Serological contributions to the systematics of Ulex (Genisteae – Fabaceae) and allied genera

Seven Ulex species were compared serologically with 21 species of related genera. Seed proteins were employed to immunize rabbits; immune sera to 17 species were produced. The presence or absence of differential characters (spurs) was detected in immunodiffusion experiments and recorded in a square matrix for each antiserum. The interspecific correlation was then computed, and an ordination on principal components was obtained.
The results suggested that: (1) Ulex L. should include sect. Pseudogenista (= genus Nepa Webb) and sect. Slauracanthus (= genus Stauracanthus Link); (2) sect. Stauracanihus is closer to sect. Ulex than to sect. Pseudogenista; (3) Ulex is markedly dissimilar from any other genus, its highest similarity being to Genista sect. Phyllobotrys and to Chamaespartium; (4) Ulex behaves like other derived genera and can be regarded as an extremely derived form within the Genista evolutionary line; (5) Echinospartum seems a primitive genus, it is not closely related to Ulex but rather to Cytisanthus and allied genera. There is a good agreement between these results and morphological, phytogeographical and caryological evidence. A general outline of evolutionary relationships within the Genisteae is presented.     

Molecular phylogenetic relationships of China Seas groupers based on cytochrome b gene fragment sequences

The classification and evolutionary relationships are important issues in the study of the groupers. Cytochrome b gene fragment of twenty-eight grouper species within six genera of subfamily Epinephelinae was amplified using PCR techniques and the sequences were analyzed to derive the phylogenetic relationships of the groupers from the China Seas. Genetic information indexes, including Kimura-2 parameter genetic distance and Ts/Tv ratios, were generated by using a variety of biology softwares. With Niphon spinosus, Pagrus major and Pagrus auriga as the designated outgroups, phylogenetic trees, which invoke additional homologous sequences of other Epinephelus fishes from GenBank, were constructed based on the neighbor-joining (NJ), maximum-parsimony (MP), maximum-likelihood (ML) and minimum-evolution (ME) methods. Several conclusions were drawn from the DNA sequences analysis: (1) genus Plectropomus, which was early diverged, is the most primitive group in the subfamily Epinephelinae; (2) genus Variola is more closely related to genus Cephalopolis than the other four genera; (3) genus Cephalopolis is a monophyletic group and more primitive than genus Epinephelus; (4) Promicrops lanceolatus and Cromileptes altivelis should be included in genus Epinephelus; (5) there exist two sister groups in genus Epinephelus.     

Serratotantulus chertoprudae gen. et sp. n. (Crustacea, Tantulocarida, Basipodellidae): A new tantulocaridan from the abyssal depths of the Indian Ocean

A single tantulus larva was found at the abyssal depth of the Indian Ocean attached to a harpacticoid host of the family Cletodidae. It represents a new genus and species of Tantulocarida, family Basipodellidae. Its ultrastructure was studied with SEM. This genus can be easily distinguished from the other genera of Basipodellidae by the pore pattern, bilobed oral disk with strong longitudinal ridges and the posterior projection of the cephalic shield. A morphological analysis of two related families Basipodellidae and Deothertridae shows that they represent polyphyletic taxa and need further revision.     

Staminal evolution in the genus Salvia (Lamiaceae): molecular phylogenetic evidence for multiple origins of the staminal lever

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The genus Salvia has traditionally included any member of the tribe Mentheae (Lamiaceae) with only two stamens and with each stamen expressing an elongate connective. The recent demonstration of the non-monophyly of the genus presents interesting implications for staminal evolution in the tribe Mentheae. In the context of a molecular phylogeny, the staminal morphology of the various lineages of Salvia and related genera is characterized and an evolutionary interpretation of staminal variation within the tribe Mentheae is presented. METHODS: Two molecular analyses are presented in order to investigate phylogenetic relationships in the tribe Mentheae and the genus Salvia. The first presents a tribal survey of the Mentheae and the second concentrates on Salvia and related genera. Schematic sketches are presented for the staminal morphology of each major lineage of Salvia and related genera. KEY RESULTS: These analyses suggest an independent origin of the staminal elongate connective on at least three different occasions within the tribe Mentheae, each time with a distinct morphology. Each independent origin of the lever mechanism shows a similar progression of staminal change from slight elongation of the connective tissue separating two fertile thecae to abortion of the posterior thecae and fusion of adjacent posterior thecae. A monophyletic lineage within the Mentheae is characterized consisting of the genera Lepechinia, Melissa, Salvia, Dorystaechas, Meriandra, Zhumeria, Perovskia and Rosmarinus. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results the following are characterized: (1) the independent origin of the staminal lever mechanism on at least three different occasions in Salvia, (2) that Salvia is clearly polyphyletic, with five other genera intercalated within it, and (3) staminal evolution has proceeded in different ways in each of the three lineages of Salvia but has resulted in remarkably similar staminal morphologies.     

