Kuhnia sprostonae Price, 1961 and K. scombercolias Nasir & Fuentes Zambrano, 1983 (Monogenea: Mazocraeidae) and their microhabitats on the gills of Scomber australasicus (Teleostei: Scombridae), and the geographical distribution of seven species of gill Monogenea of Scomber spp.

As a result of an extensive survey of monogeneans on the gills of scombrid fishes of the genus Scomber, especially S. australasicus in Australia, it has been shown that Kuhnia sprostonae as previously defined by Rohde & Watson is, in fact, two distinct species, namely K. sprostonae Price, 1961 and K. scombercolias Nasir & Fuentes Zambrano, 1983. K. sprostonae inhabits the pseudobranchs of Scomber scombrus in the North Sea, S. japonicus off Madeira and S. australasicus in Australian waters, and shows considerable variability in the lengths of the hamuli and the genital hooks. K. scombercolias occurs on the main gills of S. japonicus and S. australasicus in many regions of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific. Other species of gill monogeneans on Scomber spp. are Kuhnia scombri, Pseudokuhnia minor, Grubea cochlear and G. australis. A damaged juvenile monogenean of unknown status was recovered only once in the Mediterranean. The geographical distribution of gill monogeneans of Scomber spp. is discussed.     

Seasonal variations of the opisthaptoral hard parts of Gyrodactylus derjavini Mikailov, 1975 (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) on brown trout Salmo trutta L. parr and Atlantic salmon S. salar L. parr in the River Sandvikselva,Norway

Seasonal variations in the size and shape of the marginal hooks, anchors and ventral bar of the opisthaptor of Gyrodactylus derjavini Mikailov, 1975 were studied. The G. derjavini specimens were collected from brown trout Salmo trutta L. parr and Atlantic salmon S. salar L. parr in the River Sandvikselva, southeastern Norway. Samples were taken at roughly monthly intervals during a 13-month period. The marginal hooks, anchors and ventral bars showed considerable seasonal variation in size, but varied very little in shape. The size increased when the water temperature decreased and vice versa.     

Electrofusion of protoplasts from Solanum tuberosum, S. nigrum and S. bulbocastanum

Leaf protoplasts of two wild species, Solanum nigrum var. gigantea (S. ngr gig) and S. bulbocastanum Dun. (S. blb), were electrofused with leaf protoplasts of two diploid potato clones, H-8105 and ZEL-1136, respectively, in order to confer the late blight-resistance from the wild species to the cultivated potato. The S. ngr gig mesophyll (+) H-8105 mesophyll combination resulted in regenerants of mostly normal ngr phenotype. Two regenerants from this combination were proved to be true hybrids by RAPD analysis but they rooted poorely in vitro and did not survive the transfer to soil. The S. ngr gig (+) H-8105 fusion combination was also performed with H-8105 cell suspension derived protoplasts enabling an easy identification of interspecific fusants on basis of their intermediate morphology. From the S. ngr gig mesophyll (+) H-8105 cultured cell combination, many abnormal shoots were regenerated. The two lines which survived had normal ngr phenotype but the presence of tuberosum (tbr) genome in those regenerants was not confirmed by RAPD analysis. No plants with tbr phenotype were obtained from both of S. ngr gig (+) H-8105 combinations. On the contrary, when S. blb mesophyll protoplasts were electrofused with ZEL-1136 mesophyll protoplasts, all regenerated plants had tbr phenotype, indicating much lower morphogenetic potential of S. bulbocastanum in comparison with that of S. nigrum var. gigantea. However, the hybridity of those regenerants has not been confirmed by RAPD analysis with two different primers. The efficiency of the applied fusion procedure and analysis of the regenerants is discussed.     

Semenovia pulvinata,S. dissectifolia,S. imbricata and S. vachanica spp. nov. from Tajikistan and other nomenclatural combinations in Semenovia (Apiaceae)

The new species Semenovia pulvinata Pimenov & Kljuykov, S. dissectifolia Ukrainskaja & Kljuykov, S. imbricata Ukrainskaja & Kljuykov, and S. vachanica Ukrainskaja & Kljuykov from the mountains of Pamiro‐Alai, Tajikistan and adjacent Afghanistan, are described and illustrated. For the Chinese species S. millefolia (Diels) V. M.Vinogr. & Kamelin, also known as Heracleum millefolium Diels, the correct name is S. torilifolia (H. Boissieu) Pimenov comb. nov. based on Peucedanum torilifolium H. Boissieu. For another closely related Chinese species, Peucedanum malcolmii Hemsl. & H. Pearson, also belonging to Semenovia, the new combination S. malcolmii (Hemsl. & H. Pearson) Pimenov is proposed. Heracleum thomsonii C. B. Clarke var. glabrior C. B. Clarke from Kashmir (Ladakh) is regarded as an independent species of Semenovia, S. glabrior (C. B. Clarke) Pimenov & Kljuykov.     

