle Triassic from the Southern Alps. Three different forms were used for the study herein:Daonella moussoni (Mérian, 1853) from the Varenna Limestone (Perledo-Varenna Formation, Grigna, Italy),D. aff.moussoni (Mérian)Rieber, 1969 from the lower Meride Limestone (Monte San Giorgio, Switzerland) andD. pseudomoussoni Rieber, 1969 from the Grenzbitumenzone (Monte San Giorgio, Switzerland). The new classification shows thatD. pseudomoussoni is a separate species and distinguishable fromD. moussoni andD. aff.moussoni, which belong to the same species. A coherent systematics ofDaonella becomes possible on the basis of newly defined taxonomic characters. Daonellas can now be used as relevant guide fossils for the middle Triassic. The presented example demonstrates a biostratigraphic correlation between the lower Meride Limestone at Monte San Giorgio and the Varenna Limestone at Grigna. The stratigraphic distribution ofD. moussoni can be assigned to thegredleri Zone.     

Fruchtanatomische und zytologische Untersuchungen an einigen Arten der GattungenRhaponticum Adans. undLeuzea DC. (Compositae)

Zusammenfassung Es wurden insgesamt 5 Arten aus den GattungenRhaponticum Adans. undLeuzea DC. auf ihre fruchtanatomischen Merkmale hin untersucht.Auf Grund dieser Merkmale, insbesondere des Baues des doppelten Pappus, des Perikarps (Verholzungsgrad, Epidermis, Behaarung, Ablösungsvorrichtung) sowie des Samens wurden die bisher zur GattungLeuzea gerechneten ArtenRh. longifolium (Hoffmgg. etLink) M.Dittrich undRh. rhaponticoides (Graells) M.Dittrich neu kombiniert.Die systematisch unklare Stellung vonLeuzea conifera (L.) DC. wird mit Bezug auf ihre anatomischen Fruchtmerkmale diskutiert.Die obengenannten Fruchtmerkmale weisen auf eine enge verwandtschaftliche Beziehung zu den SektionenSerratula undMastrucium Cass. der GattungSerratula L. hin.Die Chromosomenzahlen, die im Rahmen dieser Untersuchungen ermittelt wurden und die früherer Zählungen, wurden in einer Tabelle (S. 386) zusammengestellt. Für alle untersuchten Arten wurden 2n=26 Chromosomen ermittelt.

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Summary Five species of the generaRhaponticum Adans. andLeuzea DC. were examined concerning the anatomical characters of the fruits.According to these characters especially the structure of the double pappus, the pericarp (degree of lignification, epidermis, hairiness, mechanism for detaching the fruits) as well as the seedRh. longifolium (Hoffmgg. etLink) M.Dittrich andRh. rhaponticoides (Graells) M.Dittrich till now put into the genusLeuzea DC. were new combined.The systematically uncertain position ofL. conifera (L.) DC. has been discussed according to its anatomical characters of the fruits.These characters mentioned above point out a close relationship to the genusSerratula L. (sect.Serratula andMaslrucium Cass.).The chromosome numbers determined in the course of this research and of former countings were listed in a table (p. 386). All counted species have 2n=26 chromosomes.

     

Characterization of nitrogen-fixing bacteria from a temperate saltmarsh lagoon,including isolates that produce ethane from acetylene

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria were isolated from sediments and water of a saltmarsh lagoon on the west coast of South Africa, and characterized according to factors that regulate nitrogen fixation in the marine environment. The majority of isolates were assigned to the Photobacterium or Vibrio genera on the basis of physiological and biochemical characteristics. One isolate was further assigned to the species Vibrio diazotrophicus. Carbohydrate utilization by each diazotrophic isolate was examined. Abilities of the isolates to utilize a range of mono-, di-, and polysaccharides largely reflected the predicted availability of organic carbon and energy in the lagoon, except that chitin was not utilized. Biochemical tests on the utilization of combined nitrogen showed that one isolate could utilize nitrate, and that this strain was susceptible to full repression of nitrogenase activity by 10mm nitrate. Urease activity was not detected in any of the isolates. In the absence of molybdenum two of the isolates, a Photobacterium spp. and V. diazotrophicus, reduced acetylene to ethylene and ethane, a property frequently associated with the activity of alternative nitrogenases. Addition of 25µM molybdenum inhibited ethane production by V. diazotrophicus, but stimulated ethylene and ethane production by the Photobacterium isolate. Addition of 28µM vanadium did not appear to regulate ethane production by either strain. Assays of nitrogenase activity in sediments from which some isolates were obtained indicated that molybdenum was not limiting nitrogenase activity at naturally-occurring concentrations. Southern hybridizations of the chromosomes of these strains with the anfH and vnfH genes of Azotobacter vinelandii and the nifH gene of Klebsiella pneumoniae indicated the presence of only one nitrogenase in these isolates.Correspondence to: B.J. Tibbles.     