The beginning of the equoid radiation

With the benefit of newly collected material, primitive equoids are analysed cladistically to determine the detailed relationships of the families Equidae and Palaeotheriidae. The most primitive equid is shown to be Pliolophus. Cymbalophus cuniculus and 'Hyracotherium' sandrae are closely related stem equoids. The Pachynolophidae are not equoids, but most closely related to the primitive tapiromorph family Isectolophidae. Hallensia is sister to these two and therefore also not an equoid. Hyracotherium is restricted to the type species H. leporinum Owen, part of whose lower dentition is made known for the first time. It is closest to a restricted genus Propachynolophus within the family Palaeotheriidae. The original concept of Propachynolophus is polyphyletic. Using the cladogram, newly extended stratigraphic ranges and palaeogeography, an attempt is made to reconstruct the very early speciation and biogeographical history of the group. 'Cymbalophus' hookeri Godinot is recombined in the genus Pachynolophus and 'H.' pernix in Pliolophus. Hallensia louisi sp. nov. and Propachynolophus level sp. nov. are described.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the Silurian Retiolitidae

A cladistic, phylogenetic analysis of the Retiolitidae, using 18 genera and parataxa and 23 characters, reveals that two distinct clades can be recognized within this family, as well as a primitive stem-group that includes the genus Pseudoretiolites . One of the derived clades includes Pseudo-plegmatograptus, Stomatograptus and Retiolites , which are assigned to the revised subfamily Retiolitinae. The other derived clade, the early part of which shows a paraphyletic relationship, includes the remaining known genera Rotaretiofites s.l., Paraplectograptus s.l., Sokolovograptus, Plectograptus, Agastograptus, Spinograptus, Gothograptus, Eisenackograptus, Neogothograptus, Semiplectograptus, Plectodinemagraptus and Holoretiolites . These genera are all included within an expanded Plectograptinae. The biostratigraphic distribution of these taxa suggests that these two clades diverged from a Pseudoretiolites-like ancestor in mid-Aeronian time.     

A molecular phylogenetic study of the subtribe Glycininae (Leguminosae) derived from the chloroplast DNA rps16 intron sequences

Phylogenetic relationships among 13 genera of the subtribe Glycininae, two genera of the allied subtribe Diocleinae that were included within Glycininae by Polhill, and two genera of the subtribe Erythrininae as outgroups were inferred from chloroplast DNA rps16 intron sequence variation. Pairwise sequence divergence values ranged from identity between Teramnus mollis and T. micans and between T. flexilis and T. labialis to 7.89% between Pueraria wallichii and Pseudeminia comosa across all accessions. Phylogenies estimated using parsimony and neighbor-joining methods revealed that (1) Glycininae is monophyletic if Pachyrhizus and Calopogonium (both Diocleinae) are included within Glycininae; (2) the genus Teramnus is closely related to Glycine, and Amphicarpaea showed a sister relationship to the clade comprising Teramnus and Glycine; (3) the expanded Glycininae including two genera of Diocleinae is divided into three branches, temporarily named I (comprising the rest of the examined taxa), II (Pueraria wallichii), and III (Mastersia), but their relationships are equivocal; and (4) the genus Pueraria, regarded as a closely related genus to Glycine, is not monophyletic and should be divided into at least four genera (a hypothesis supported previously by Lackey).     

