Leaf flavonoid chemistry and the relationships of theLactoridaceae

Leaves of the monotypic angiosperm familyLactoridaceae exhibit flavonoid constituents consisting of six 3-0-diglycosides of the flavonols kaempferol and isorhamnetin. The presence of flavonols is concordant with the placement ofLactoridaceae among the archaic or primitive flowering plants. Flavonoid chemistry is less informative on the relationships of the family within the primitive dicots. The presence of isorhamnetin suggests closer affinities with families in theLaurales, particularly theGomortegaceae andMonimiaceae. Phenetic and cladistic analyses of morphological features place theLactoridaceae near several families in theMagnoliales.     

Pollen morphology ofLactoridaceae

The pollen wall ultrastructure of the primitive AngiospermLactoris fernandeziana Phil. (Lactoridaceae) is described. The monosulcate aperture, granular wall structure and sacci (all primitive features) suggest placement of this family in theMagnoliales. Pollen ofLactoris is compared to fossil dispersed pollen from the Lower and lower-Upper Cretaceous. The fossil pollen shares characteristics which are restricted to theLactoridaceae suggesting that this family was present during the early Cretaceous.     

rbcL sequences support exclusion ofRetzia,Desfontainia, andNicodemia from theGentianales

The taxonomic positions ofRetzia, Desfontainia, andNicodemia have been much discussed, and all three genera have been included inLoganiaceae (Gentianales). We have made a cladistic analysis ofrbcL gene sequences to determine the relationships of these taxa toGentianales. Four newrbcL sequences are presented; i.e., ofRetzia, Desfontainia, Diervilla (Caprifoliaceae), andEuthystachys (Stilbaceae). Our results show thatRetzia, Desfontainia, andNicodemia are not closely related toLoganiaceae or theGentianales. Retzia is most closely related toEuthystachys and is better included inStilbaceae. The positions ofDesfontainia andNicodemia are not settled, butDesfontainia shows affinity for theDipsacales s.l. andNicodemia for theLamiales s.l.     

Intergeneric relationships ofLolium,Festuca, andVulpia (Poaceae) and their phylogeny

Morphological and seed protein analyses of 26 species of the generaLolium, Festuca andVulpia confirmed their close systematic affinities. Six inflorescence characters readily differentiatedFestuca fromLolium. Protein similarities betweenFestuca of sect.Bovinae and cross-pollinated species ofLolium, coupled with cytogenetic and crossability data, substantiate that they should be united into one genus.Vulpia had phenetic similarities with sect.Scariosae, Montanae andOvinae ofFestuca. Lolium, Festuca, andVulpia are most likely derived from a common ancestral form which was close toFestuca pratensis andLolium perenne.     

Synopsis of the tribe Bocageeae (Annonaceae), with revisions of Cardiopetalum,Froesiodendron, Trigynaea,Bocagea, and Hornschuchia

The tribal name Bocageeae Endlicher is reestablished and the tribe is circumscribed on the basis of solitary internodal ebracteate pedicels that are articulated at the base, and pollen shed in polyads of eight or more grains. Septate anther locules, large pollen size, and seed appendages are prevalent in the tribe. Intectate pollen with free-standing columellae, rare in Annonaceae, occurs not only in the genusTrigynaea but also in some species ofBocagea andHornschuchia. As defined here, the Bocageeae include seven neotropical genera:Cymbopetalum, Porcelia, Bocagea, Cardiopetalum, Froesiodendron, Hornschuchia, andTrigynaea. The latter five genera are revised and the treatments include ten new species:Cardiopetalum plicatum, Froesiodendron urceocalyx, Hornschuchia lianarum, H. santosii, H. leptandra, Trigynaea cinnamomea, T. lanceipetala, T. triplinervis, T. lagaropoda, andT. axilliflora, all from tropical South America. A new combination,Froesiodendron longicuspe, changes the rank of that taxon from subspecies to species.Cardiopetalum surinamense is removed fromFroesiodendron and reassigned toCardiopetalum on the basis of its connate petals, dehiscent monocarps, and seeds with bilobed arils. A cladogram provides an explicit hypothesis of intergeneric relationships in the tribe. The new combinationOnychopetalum periquino, based onTrigynaea periquino, is made.     