Adriamycin, 14-hydroxydaunomycin, a new antitumor antibiotic from S. peucetius var. caesius

Streptomyces peucetius var. caesius, obtained from S. peucetius, the daunomycin producing microorganism, by mutagenic treatment, differs from the parent culture by the color of the vegetative and aerial mycelia and by its antibiotic, producing ability. S. peucetius var. caesius accumulates adriamycin in submerged and aerated culture on a medium containing glucose, brewer's yeast, and inorganic, salts both in shake flasks and in stirred fementers. Isolation of the product is performed by solvent extraction, chromatography on buffered cellulose columns, and crystallization as the hydrochloride. The new antitumor agent, adriamycin, is the 14-hydroxv derivative of daunomyein.     

Microendoliths in Lower Pliocene Oysters from the Alt Empordà Basin,NW Mediterranean: Paleoenvironmental Inferences

The study of traces made by microendoliths on Neopycnodonte cochlear shells from a coquina in the Vilacolum area (Alt Empordà basin) has permitted us to identify for the first time 18 ichnotaxa in the Lower Pliocene sediments of the NW Mediterranean. A shallow, euphotic environment with local shaded zones (corresponding to deep shallow conditions) is proposed for this shell bed, owing to the presence of abundant heterotroph microborings and rare cyanobacterial traces as well as to the high number of Rhopalia catenata and Ichnoreticulina elegans. This refines a former interpretation, mainly based on body fossils and macroborings, which suggested simply a shallow depositional environment. The ichnospecies Ichnoreticulina elegans, Rhopalia catenata, ?R. clavigera, Saccomorpha clava, S. terminalis, Polyactina araneola, Entobia mikra, Orthogonum lineare and Aurimorpha varia are identified for the first time in marine Pliocene materials, thus furnishing a more complete picture of the temporal span of some microborers.     

Plant regeneration from the protoplasts of Solanum tuberosum, S. nigrum and S. bulbocastanum

The mesophyll protoplasts were isolated from the Solanum tuberosum (S. tbr) clones of different ploidy level (4x Bzura cv., 2x H-8105, and 2x ZEL-1136) as well as from the wild species: S. bulbocastanum (S. blb, 2x) and two accessions of S. nigrum (S. ngr, 6x). Additionally, the protoplasts were isolated from the cell suspensions of Bzura cv. and H-8105 clone. The conditions of protoplast isolation as well as the media for their culturing and regeneration, were selected and optimized for the studied genotypes. For mesophyll protoplasts, the shooting calli were produced by all the cultured protoclones except that of S. bulbocastanum. The shoots excised from the protoplast-derived calli developed into whole plants in all the studied potato clones but only in one accession of S. nigrum, i.e. S. ngr var. gigantea. As for suspension-cell-derived protoplasts, only H-8105 clone produced the regenerative type of calli, though normal shoots could not be obtained. The regenerative capacity of the protoplasts isolated from leaves and cell suspensions is compared and discussed. We regret to report the death of M. Sc. Maria Borkowska after the completion of this work.     

Six newSalmonella types,isolated in ghana (S. volta,S. agona,S. wa,S. techimani,S. mampong andS. tafo)

Summary Six newSalmonella types isolated in Ghana are described.S. volta, 11: 4: 1,z₁₃, z₂₈ was isolated from a swine;S.agona 4,12: fgs:—,S.wa, 16: b: 1,5S.technimani, 28: c: z₆ andS.tafo, 1, 4 12, 27: z₃₅: 1,7 were isolated from cattle;S.mampong, 13,22: z₃₅: 1,6, was isolated from a lizzard.     

