Torulaspora nilssoni nov. spec.

Summary A new species of Torulaspora is described; it was isolated from some Swedish soils. This species is named Torulaspora nilssoni nov. spec. [in honour of Prof. Ragnar Nilsson (director of Institute of Microbiology, Royal Agriculture College of Sweden, Uppsala 7) and his assistant Dr. Per Eric Nilsson].     

Polyangium violaceum nov. spec.

Zusammenfassung Polyangium violaceum nov. spec., aus Exkrementen einer Lepus-Art von Natal/Südafrika isoliert, wird beschrieben. Es unterscheidet sich von den bisher bekannten Polyangium-Arten hauptsächlich durch Produktion eines lila Farbstoffes in den Cystenhüllen sowie in den Schleimhäuten. Der Farbstoff ist wasserlöslich. Die physiologischen Bedingungen, unter denen er gebildet wird, werden erörtert, und die Fähigkeit des Organismus zum Celluloseabbau wird diskutiert.Herrn Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. August Rippel zu seinem 70. Geburtstag.     

Parapodrilus psammophilus nov. gen. nov. spec., eine neue Polychaeten-Gattung aus dem Mesopsammal der Nordsee

Zusammenfassung 1. Ein neuer Polychaet,Parapodrilus psammophilus nov. gen. nov. spec., wurde im Eulitoral der Nordsseinsel Sylt entdeckt.2. Körperform, Größe und Gliederung dieses Interstitialbewohners zeigen gewisse Beziehungen zur Familie Dinophilidae der Archiannelida.3. Die Existenz einästiger, mit Borsten und Aciculae versehener Parapodien unterscheidet die neue Art jedoch scharf von allen Genera der Dinophilidae. Der Mangel eines für die Archianneliden typischen muskulösen Schlundsackes macht darüber hinaus die Einreihung in diese Gruppe problematisch.4. Der Verfasser beschränkt sich daher vorläufig auf eine Beschreibung des neuen Polychaeten und auf eine kurze Diagnose der neuen Gattung. Die Einordnung in das System der Polychaeta bleibt einer eingehenderen anatomischen Untersuchung vorbehalten.

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Parapodrilus psammophilus nov. gen. nov. spec., a new polychaete genus from the mesopsammal of the North Sea

A new polychaete genus,Parapodrilus psammophilus, is described on the basis of individuals caught in the sandy interstitial zone on the island Sylt (North Sea, German Bight). The main features of the new polychaete are: length up to 650µm; body divided into a prostomium (without any appendages), 7 segments and pygidium; segments 3 to 6 carry simple parapods as well as setae and aciculae.

     

Morphology and molecular phylogeny of two new soil ciliates,Hemiurosomoida warreni nov. spec. and Hemiurosoma clampi nov. spec. (Ciliophora,Hypotrichia) from Tibet

Two novel hypotrichous ciliates, Hemiurosomoida warreni nov. spec. and Hemiurosoma clampi nov. spec., isolated from soil in the Lhalu Wetland and Motuo Virgin Forest in Tibet, respectively, were investigated using live observation and protargol staining. Hemiurosomoida warreni nov. spec. strongly resembles the type species H. longa but can be distinguished by its body size in vivo (110–145 × 30–40 μm vs. 50–100 × 18–40 μm), number of adoral membranelles (25–38 vs. 15–22), and numbers of right (29–39 vs. 14–23) and left (26–35 vs. 13–23) marginal cirri, transverse cirri (3 vs. 4 or 5) and macronuclear nodules (4–8 vs. 2). Hemiurosoma clampi nov. spec. is characterized by its vermiform body shape, colourless cortical granules distributed in irregular rows, two macronuclear nodules, three frontal cirri, one buccal cirrus, four frontoventral cirri ranged in a line, two transverse cirri, lacking postoral ventral and pretransverse ventral cirri, and marginal rows that are not posteriorly confluent. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA gene sequences suggest that Hemiurosomoida is not monophyletic. A close relationship is revealed between Hemiurosomoida warreni nov. spec., Parakahilella macrostoma, Hemiurosoma clampi nov. spec., and the type species Hemiurosoma terricola. As expected, all these species are classified within the “non-oxytrichid Dorsomarginalia”.     

Methanocorpusculaceae fam. nov., represented by Methanocorpusculum parvum,Methanocorpusculum sinense spec. nov. and Methanocorpusculum bavaricum spec. nov.