Chromosome banding patterns in Lettuce species (Lactuca sect.Lactuca,Compositae)

Chromosome banding patterns obtained with C- and N- banding, and AgNO₃ staining were studied in somatic metaphase complements of fourLactuca species.L. sativa andL. serriola have almost identical chromosome morphology, andL. saligna differs only slightly from them, butL. virosa is quite distinct from the other species. A gross comparison of the banded karyotypes suggests a closer relationship ofL. saligna toL. sativa/serriola than toL. virosa. Our data agree with the results of previous crossing experiments in these species but conflict partly with recent RFLP data which indicate a closer phenetic relationship ofL. saligna toL. virosa than toL. sativa/serriola. Such a discrepancy may be explained assuming that domestication ofL. sativa/serriola resulted in an increased selection pressure on unique DNA sequences as demonstrated by the RFLP data. Differential evolution of specific heterochromatin classes (and presumably of highly repetitive DNA classes), as revealed by chromosome banding techniques was not linked to domestication. Thus the disparity in conclusions about relationship (in terms of genetic similarity) as based on the different experimental approaches reflects a non-parallel evolution of highly repetitive vs. unique DNA classes.     

Interactions ofCandida albicans with bacteria and salivary molecules in oral biofilms

The yeastCandida albicans coaggregates with a variety of streptococcal species, an interaction that may promote oral colonization by yeast cells.C. albicans andCandida tropicalis are the yeasts most frequently isolated from the human oral cavity and our data demonstrate that both these species bind toStreptococcus gordonii NCTC 7869 while two otherCandida species (Candida krusei andCandida kefyr) do not. Adherence ofC. albicans was greatest when the yeast had been grown at 30° C to mid-exponential growth phase. For 21 strains ofC. albicans there was a positive correlation between the ability to adhere toS. gordonii and adherence to experimental salivary pellicle. Whole saliva either stimulated or slightly inhibited adherence ofC. albicans toS. gordonii depending on the streptococcal growth conditions. The results suggest that the major salivary adhesins and coaggregation adhesins ofC. albicans are co-expressed.     

A molecular systematic study ofCathaya, a relic genus of thePinaceae in China

The systematic position ofCathaya, a relic genus of thePinaceae, was discussed based on therbcL gene sequence. The sequence data were analysed with PAUP and MEGA programs. The great genetic distance value betweenCathaya and any other genus of thePinaceae showed thatCathaya was a distinct and isolated genus. The most parsimonious Fitch tree and neighbor-joining tree showed thatCathaya was distantly related to the clade comprisingAbies, Keteleeria, Pseudolarix andTsuga, and a sister group relationship betweenCathaya andPinus was weakly supported.Pseudotsuga is closely related toLarix. In theAbies-Keteleeria-Pseudolarix-Tsuga clade,Abies has a close relationship toKeteleeria whilePseudolarix is relatively closely related toTsuga.     

Different responses of three predatory mite species toTetranychus urticae,Eriophyes dioscoridis andBrevipalpus pulcher: Evidence for the existence of kairomones and allomones

The responses of 3 phytoseiid mite speciesPhytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot,Phytoseius finitimus Ribaga andAmblyseius gossipi Elbadry to allelochemics emitted by prey mite speciesTetranychus urticae Koch,Brevipalpus pulcher (Canestrini & Fanzago) andEriophyes dioscoridis Soliman & Abou-Awad were studied using a test of two-choice assays. The repellent effect elicited by the tenuipalpid mite,B. pulcher and the eriophyid mite,E. dioscoridis againstP. persimilis could be an evidence for the existence of allomones produced by these 2 prey species. The negative response ofP. persimilis to the different stadia ofB. pulcher and the attraction ofP. finitimus toward the same prey suggest that the volatile semiochemicals produced by this prey act as kairomones forP. finitimus and as allomones forP. persimilis. The strong attraction ofP. finitimus andA. gossipi to the different stadia ofT. urticae and the considerable attraction of either predator toB. pulcher compared to the neutral response toE. dioscoridis reveal that both predators show a hierarchy of preference for the kairomones of the 3 prey species studied.      