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of Solanum species with potential agricultural value (S. hjertingii,S. polyadenium,S. capsicibaccatum)

Protoplasts have been isolated from three tuber-bearing Solanum species, S. hjertingii, S. polyadenium and S. capsicibaccatum, that are sexually incompatible with S. tuberosum, but possess potentially useful characters. For isolating protoplasts from leaves of in vitro shoot cultures of S. hjertingii and S. capsicibaccatum growth was improved by including silver thiosulfate in the medium. However, for S. polyadenium, leaves of pot-grown plants were the best source for protoplasts. Following protoplast division and culture, plants were regenerated from protoplasts of each of the species. The pattern of chromosome variation in regenerants was similar to that observed for other diploid and tetraploid Solanum species. The results indicate that it should be possible to introduce the potentially useful germplasm from these wild species into somatic hybrids with S. tuberosum by protoplast fusion.Abbreviations STS silver thiosulfate - BAP benzylaminopurine - GA₃ gibberellic acid - NAA naphthalene acetic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid     

Sequence Analysis of 18S-28S rRNA Spacer Regions from Saccharomyces kunashirensis, S. martiniae, S. rosinii, and S. transvaalensis

Sequences of two internal transcribed spacer regions between 18S and 28S rRNA for recently described yeasts species, Saccharomyces kunashirensis, S. martiniae, S. rosinii, and S. transvaalensis, were determined to assess their phylogenetic relationship to the other Saccharomyces species. In the two phylogenetic trees constructed by the neighbor-joining method, independent branches reflected that delimitation of the four new species was valid. Received: 17 June 1998 / Accepted: 7 August 1998     

Plant regeneration from in vitro culture of anthers of Solanum chacoense Bitt. and interspecific diploid hybrids S. tuberosum L. x S. chacoense Bitt.

Summary Production of plants from cultured anthers of Solanum chacoense clone IP 33, of its interspecific diploid hybrids with S. tuberosum clones IP 354 and IP 372, and of a complex Solanum hybrid containing in its genome S. ajanhuiri is reported. Genotypic differences were found to influence both the induction phase and the regeneration process. Hybrids derived from clone IP 354 of S. tuberosum were much more responsive in culture than hybrids from clone IP 372. Altogether, 507 plants were regenerated and 309 were cytologically analyzed. Of these, 52% were haploid, 47% diploid and 1% mixoploid or tetraploid. A number of diploid plants probably originated from unreduced microspores and some genetic consequences of this event are discussed.     

Isolation and characterization of glycoprotein lectins from the bark of three species of elder,Sambucus ebulus,S. nigra and S. racemosa

Lectins have been isolated from the bark of three members of the family Caprifoliaceae, Sambucus nigra (elder), S. racemosa (red-berried elder) and S. ebulus (dwarf elder), by affinity chromatography on fetuin-agarose, ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. They are all glycoproteins of M _r 140 000 made up of at least four subunits. The lectin have similar but not identical amino-acid compositions and the carbohydrate content varies between 12% and 19% (w/w), the main sugars being (N-acetyl)glucosamine, mannose, fucose and xylose. Inhibition studies of hemagglutination with various mono- and oligosaccharides have shown that N-acetylgalactosamine and galactose together with galactose-containing oligosaccharides are the most effective inhibitors. There are some differences in specificity, in particular S. ebulus agglutinin is inhibited to the same degree by galactosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine and by galactose.Abbreviations PBS phosphate-buffered saline - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - SEA S. ebulus agglutinin - SNA S. nigra agglutinin - SRA S. racemosa agglutinin     

Four newSalmonella types (S. gambaga,S. kumasi,S. pramiso andS. ashanti) isolated in Ghana

Summary Four newSalmonella types isolated in Ghana are described.S.gambaga, 21; z35: enz15,S.kumasi, 30;z10: enz15, andS.pramiso, 3,10;c: 1,7 were isolated from reptiles,S. ashanti, 28; b: 1,6 was isolated from a rat.     

Sequences of the cDNAs and genomic DNAs encoding the S1, S7, S8, and Sf alleles from almond, Prunus dulcis

Partial genomic and cDNA sequences of the RNase alleles S1, S7, S8 and Sf were obtained from Prunus dulcis cvs ’Ne Plus Ultra’, ’Ferragnes’ and ’Nonpareil’ 15–1, and IRTA Selection 12–2. Total DNA was extracted from leaves, and cDNA was prepared from total RNA extracted from styles. The partial cDNA sequences of the S1 allele from ’Ferragnes’, and the S7 and S8 alleles from ’Nonpareil’ 15–1, matched those reported in the literature for the alleles Sb, Sc and Sd respectively. The sequences of the S1, S7, S8 and Sf alleles found in genomic DNA contained introns of 562, 1,530, 2,208 and 689 bp respectively. The exon/intron splice junction sites of all alleles followed the GT/AG consensus sequence rule, and the sequences were found to be highly conserved. Received: 18 October 2000 / Accepted: 8 March 2001     