Two new methanogenic bacteria, Methanocorpusculum sinense spec. nov. strain DSM 4274 from a pilot plant for treatment of distillery wastewater in Chengdu (Province Sichuan, China), and Methanocorpusculum bavaricum spec. nov. strain DSM 4179, from a wastewater pond of the sugar factory in Regensburg (Bavaria, FRG) are described. Methanocorpusculum strains are weakly motile and form irregularly coccoid cells, about 1 μm in diameter. The cell envelope consists of a cytoplasmic membrane and a S-layer, composed of hexagonally arranged glycoprotein subunits with molecular weights of 90000 (Methanocorpusculum parvum), 92000 (M. sinense), and 94000 (M. bavaricum). The center-to-center spacings are 14.3 nm, 15.8 nm and 16.0 nm, respectively. Optimal growth of strains is obtained in the mesophilic temperature range and at a pH around 7. Methane is produced from H₂/CO₂, formate, 2-propanol/CO₂ and 2-butanol/CO₂ by M. parvum and M. bavaricum, whereas M. sinense can only utilize H₂/CO₂ and formate. Growth of M. sinense and M. bavaricum is dependent on the presence of clarified rumen fluid. The G+C content of the DNA of the three strains is ranging from 47.7–53.6 mol% as determined by different methods. A similar, but distinct polar lipid pattern indicates a close relationship between the three Methanocorpusculum species. The polyamine patterns of M. parvum, M. sinense and M. bavaricum are similar, but distinct from those of other methanogens and are characterized by a high concentration of the otherwise rare 1,3-diaminopropane. Quantitative comparison of the antigenic fingerprint of members of Methanocorpusculum revealed no antigenic relationship with any one of the reference methanogens tested. On the basis of the distant phylogenetic position of M. parvum and the data presented in this paper a new family, the Methanocorpusculaceae fam. nov., is defined.     

Two new marine pleurostomatid ciliates from China,Amphileptus gui nov. spec. and Amphileptus yuianus nov. spec. (Ciliophora,Pleurostomatida)

The morphology and infraciliature of two pleurostomatid ciliates, Amphileptus gui nov. spec. and A. yuianus nov. spec., collected from mariculture ponds near Qingdao (Tsingtao), China, were investigated using living observations and the protargol impregnation method. These new species are distinguished from their congeners by a combination of characters including their marine habitat and the presence of an apical group of densely packed extrusomes. Amphileptus gui nov. spec. differs from A. yuianus nov. spec. mainly in the number of contractile vacuoles (3–7 vs. 1), the shape of extrusomes (thin bar-like vs. clavate), and the number of left and right somatic kineties (7–11 and 37–50 vs. 4 and 18–22).     

Host stage selection of the mealybug parasitoid Anagyrus spec. nov near sinope

The mealybug parasitoid Anagyrus spec. nov near sinope (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is an undescribed parasitoid of the Madeira mealybug, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). We investigated the preference of Anagyrus spec. nov near sinope for six developmental stadia (first‐ and second‐instar nymphs, third‐instar immature females, third‐ or fourth‐instar immature males, pre‐reproductive adult females, and ovipositing adult females) of P. madeirensis and the fitness consequences of the host stage selection behavior. In the no‐choice test, Anagyrus spec. nov near sinope parasitized and completed development in all host stadia except third‐instar immature males. When all host stadia were offered simultaneously, the parasitoids preferred third‐instar immature and pre‐reproductive adult females. Dissection of the stung mealybugs revealed that the clutch size (number of eggs per host) was approximately four and three in the third‐instar and pre‐reproductive females, respectively, and one egg per first‐instar nymph. Parasitoids emerged from P. madeirensis parasitized at third‐instar or pre‐reproductive adult female completed development in the shortest duration, achieved a higher progeny survival rate, larger brood and body size, and the lowest proportion of males. We showed that the continued development of mealybugs had significant influence on the fitness of the parasitoids. Although deposited as eggs in first‐ or second‐instar nymphs, parasitoids emerged from mummies that had attained third‐instar or adult development achieved similar progeny survival rate, brood size, body size, and sex ratio as those parasitoids deposited and developed in third‐instar or adult mealybugs. By delaying larval development in young mealybugs, Anagyrus spec. nov near sinope achieved higher fitness by allowing the parasitized mealybugs to grow and accumulate body size and resources. We suggest that the fitness consequence of host stage selection of a koinobiont parasitoid should be evaluated on both the time of parasitism and the time of mummification.     