Ovule and seed anatomy ofCistaceae and relatedMalvanae

Ovule and especially seed anatomy of eight species ofCochlospermaceae, Bixaceae, Cistaceae, Monotoideae, Pakaraimaeoideae (two subfamilies ofDipterocarpaceae), andSarcolaenaceae were investigated. All representatives show a bixoid chalazal region in the seed as probable exclusive synapomorphy among angiosperms. The palisade layer of the exotegmen is curved inwards at its proximal end and forms a dome-shaped structure. A plug of hypostase tissue with an annulus/core structure fits into this dome. Moreover, two additional tissue types in the hypostase can be found in some representatives of the group. These and other micromorphological, wood anatomical, and floral morphological characters, indicate that the taxa form a monophyletic group close toMalvales s. str. The form of the starch grains in the endosperm is compared and is described for the first time forPakaraimaea (Dipterocarpaceae) andLeptolaena (Sarcolaenaceae). The position ofDiegodendron close toBixa and the presumably more distant positions ofMuntingia andNeuradaceae are discussed.     

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.

     

Significance of palynology for phylogeny ofAnnonaceae: Experiments with removal of pollen characters

Phylogenetic analyses based on morphology placeAnaxagorea and other taxa with granular monosulcate pollen, as in otherMagnoliales, at the base ofAnnonaceae. Taxa with columellar tetrads, granular tetrads, and inaperturate monads form a derived clade. To test the systematic importance of palynology, we analyzed the data set with pollen characters removed. The result was lower resolution and a different rooting of the family, betweenUvariopsis and other groups with columellar tetrads.Anaxagorea and other monosulcates are higher in the tree, implying that granular monosulcate pollen, laminar stamens, and irregular endosperm ruminations are reversals. This rooting is highly unparsimonious when pollen characters are included, and only weakly supported over theAnaxagorea rooting when pollen is excluded. Together with preliminary molecular analyses, these experiments confirm the special value of palynology in systematics ofAnnonaceae. This paper is dedicated to emer. Univ.-Prof. DrFriedrich Ehrendorfer on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Serologische Untersuchungen zur Gliederung derBrassicaceae

The serological investigations support the opinion ofJanchen (1942) to combine the generaBunias, Isatis, andSisymbrium in the tribeSisymbrieae; Cheiranthus, Erysimum, andMatthiola in the tribeHesperideae; andBrassica, Crambe, Sinapis, andSuccowia in the tribeBrassiceae. They further underline the central position of theSisymbrieae and the isolated position of theHeliophileae. In accordance withEigner (1973) theBrassiceae are placed closer to theSisymbrieae than inJanchen; the same holds for thePringleeae. No serological justification could be found to uniteArabis andBarbarea in the tribeArabideae, andAlyssum andLunaria in theAlysseae. From the antigen-systems used among the representatives ofJanchen's Lepidieae the generaLepidium andNeslia show remarkable correspondence both toCamelina andThlaspi, but not toCochlearia which appears distant fromCamelina andThlaspi also.

Teil 1/Part 1.     

Effects of bacterial contamination on development ofMicroplitis croceipes [Hym.: Braconidae]

Bacterial contaminants ofHeliothis virescens (F.) influenced the development ofMicroplitis croceipes (Cresson). Among the four bacterial species studied, the most virulent wasPseudomonas maltophilia Hugh and Ryschenkow followed byBacillus subtilis (Ehrenberg) Cohn. Both bacteria caused severe mortality in all stages ofMicroplitis tested.Microplitis larvae were less susceptible toEscherichia coli (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers andLeuconostoc mesenteroides (Tsenkovskii) van Thieghem than toB. subtilis andP. maltophilia. AlthoughE. coli did not affect the number of cocoons produced, adult emergence was lower than in controls. Longevity of adultMicroplitis exposed to bacterially contaminated honey-water was greatly reduced in all bacterial treatments.      