Accumulation of sugar alcohols by filamentous fungi

Five hundred isolates of different xerophilic and non-xerophilic fungi belonging to 10 genera and 74 species were screened for alditol (sugar alcohol) accumulation. Ninety-two of the isolates failed to grow on a salt medium, most of the isolates (408) produced alditols; 348,44 and 16 of them produced low, moderate and high levels of alditols, respectively. The high alditol producers belonged to five species ofAspergillus, six species ofEurotium andFennellia flavipes. Glycerol andd-mannitol were the main constituents of alditol pools of the 16 high alditol producers.d-Arabinitol andmeso-erythritol were also formed but at low concentrations by several of the tested isolates.     

Certain chemical requirements for growth and sporulation of alternaria species

Summary Fresh, single-spore isolates ofAlternaria nyctanthi spec. nov. andAlternaria tropaeoli Deshpande &N. R. Rajderkar from the infected leaves varied widely in response when cultured on Coon's, PDA, Richard's and Czapek's medium. Some isolates did not produce macroscopically visible colonies, although the spores germinated. A few isolates grew poorly without sporulating; most of the others grew well and sporulated abundantly on PDA and Czapek-Dox medium.Cultures that had been inhibited from sporulating by irradiation at 26° C sporulated when subsequently placed in a 22° C incubator, even though nitrogen availability was varied by adding solutions of NaNO₃, with or without sucrose.     

Benzoylarginine peptidase and iminopeptidase profiles ofTreponema denticola strains isolated from the human periodontal pocket

Seven clinical isolates and the ATCC strain 35405 ofTreponema denticola, obtained from human periodontal pockets, were studied for peptidase activity with several chromogenic compounds as substrates. The cell sonicates of all strains hydrolyzed phenylazobenzyloxycarbonyl-l-prolyl-l-leucyl-glycyl-l-prolyl-d-arginine (a collagenase substrate), azocasein, and the 2-naphthylamines ofl-proline,l-hydroxyproline,l-pyrrolidine, and benzoyl-l-arginine, but the rates of hydrolysis varied considerably from strain to strain. Fast protein liquid chromatography on gel and anion exchange columns revealed further biochemical differences between the strains. The ATCC strain consistently produced several proline iminopeptidases, whereas four of the clinical isolates yielded high and three yielded low iminopeptidase activity. The ATCC strain and six clinical isolates displayed high benzoylarginine peptidase activity. The use ofN-l-prolyl-2-naphthylamine as substrate revealed more differences between the strains than other substrates. The substrate specificity of the enzymes discovered suggests that they may be important for the nutrition of the organism or in the protection of the organism against chemical defense factors present in the gingival pocket.     

Inhibitory Effects of Cysteine and Cysteine Derivatives on Germination of Sporangiospores and Hyphal Growth of Different Zygomycetes

The in vitro antifungal activity of cysteine (d- and l-cysteine) and its four derivatives (l-cysteine-methyl-ester, N-acetyl-cysteine, N-isobutyryl-d-cysteine, and N-isobutyryl-l-cysteine) were investigated on 20 fungal isolates representing 16 genera (Absidia, Actinomucor, Backusella, Gilbertella, Micromucor, Mortierella, Mucor, Mycotypha, Phycomyces, Rhizomucor, Rhizopus, Saksenaea, Syncephalastrum, Thamnostylum, Umbellopsis, and Zygorynchus). The inhibitory potential of different concentrations of these compounds, ranging from 0.625 to 10 mM, were investigated on the germination of sporangiospores as well as on hyphal extension, using broth microdilution method and agar plate test. Treatment with cysteine and its derivatives resulted in a strong inhibition in most studied strains. At 10 mM of compounds, complete blockage of growth was observed for some isolates. Sensitive species exhibited severe changes in colony morphology in the presence of 10 mM l-cysteine, N-acetyl-cysteine, and N-isobutyryl-l-cysteine. Microscopic observations revealed that 10 mM N-acetyl-cysteine induced dramatic modifications in the structural organization of the hyphae. Results suggest that cysteine and its derivatives have a therapeutic potential against fungal infections caused by Zygomycetes species.     