Thielavia heterothallica spec. nov., die perfekte Form von Chrysosporium thermophilum

Thielavia heterothallica spec. nov. is described as a heterothallic, thermophilic fungus with spherical, black, non-ostiolatecleistothecia; ellipsoidal, evanescent asci which contain eight one-celled ellipsoidal ascospores, darkening to deep brown to black, with one germ pore. The conidial state is Chrysosporium thermophilum (Apinis) von Klopotek.

     

Aplanochytrium kerguelensis gen. nov. spec. nov., a new phycomycete from subantarctic marine waters

Summary A new monocentric marine fungus,Aplanochytrium kerguelensis gen. nov. spec. nov., was recovered from water samples taken in the vicinity of the Kerguelen Islands in the South Indian Ocean during a cruise of the research vessel USNS Eltanin.Aplanochytrium is very similar toThraustochytrium Sparrow (1936) in having a chytrid-like thallus and in being able to utilize pine pollen as a substrate to which it establishes contact by well-developed rhizoids. At maturity, however, only aplanospores are formed, as inDermocystidium sensu Goldstein and Moriber (1966).     

Sporotrichum cerebriforme nov. spec.

Summary 1) Sporotrichum cerebriforme nov. spec. has been isolated from a seborrhoic-pityriasis-like, light-green fluorescent lesion on the scalp of a 16-year old girl.2) The possible role of this fungus in the pathogenic process could not be established.3) The fungus was not pathogenic for rats and guinea pigs.     

The yeastKluyveromyces africanus nov. spec. and its phylogenetic significance

Summary A new budding yeast species isolated from soil is described. Its outstanding features are, firstly, the formation of asci containing up to sixteen long oval to reniform ascospores and, secondly, a fermentative as well as oxidative metabolism. The assimilation of nitrate is absent and no pseudomycelium is formed. The taxonomic position of the yeast is discussed and it is pointed out that, due to its exceptional ascospore number (1–16), it cannot be classified in any of the existing fermentative genera of theEndomycetaceae (in sensu Lodder et Kreger-van Rij). The reniform shape of its ascospores indicates, however, its close relationship with the multispored genusKluyveromyces, on the one hand, and the newly proposed one to four-spored genusDekkeromyces on the other. The species is provisionally classified as aKluyveromyces species,Kluyveromyces africanus nov. spec., until further information regarding its sexual characteristics becomes available. By virtue of its more or less intermediate ascospore number, it establishes the direct derivation of the genusDekkeromyces fromDipodascus uninucleatus via the multispored yeast genusKluyveromyces.     

Kairomonal response of the parasitoid Anagyrus spec. nov. near pseudococci to the sex pheromone of the vine mealybug

The occurrence of a kairomonal response of the parasitoid Anagyrus spec. nov. near pseudococci (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) to (+)‐(1R,3R)‐cis‐2,2‐dimethyl‐3‐isopropenyl‐cyclobutanemethanol acetate (PcA, namely, planococcyl acetate) and (S)‐(+)‐lavandulyl senecioate (LS), the respective female sex pheromones of its hosts, the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) and the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) was investigated. Attraction to the pheromones was tested by employing pheromone traps in field trials and by static air olfactometer bioassays in the laboratory. Female wasps showed a significant response to LS, in both field and olfactometer experiments. No significant response was registered to the sex pheromone of P. citri. Despite the similarity between the structures of LS and its analogue (S)‐(+)‐lavandulyl isovalerate (LI), no significant response to the latter compound was observed. It seems that differences between the structures of the carboxylate moiety of the respective molecules (LS and LI) markedly affect the kairomonal attractiveness to the parasitoid. The kairomonal response of Anagyrus spec. nov. near pseudococci was neither influenced by the host habitat nor by the host species on which it developed. This suggested innate behaviour of Anagyrus spec. nov. near pseudococci, possibly derived from evolutionary relationships between the parasitoid and P. ficus. The practical implications of the results are discussed.     

A new levan producing bacterium,Corynebacterium laev aniformans nov. spec.