The mushroom family Psathyrellaceae: evidence for large-scale polyphyly of the genus Psathyrella

Psathyrella is the archetypal little brown mushroom genus with few easily discernable characters causing it to be considered a "clean-up" genus for other small brown-spored saprotrophic species found worldwide. While molecular studies have demonstrated that mushroom genera based on homoplastic morphological characters are artificial, the degree of phylogenetic heterogeneity contained within Psathyrella and Psathyrellaceae has never been appropriately addressed. For this study, 132 ribosomal sequences from approximately one-tenth of the known Psathyrella species worldwide, including representatives of most subgeneric subdivisions, and three closely related coprinoid genera (Parasola, Coprinopsis, Coprinellus) were evaluated using multiple phylogenetic methods, including likelihood, with Agaricaceae as the outgroup. Our results indicated that Psathyrella was polyphyletic. Conservatively, the genus can be separated into 11 clades of which five can be raised to generic status. Most species of Psathyrella, including its type species P. gracilis, formed a large clade with Coprinellus, which appeared to be derived from within Psathyrella. Generic limits of Parasola, Lacrymaria, and Coprinopsis should be reevaluated. Several taxa previously synonymized based on morphological features were phylogenetically distinct. Morphological features traditionally used to subdivide Psathyrella appeared to be mostly convergent (homoplasious) when traced upon the resulting phylogenies, although several had high RI values. These results were interpreted in light of the two major taxonomic treatments of Psathyrella and revealed substantial inconsistencies between the molecular- and morphology-derived inferences of relationships.     

Phylogeny of Gardenieae (Rubiaceae) based on chloroplast DNA sequences from the rps16 intron and trnL(UAA)-F(GAA) intergenic spacer

Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences of the rps 16 intron and the trn L (UAA)-F(GAA) intergenic spacer were obtained from 59 species, to evaluate phylogenetic relationships among members of the Gardenieae, Rubiaceae. The results indicate that Gardenieae is polyphyletic and that genera included in the subtribe Diplosporinae should be transferred to the Coffeeae and Octotropideae. The Octotropideae tribe may also be polyphyletic. It is also demonstrated that the tribe Pavetteae is polyphyletic. In addition, the present data support a basal position for the disputed genus Bertiera within the Coffeeae clade. Of the informal groups proposed by Robbrecht & Puff within the Gardenieae, the Alibertia group is strongly supported, and is estimated to also include Ibetralia, Genipa aff. williamsii , and one undescribed taxon. However, Genipa americana was not part of this clade suggesting that Genipa is polyphyletic. The Tetrad group is not supported, and character optimisations suggest that pollen released in tetrads may have arisen three times. Most of these genera appear in the same clade as the three neotropical genera Sphinctanthus, Rosenbergiodendron , and Tocoyena , all of which bear pollen in monads. Atractogyne, Mitriostigma , and Oxyanthus form the second group with pollen in tetrads, whereas Gardenia is embedded in a third group. Massularia , with polyads, occurs either singly on a large polytomy or at the base of the Atractocarpus-Porterandia-Trukia clade.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the downy mildews (Peronosporales) and related groups based on nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA sequences

In order to investigate phylogenetic relationships of the Peronosporomycetes (Oomycetes), nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA sequences containing the D1 and D2 region were analyzed of 92 species belonging to the orders Peronosporales, Pythiales, Leptomitales, Rhipidiales, Saprolegniales and Sclerosporales. The data were analyzed applying methods of neighbor-joining as well as maximum parsimony, both statistically supported using the bootstrap method. The results confirm the major division between the Pythiales and Peronosporales on the one hand and the Saprolegniales, Leptomitales, and Rhipidiales on the other. The Sclerosporales were shown to be polyphyletic; while Sclerosporaceae are nested within the Peronosporaceae, the Verrucalvaceae are merged within the Saprolegniales. Within the Peronosporomycetidae, Pythiales as well as Peronosporales as currently defined are polyphyletic. The well supported Albugo clade appears to be the most basal lineage, followed by a Pythium-Lagenidium clade. The third, highly supported clade comprises the Peronosporaceae together with Sclerospora, Phytophthora, and Peronophythora. Peronophythora is placed within Phytophthora, indicating that both genera should be merged. Bremiella seems to be polyphyletic within the genus Plasmopara, suggesting a transfer to Plasmopara. The species of Peronospora do not appear as a monophyletic group. Peronospora species growing on Brassicaceae form a highly supported clade.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the Clavelinidae and Pycnoclavellidae (Ascidiacea) inferred from mtDNA data