Comments on flower evolution and beetle pollination in the generaAnnona andRollinia (Annonaceae)

Dynastid scarab beetle pollination appears basic within the genusAnnona. Those species ofAnnona which are more morphologically derived, as well as allRollinia spp. possess reduced floral chambers and attract small beetles likeNitidulidae orStaphylinidae. Pollination of the primitive species ofAnnona byDynastinae would imply that the genus had not evolved before the Tertiary. The fossil record is in congruence with this hypothesis. Once again it is stressed that the cantharophilous syndrome, as it is found in theAnnonaceae, Magnoliaceae, Eupomatiaceae andCalycanthaceae, with beetles being exclusive pollinators, is a secondary and derived condition and obviously different from the expected basic entomophily of the original angiosperms.     

Caloplaca sect.Xanthoriella,sect. nov.: Untersuchungen über die „Xanthoria lobulata-Gruppe“ (Lichenes,Teloschistaceae)

Reexamination ofXanthoria persica, X. polycarpoides, X. lobulata gave evidence, that the thalli of these species are devoid of a lower cortex and rhizinae. Therefore, they do not fit the definition of the genusXanthoria and are transferred toCaloplaca (under the new sectionXanthoriella) asCaloplaca persica, C. polycarpoides, andC. boulyi, respectively. — Details on development, anatomical structure, ecology and distribution are presented.

     

Intergeneric hybridization and C-banding patterns inHordelymus (Triticeae,Poaceae)

Crosses ofHordelymus europaeus (2n = 4x = 28) with four genera in theTriticeae were attempted. Adult hybrids were obtained in combinations withHordeum bogdanii (2x),Hordeum depressum (4x), andSecale cereale (2x). The meiotic pairing was very low in the hybrids withH. bogdanii andSecale cereale (0.12 and 0.30 chiasmata/cell, respectively), whereas high pairing (9.90 chiasmata/cell) was found in hybrids withH. depressum due to autosyndetic pairing ofH. depressum chromosomes. The chromosome complement ofHordelymus europaeus comprised 16 metacentrics, 8 submetacentrics, and 4 SAT-chromosomes. The Giemsa C-banding patterns of the chromosomes were characterized by small to minute bands at no preferential positions. It is hypothesized thatHordelymus europaeus may genomically be closest related toTaeniatherum andPsathyrostachys spp.     

Taxonomic status of Cuscuta nevadensis and C. veatchii (Convolvulaceae) in North America

The taxonomy ofCuscuta nevadensis andC. veatchii is investigated.Cuscuta nevadensis is more closely related toC. veatchii andC. denticulata than toC. salina, and the former two taxa are accepted as species. A summary of relevant taxonomic and biological information is provided, including synonymy, distribution and ecology, keys, and a comparison of the morphology of flowers and seeds are examined. The morphological basis of vivipary inC. nevadensis is discussed. The status ofCuscuta vivipara, an invalid name in recent use, is clarified.     

Isozyme evidence of relationships withinSphagnum sect.Acutifolia (Sphagnaceae,Bryophyta)

Ten enzyme systems coding for 13 putative loci were studied in 12 European species ofSphagnum sect.Acutifolia (peat mosses). On average seven plants from each of 73 collections made throughout N Europe were analysed. Despite complex morphological variation, all species expressed unique allele combinations. Principal components and cluster analyses based on allele frequencies showed that sect.Acutifolia can be divided into two major groups; one comprisingSphagnum fimbriatum, S. girgensohnii andS. molle; the second comprisingS. capillifolium, S. angermanicum, S. fuscum, S. quinquefarium, S. rubellum, S. subfulvum, S. subnitens andS. warnstorfii. These groups are linked byS. russowii, which is shown to be an allopolyploid, with fixed heterozygosity at 6 to 8 of the loci. The presumed progenitors ofS. russowii areS. girgensohnii andS. rubellum. Allelic data also indicate thatS. teres from sect.Squarrosa is related toS. girgensohnii andS. fimbriatum. The bisexual species tend to be less variable than the unisexual species.