Musa chunii Hakkinen, a new species (Musaceae) from Yunnan,China and taxonomic identity of Musa rubra

The center of diversity of the genus Musa (Musaceae) is in Southeast Asia, a region not studied in detail and where new species and varieties continue to be reported. A new wild banana species, M. chunii Hakki-nen from Yunnan, China is described and illustrated based on observed morphological characteristics in the field. This extremely rare new species was only found in Tongbiguan Nature Reserve, Dehong District, West Yunnan. A key to M. chunii and related taxa is provided. In addition, critical notes regarding M. rubra Kurz identity are given.     

A new species of the wild banana genus,Musa (Musaceae), from Borneo

A new species of wild banana, Musa bauensis Häkkinen & Meekiong, is described and illustrated. It is from the Bau limestone area, Sarawak, East Malaysia.     

Ornithophilous and Chiropterophilous Pollination in Musa itinerans (Musaceae), a Pioneer Species in Tropical Rain Forests of Yunnan, Southwestern China1

The role of bats and sunbirds in the pollination ecology of Musa itinerans Cheesman (Musaceae) was studied in the tropical seasonal rain forests of Xishuangbanna, southern Yunnan, China. It was found that both long–tongued fruit bats (Macroglossus sobrinus) and sunbirds (Arachnothera longirostris) were effective pollinators of M. itinerans. Nectar production had two peaks, one during the day and one during night (0800–1200 h and 2000–2400 h), which allowed the two different foragers to visit at specific times. The visitation patterns of the two foragers coincided with both flowering time and nectar production. By measuring the differences in fruit weight and seed production among different bagging experiments, we found that birds and bats were equally effective as pollinators of this species.     

Miliusa cambodgensis sp. nov. (Annonaceae) from Cambodia and M. astiana,M. ninhbinhensis spp. nov. from Vietnam

The genus Miliusa in Cambodia and Vietnam is reviewed. Cambodia and Vietnam each harbors six species of Miliusa, including three which are described as new to science: one from Cambodia (Miliusa cambodgensis sp. nov.), the other two from Vietnam (M. astiana and M. ninhbinhensis spp. nov.). In addition, a complete nomenclature and relevant information about the Miliusa species previously known from Cambodia and Vietnam are provided, including keys to the Cambodian and Vietnamese species, the designation of a lectotype for M. baillonii and the synonymization of M. balansae var. elongatoides, M. chunii and M. sinensis with M. balansae.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers from Musa balbisiana

This is the first report of targeted development of B genome microsatellite markers in Musa. A total of 44 sequences with microsatellites were isolated from an enriched library of Musa balbisiana cv. ‘Tani’ (BB genome). Of these, 25 were polymorphic when screened on 14 diverse diploid and triploid Musa accessions. The number of alleles detected by each marker ranged between one and seven. All 25 microsatellite markers generated amplification products in all species and genome complements. These new microsatellite markers fill an important gap for diversity assessment and linkage mapping studies in plantain (AAB) and cooking banana (ABB).     

Flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA content in Musa

 Nuclear genome size variation was studied in Musa acuminata (A genome), Musa balbisiana (B genome) and a range of triploid clones differing in genomic constitution (i.e. the relative number of A and B genomes). Nuclear DNA content was estimated by flow cytometry of nuclei stained by propidium iodide. The A and B genomes of Musa differ in size, the B genome being smaller by 12% on average. No variation in genome size was found among the accessions of M. balbisiana (average genome size 537 Mbp). Small, but statistically significant, variation was found among the subspecies and clones of M. acuminata (ranging from 591 to 615 Mbp). This difference may relate to the geographical origin of the individual accessions. Larger variation in genome size (8.8%) was found among the triploid Musa accessions (ranging from 559 to 613 Mbp). This variation may be due to different genomic constitutions as well as to differences in the size of their A genomes. It is proposed that a comparative analysis of genome size in diploids and triploids may be helpful in identifying putative diploid progenitors of cultivated triploid Musa clones. Statistical analysis of data on genome size resulted in a grouping which agreed fairly well with the generally accepted taxonomic classification of Musa. Received: 11 May 1998 / Accepted: 29 September 1998     

N-Oxidation of arylamines to nitrosobenzenes using chloroperoxidase purified from Musa paradisiaca stem juice

Abstract

N-Oxidation of arylamines to their corresponding nitrosobenzenes using a new chloroperoxidase purified from Musa paradisiaca stem juice has been examined. The enzymatic characteristics of the stem chloroperoxidase using 4-chloroaniline as substrate were determined. The K_m values for 4-chloroaniline and H₂O₂ were 770 μM and 154 μM respectively, while the pH and temperature optima were 4.4 and 30°C respectively. The substrate specificities of the enzyme for the arylamines 3,4-dichloroamine, p-aminobenzoic acid, p-toluidine, p-anisidine, m-anisidine, p-aminophenol, o-aminophenol and m-aminophenol have been characterized. The feasibility of using concentrated M. paradisiaca stem juice for the specific conversion of 4-chloroaniline to 4-chloronitrosobenzene has been demonstrated. This enzyme can be used for the N-oxidation of other arylamines.     

Musa nagalandiana sp. nov. (Musaceae) from Nagaland,northeast India

Musa nagalandiana S. Dey & Gogoi, a new species of Musa sect. Musa, is described and illustrated from Zunheboto district, Nagaland, India based on morphological characteristics observed in the field. The new species is rare in the wild and found in tropical semi‐evergreen forest on the bank of the river Doyang, in Zunheboto district of Nagaland. A key to M. nagalandiana and related taxa is provided.     