Abstract. The phylogenetic relationships within the Order Aplousobranchiata (Ascidiacea) are largely unexplored. In this work, we study the phylogenetic status of the genera Clavelina and Pycnoclavella. Traditionally, both genera had been included in the family Clavelinidae, until the new family Pycnoclavellidae was defined, removing the genus Pycnoclavella from Clavelinidae. Not all authors accept the validity of Clavelina and Pycnoclavella as distinct genera, let alone their belonging to different families. In addition, the assignment of species to these genera, as well as to the genus Archidistoma , has been controversial. We analyzed sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I belonging to ten species of Pycnoclavella (including several formerly assigned to Archidistoma and Clavelina ), 11 species of Clavelinidae, and ten species of other aplousobranch genera belonging to seven families, plus two outgroups. Two different tree construction methods (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) showed similar results. Pycnoclavella and Clavelina appeared in distinct clades but formed a monophyletic group relative to representatives of the main families of the order Aplousobranchiata. Our phylogenetic results indicate that both genera are valid but should be included within a single family, with the name Clavelinidae having precedence. The monotypic clavelinid genus Nephtheis branches in our trees within the clade of the genus Clavelina. Our results also confirm that some forms assigned to Archidistoma and Clavelina have been misplaced and belong to the genus Pycnoclavella. Pycnoclavella martae n.sp. is described.     

云南松林野生食用菌物种多样性及保护对策

近年来,随着野生食用菌的商业化采收规模急剧扩大,云南松（Pinus yunnanensis）林下野生食用菌尤其是野生贸易真菌的种类和产量呈逐年下降趋势。作者于2000－2004年夏,对滇中及其邻近地区云南松林下野生食用菌的资源状况进行了调查研究。作者共采集、鉴定标本457号,并对他人采自云南松林下的152号馆藏标本也进行了重新鉴定,共统计野生食用菌27科39属147种（含变种、变型）;同时对市场上出售的采自云南松林下的野生食用菌类群也进行了调查统计,共收集、鉴定标本167号,计21科33属97种（含变种、变型）。调查结果显示,目前记录云南松林产野生食用菌共计27科43属211种（含变种、变型）,野生贸易真菌有23科35属111种（含变种、变型）。其中红菇科（Russulaceae）的种数最多,包括红菇属（Russula）32种,乳菇属（Lactarius）17种,分别占总种数的15.17%和8.06%;牛肝菌科（Boletaceae）占第二位,有41种,占总种数的19.43%。其次是口蘑科（Tricholomataceae）17种,占总种数的8.06%。丛枝瑚菌科（Ramariaceae）有11种,乳牛肝菌科（Suillaceae）11种,鸡油菌科（Cantharellaceae）9种,三者的种数占总种数的百分比分别为5.21%、5.21%和4.27%。在这些类群当中,红菇属、牛肝菌属（Boletus）、乳菇属、乳牛肝菌属（Suillus）、枝瑚菌属（Ramaria）、口蘑属（Tricholoma）、鸡油菌属（Cantharellus）和革菌属（Thelephora）的30余种真菌为云南市场上最为常见的野生贸易类群,约占云南优势野生贸易真菌种数的47.50%。作者呼吁立即采取行之有效的措施保护和管理这些珍贵的自然资源,并加强研究,以期达到持续利用之目的。     

Molecular systematics of Clerodendrum (Lamiaceae): ITS sequences and total evidence

Thirty-three species of Clerodendrum s.l. and five outgroup genera were included in a sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacers of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. The results of the cladistic analysis were compared to and combined with cpDNA restriction site data from a previous study. All molecular data identified four major clades within Clerodendrum s.l. and showed the genus to be polyphyletic. Clerodendrum s.s., minus Konocalyx and Cyclonema, is monophyletic and the genus should be restricted to this group. Cyclonema and Konocalyx form a clade distinct from Clerodendrum s.s., which has been recognized as Rotheca Raf.     

Evolution of the order Urostylida (Protozoa, Ciliophora): new hypotheses based on multi-gene information and identification of localized incongruence

Previous systematic arrangement on the ciliate order Urostylida was mainly based on morphological data and only about 20% taxa were analyzed using molecular phylogenetic analyses. In the present investigation, 22 newly sequenced species for which alpha-tubulin, SSU rRNA genes or ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region were sampled, refer to all families within the order. Following conclusions could be drawn: (1) the order Urostylida is not monophyletic, but a core group is always present; (2) among the family Urostylidae, six of 10 sequenced genera are rejected belonging to this family; (3) the genus Epiclintes is confirmed belonging to its own taxon; (4) the family Pseudokeronopsidae undoubtedly belongs to the core portion of urostylids; however, some or most of its members should be transferred to the family Urostylidae; (5) Bergeriellidae is confirmed to be a valid family; (6) the distinction of the taxon Acaudalia is not supported; (7) the morphology-based genus Anteholosticha is extremely polyphyletic; (8) ITS2 secondary structures of Pseudoamphisiella and Psammomitra are rather different from other urostylids; (9) partition addition bootstrap alteration (PABA) result shows that bootstrap values usually tend to increase as more gene partitions are included.     