Plant regeneration from protoplasts isolated from seedling cotyledons of Stylosanthes guianensis,S. macrocephala and S. scabra

Plant regeneration from protoplasts is a prerequisite to the production of modified plants using somatic hybridization and transformation. Whole plant regeneration was achieved from protoplasts isolated from seedling cotyledons of Stylosanthes guianensis, S. macrocephala and S. scabra, three economically important species of this tropical forage legume genus. The effects of both protoplast density and protoplast culture method on cell division and plating efficiency are presented.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - MES 2-(N-Morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - NAA 1-naphthalenacetic acid On leave from: Departamento de Genética, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil     

Four newSalmonella types (S. tilburg,S. bunnk,S. overschie andS. sterrenbos) isolated in the Netherlands

Summary Four newSalmonella types isolated in the Netherlands are described.S.tilburg, 1,3,19; d∶1, w, was isolated from the lymphnodes of a swine.S.bunnik, 43; z42:-, was isolated from a reptile.S.overschie, 51; 1,v∶1,5 was isolated from a tortoise.S.sterrenbos, 6,8;d: enx, was isolated from the lymphnodes of a patient.     

Didymodon kunlunensis D.P.Zhao,S.Mamtimin & S.He (Pottiaceae), a new species from Xinjiang,China

Didymodon kunlunensis D.P.Zhao, S.Mamtimin & S.He is described as a new species found in Xinjiang, China. The new species is characterised by a combination of the following characters: ovate leaves with laminal cells always smooth, red colour in KOH, recurved leaf margins from base to apex, a percurrent costa without dorsal and ventral stereid bands in cross section, a distinct stem central strand and the presence of gemmae in the leaf axils. Light microscope photographs of the significant characters are provided and its distinctions from closely related taxa are discussed. A key to Chinese Didymodon species with smooth laminal cell is provided.     

In vitro organogenesis and plant regeneration from leaves of Solanum candidum Lindl,S. quitoense Lam. (naranjilla) and S. sessiliflorum Dunal

Adventitious shoots and roots were regenerated from leaf segments of 3 Solanum species: S. candidum Lindl., S. quitoense Lam. and S. sessiliflorum Dunal. Leaf explants differentiated shoots on modified MS medium supplemented with 23–163 M kinetin and 0–5.7 µM indoleacetic acid (IAA). Excised shoots were induced to form roots by transfer to media with benzyladenine (BA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 0.09 and 0.11 µM respectively for S. quitoense and 0.01 µM NAA for S. candidum and S. sessiliflorum. Adventitious roots were produced directly from leaf explants with 0–140 µM kinetin and 0–5.7 µM IAA in combination. Rooted plants were successfully established in the greenhouse.     

Spiranthes hachijoensis (Orchidaceae), a new species within the S. sinensis species complex in Japan,based on morphological,phylogenetic, and ecological evidence

The systematics of the Old World Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames species complex (Orchidaceae) has been complicated by its wide distribution and morphological variations. Within the species complex, S. australis Lindl. has been generally accepted as the only Spiranthes Rich. species distributed on the Japanese mainland. The present study provides morphological, phylogenetic, and ecological evidence for the recognition of S. hachijoensis Suetsugu as a new species of the S. sinensis species complex on the Japanese mainland. Spiranthes hachijoensis is morphologically similar to S. hongkongensis S.Y. Hu & Barretto and S. nivea T.P. Lin & W.M. Lin, sharing a degenerated rostellum, pollinia without a viscidium, and distinctly trilobed stigma. However, the taxon can be morphologically distinguished from S. hongkongensis by its glabrous rachis, ovaries, and sepals, and from S. nivea by its papillate labellum disc, larger papillate basal labellum callosities, and glabrous rachis, ovaries, and sepals. The autogamy and flowering phenology (i.e., earlier flowering) of S. hachijoensis are most likely responsible for premating isolation from the sympatric S. australis. A MIG-seq-based high-throughput molecular analysis indicated that the genetic difference between S. hachijoensis and its putative sister species S. sinensis is comparable to, or even greater than, the genetic difference between pairs of other species within the S. sinensis species complex. Our multifaceted approach strongly supports the recognition of S. hachijoensis as a morphologically, phenologically, phylogenetically, and ecologically distinct species.