The genusAntennaria (Asteraceae: Inuleae) in western North America: Morphometric analysis ofAntennaria alborosea,A. corymbosa,A. marginata,A. microphylla,A. parvifolia,A. rosea,andA. umbrinella

Multivariate analysis of vegetative and reproductive characters was used to examine morphological relatedness amongAntennaria alborosea A. E. Porsild,A. corymbosa E. Nels.,A. marginata Greene,A. microphylla Rydb.,A. parvifolia Nutt.,A. rosea Greene, andA. umbrinella Rydb. Both pistillate and staminate plants were examined. Some of the characters examined were variable in one species, but stable in another (i.e., presence or absence of papillae on the achenes). Our analyses indicate that the seven species are morphologically distinct. It is hypothesized that theA. rosea agamic complex arose through hybridization amongA. corymbosa, A. microphylla, A. umbrinella, and possiblyA. dioica (L.)Gaertn. However, hybridization between the three former species and others, as well as their subsequent morphological responses to different environmental conditions causes confusion in recognizing the taxa.Antennaria angustifolia Rydb.,A. arida E. Nels.,A. confinis Greene,A. scariosa E. Nels.,A. foliacea humilis Rydb.,A. concinna E. Nels., andA. viscidula E. Nels. are considered to represent F 1 hybrids.     

Cultural aspects of Graphiola phoenicis

An experiment was carried out to study the cultural behaviour ofGraphiola phoenicis ((Moug.)Poiteau because nothing has been known on the morphological and physiological characters on artificial media. The daughter cell sprouted out from the sporidium ofG. phoenicis reproduced by budding so that a pinkish yeast-like colony resulted on the agar medium. Physiological characters of the isolate were investigated and a discussion on the possible phylogenetical relationships to the reddish yeast was given.

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Zusammenfassung Das kulturelle Verhalten vonGraphiola phoenicis (Moug.)Poiteau wurde untersucht, da nichts von ihrer morphologischen und physiologischen Charakteristik an künstlichen Kulturnährboden bekannt war. Die Tochterzellen keimten vomSporidium vonG. phoenicis und reproduzierten sich durch Sproßzellen. Das Resultat war eine blaßrote, hefe-ähnliche Kolonie an dem Nährmedium. Die physiologische Charakteristik des Stammes wurde untersucht und die mögliche, phylogenetische Beziehung zu den Rothefen diskutiert.

     

Delimitation and classification ofBromus fasciculatus (Poaceae)

The syntypes ofBromus madritensis var.delilei Boiss. comprise two different elements: specimens ofB. haussknechtii Boiss. and ofB. fasciculatus C. Presl s.l. By its lectotypification and on the basis of new morphological characters, the validation ofB. fasciculatus subsp.delilei (Boiss.)H. Scholz 1971 was substantiated. This subspecies represents the eastern marginal segregate of the south-Mediterranean species.B. fasciculatus var.alexandrinus Thell. is a minor variant of the typical subspecies.Dedicated to Prof.K. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Utilization of oligosaccharides by three pathogenic isolates of colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Summary Utilization of six oligosaccharides (viz., sucrose, maltose, cellobiose, lactose, raffinose and melezitose) by the isolates ofColletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. causing leaf-spot diseases ofCarissa carandas L.,Eucalyptus robusta Sm. andBougainvillaea glabra Choizy has been studied. Daily chromatographic analysis of the culture medium revealed that the utilization of sucrose, maltose, cellobiose and raffinose was through a hydrolytic pathway. In case of lactose and melezitose no hydrolytic product could be detected. During the utilization of sucrose two oligosaccharides (Rf 0.27 and 0.2) made their appearance. TheBougainvillaea-isolate synthesized two oligosaccharides (Rf 0.18 and 0.1) in a maltose medium although no glucose could be traced, while in case of the other two isolates, in addition to these synthetic oligosaccharides, glucose also appeared. When theCarissa-isolate ofColletotrichum gloeosporioides was grown on a cellobiose medium, in addition to glucose, two synthetic oligosaccharides (Rf 0.15 and 0.11) were formed. Other two isolates showed the formation of one oligosaccharide (Rf 0.15) and no glucose. The dry weight of mycelium recorded an increase on oligosaccharides with slow rate of consumption, while on oligosaccharides with rapid rate of utilization it tended to become constant or showed a decline towards the end of the incubation.