Molecular phylogeny of Kalyptorhynchia (Rhabdocoela,Platyhelminthes) inferred from ribosomal sequence data

With 556 species described to date, Kalyptorhynchia includes about one‐third of all species of rhabdocoel flatworms. In this study, we present the first molecular phylogenetic analysis of this taxon. The final analysis comprises 110 species. These represent 11 of the 17 known families. The largest family (241 known species), Polycystididae, is represented by nine of 10 subfamilies and 33 of the 58 genera. Sequence data from 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA were analysed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Of the two taxa traditionally recognised within Kalyptorhynchia, Eukalyptorhynchia and Schizorhynchia, only Schizorhynchia is monophyletic. All eukalyptorhynch families, except Cicerinidae, are monophyletic. On the other hand, two of the three schizorhynch families included are not monophyletic. Within Polycystididae, the traditional taxonomy was not reflected in our phylogenetic analyses and most subfamilies are polyphyletic. These results suggest that current classification, mostly based on characters of the genital system, suffers from homoplasy. Where possible, a revised classification, taking into account these new findings, is given.     

根据叶表皮特征试论国产三齿稃亚族的属间关系

根据植物叶片表皮结构,尤其下表皮特征,对国产三齿稃亚族6个属(包括1个引进属)进行了属间关系的分析。结果表明：国产三齿稃亚族中固沙草属最原始,草沙蚕属最高级,双稃草属、千金子属、三齿稃属和隐子草属演化居于其间;隐子草属可能直接起源于固沙草属,并在自身基础上派生了较为高级的三齿稃属;双稃草属与千金子属渊源关系直接,前者可能通过后者问接起生于固沙草属;草沙蚕属具有别于它属的性状级次,可能是起源于固沙草属、独树1支的顶级类群。这一结果不仅修正了前人演化理论的差误,而且为今后探讨该亚族的地理起源、散布路线提供了资料。     

A new genus and two new species of felt scales (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) from Chile, with comments on zoogeographical affinities between the eriococcid faunas of southern South America and New Zealand

Abstract A new eriococcid genus ( Chilechiton Hodgson & Miller) and the adult female, second-instar female and first-instar nymphs of two new species of Eriococcidae ( Chilechiton lynnae on Nothofagus and Icelococcus lithreae on Lithraea ) are described. Chilechiton is closely related to the New Zealand genus Eriochiton Maskell in tribe Eriochitonini, previously considered to be restricted to New Zealand. A phylogenetic analysis was undertaken to investigate the relationships of the Chilean and New Zealand eriococcid genera included in the study, the systematic boundaries of Eriochitonini and the relationship of Coccidae to Eriochitonini. The study suggests that the Chilean eriococcid fauna is closely related to that in New Zealand, Eriochitonini should be enlarged to include C. lynnae , genus Eriococcus is polyphyletic, Eriococcidae is monophyletic, and Coccidae and Eriococcidae are not closely related.     

The number of nuclei in basidiospores of 63 species of ectomycorrhizal Homobasidiomycetes

The production of even a limited number of heterokaryotic spores would be advantageous for establishing new individuals after long distance dispersal. While Suillus and Laccaria species are known to produce binucleate, heterokaryotic spores, this condition is poorly studied for most ectomycorrhizal fungi. To begin addressing this matter the number of nuclei in basidiospores was recorded from 142 sporocarps in 63 species and 20 genera of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. The mean proportion of binucleate basidiospores produced by sporocarps within a species ranged from 0.00 to 1.00, with most genera within a family showing similar patterns. Basidiospores from fungi in Amanita, Cortinariaceae and Laccaria were primarily binucleate but were likely still homokaryotic. Basidiospores from fungi in Boletaceae, Cantharellus, Rhizopogonaceae, Russulaceae, Thelephorales and Tricholoma were primarily uninucleate, but binucleate basidiospores were observed in many genera and in high levels in Boletus. Further research is needed to relate basidiospore nuclear number to reproductive potential in ectomycorrhizal species.