Musa puspanjaliae sp. nov. (Musaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh,India

Musa puspanjaliae R. Gogoi & Häkkinen, a new species of Musa sect. Musa, is described and illustrated from west Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh, India based on morphological characteristics observed in the field. The new species is common in Sessa, Zero Point to Ramda on Sepa road of west Kameng and Hazi Basti, Ziro of lower Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh. A key to M. puspanjaliae and related taxa is provided.     

Ceratopteris chunii and Ceratopteris chingii(Pteridaceae),two new diploid species from China,based on morphological,cytological,and molecular dataOA

Understanding how natural hybridization and polyploidizations originate in plants requires identifying potential diploid ancestors.However,cryptic plant species are widespread,particularly in Ceratopteris(Pteridaceae).Identifying Ceratopteris cryptic species with different polyploidy levels is a challenge because Ceratopteris spp.exhibit high degrees of phenotypic plasticity.Here,two new cryptic species of Ceratopteris,Ceratopteris chunii and Ceratopteris chingii,are described and illustrated.Ph...     

Mussaenda yunnanensis sp. nov. (Rubiaceae), a new functionally dioecious species from Yunnan,China

Mussaenda yunnanensis, a new dioecious species of Rubiaceae from Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species can be recognized by its slender stem, congested‐cymose inflorescences and long corolla tubes. Differences between M. yunnanensis and two morphologically similar species (M. pubescens and M. antiloga) are presented. We also provide a key to all dioecious species of Mussaenda in China. The delimitation of the new species is further supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses based on eight plastid loci.     

Lagerstroemia menglaensis sp. nov. (Lythraceae) from Xishuangbanna,Yunnan Province,China

Lagerstroemia menglaensis C. H. Gu, M. C. Ji & D. D. Ma, a new species of Lythraceae from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China is described and illustrated. The morphological characteristics of the new species and two morphologically similar species (L. guilinensis and L. venusta) are compared, and a key to distinguish between them is provided.     

肖点耳叶蝉属二新种 (同翅目：叶蝉科：耳叶蝉亚科)

记述了在中国云南省和贵州省采集的肖点耳叶蝉属Midoria Kato二新种：何氏肖点耳叶蝉M.hei新种和环突肖点耳叶蝉M.annulata新种,并对属征补充描记,附分种检索表。模式标本保存在安徽农业大学昆虫标本室。     

RFLP-based phylogeny of Musa species in Papua New Guinea

Summary Random genomic probes were used to detect restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in 26 accessions of Musa representing eight species from Papua New Guinea (PNG), M. textilis, M. jackeyi and one accession of Ensete. Ninety-eight phylogenetically informative characters were scored and analyzed cladistically and phenetically. Results generally agreed with previous morphology-based phylogenetic analyses. However, the closest wild relative of the edible M. fehi (fe'i banana) appears to be M. lolodensis. Musa angustigemma is sister species with M. boman and M. jackeyi and is distinct from M. peekelii, with which it is often united. Musa boman is unambiguously placed in section Australimusa. The diploid parthenocarpic landraces of section Musa unique to PNG are closely related to, but apparently distinct from, M. acuminata ssp. banksii. The evolution of the fe'i bananas and the M. acuminata-derived diploid landraces of PNG are discussed.     

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based phylogenetic analysis of Musa

Summary Random genomic probes were used to detect RFLPs in 19 Musa species and subspecies. A total of 89 phylogenetically informative alleles were scored and analyzed cladistically and phenetically. Results were in general agreement with morphology-based phylogenetic analyses, with the following exceptions: our data unambiguously places M. boman in section Australimusa, and indicates M. beccarii is very closely related to M. acuminata. Additionally, no support was found for the separation of section Rhodochlamys from section Musa. A comparison of morphology-based and RFLP-based phylogenetic analyses is presented.     

Food partitioning among three sympatric odontocetes (Grampus griseus,Lagenodelphis hosei,and Stenella attenuata)

Food is one of the most important dimensions of resource partitioning for species coexistence. In this study, we investigated the dietary composition and foraging habits of three sympatric odontocetes in order to identify their levels of food niche overlap and ecological separation. Stomach content analysis was performed on samples collected from carcasses confiscated by police or entangled in gill nets from 1994 to 2001, including 27 Risso's dolphins (GG) (Grampus griseus), 27 Fraser's dolphins (LH) (Lagenodelphis hosei), and 45 pantropical spotted dolphins (SA) (Stenella attenuata). GG consumed only cephalopods, with Enoploteuthis chunii accounting for 90.5% of total prey consumed, LH fed on mesopelagic fishes and cephalopods, dominated by hatchetfish, Polyipnus stereope (50.2%), and SA ate both mesopelagic and epipelagic preys, primarily fishes of Myctophum asperum (20.3%) and squids of E. chunii (25.8%). Among the three odontocetes, GG had the narrowest dietary niche width, while SA had the widest width. Both the niche overlap index and the analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) showed significant diet differentiation among these three dolphin species. The depth distribution of their principal prey items further suggests that LH feeds in the deepest waters while SA utilizes prey resources near surface.     

云南苦苣苔科一新记录属——单座苣苔属

报道了云南苦苣苔科一新记录属——单座苣苔属(Metabriggsia W.T.Wang)。该属为中国特有属,仅单座苣苔(Metabriggsia ovalifolia W.T.Wang)和紫叶单座苣苔(Metabriggsia purpureotincta W.T.Wang)2种,分布于广西西部、北部及贵州南部,在云南的发现对研究其地理与区系有重要的意义。