Summary Raw sewage and activated sludge have been shown to be good sources for isolating a levan-synthesising bacterium. The morphological, cultural and physiological characteristics of the bacterium have been described and the designation.Corynebacterium laevaniformans, nov. spec. has been proposed for it. Some of the factors which influence levan synthesis are reported.     

Phylogeny and Establishment of a New Ciliate Family,Wilbertomorphidae fam. nov. (Ciliophora,Karyorelictea), a Highly Specialized Taxon Represented by Wilbertomorpha colpoda gen. nov., spec. nov.

The morphology and molecular phylogeny of a new marine interstitial karyorelictean ciliate, Wilbertomorpha colpoda gen. nov., spec. nov., isolated from a sandy beach at Qingdao, China, are investigated. The ciliature is mainly on the right surface with the left surface barren except for a single marginal kinety, which is typical of the order Loxodida. Nevertheless, other morphological features, such as the highly reduced buccal structure, the absence of a buccal cavity and the presence of extremely specialized cortical granules, prevent its assignation to any known family. Furthermore, the secondary structure of the variable region 2 of the SSU rRNA gene is unique among loxodids. Thus, we establish a new family, Wilbertomorphidae fam. nov. for the genus Wilbertomorpha. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data suggest that this taxon is a sister group to the family Geleiidae which belongs to the order Protoheterotrichida. However, morphologically Wilbertomorpha bears a much stronger resemblance to Loxodidae which belongs to the order Loxodida. Based on these findings, we tentatively place Wilbertomorphidae nov. fam. incertae sedis within Karyorelictea.     

Torulopsis Burgeffiana nov. spec., eine von Weinbeeren isolierte,neue Hefeart

Zusamenfassung Von den Trauben einer blaubeerigen “Hybriden”-Rebe wurde eine neue Hefeart,Torulopsis burgeffiana nov. spec., isoliert. Die Hefeart wird beschrieben und durch morphologische und physiologische Untersuchungen, insbesondere durch eine erweiterte Untersuchung der Kohlenstoff-Assimilation eine klare Abgrenzung zu der HefeartCandida pulcherrima gezogen.     

Life cycle ofSchizochytriodinium calani nov. gen. nov. spec., a dinoflagellate parasitizing copepod eggs

During the Polarstern-cruise ARK IV/2 June 1987, in the Fram Strait, dinophytes parasitizing copepod eggs were observed. In the laboratory on board, vegetative reproduction was documented and re-infection ofCalanus glacialis andC. hyperboreus eggs was experimentally established. During food uptake, a primary cyst produces successively several secondary cysts, all separating immediately after formation from the primary cyst. In every one of these free floating secondary cysts up to 256 dinospores are formed by palintomy. Re-infection only occurred after a “maturation time” of at least 2 days after formation of the dinospores. The life cycle is compared to that of other similar parasitic dinophyte genera:Apodinium Chatton,Chytriodinium Chatton,Dissodinium Klebs in Pascher andMyxodinium Cachon, Cachon & Bouquaheux. As the taxon under discussion does not fit in with any species or genus known so far, it is described asSchizochytriodinium calani nov. gen. nov. spec. Dedicated to Dr. Dr. h. c. P. Kornmann on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Mitglied der Taxonomischen Arbeitsgruppe an der BAH.     

Rhodospirillum salexigens,spec. nov., an obligatory halophilic phototrophic bacterium

The name Rhodospirillum salexigens, spec. nov., was proposed for the strain WS 68, isolated by W. R. Sistrom at the Oregon coast from salt water. The spiral-shaped phototrophically or chemotrophically growing, salt demanding bacterium contains intracytoplasmic membranes arranged parallel to the cytoplasmic membrane. Bacteriochlorophyll a and spirilloxanthin are the major pigments. Growth occurs between 20 and 45°C at a neutral pH. The DNA base composition was 64 mol % guanine plus cytosine. The cell wall contains peptidoglycan and proteins but no glycolipids.     

Morphological Description and Molecular Phylogeny of Two Species of Levicoleps (Ciliophora,Prostomatida), L. taehwae nov. spec. and L. biwae jejuensis nov. subspec., collected in Korea

Two colepid ciliates, Levicoleps taehwae nov. spec. and L. biwae jejuensis nov. subspec., were collected from the brackish water of the Taehwa River and a small freshwater pond in Jeju Island, South Korea, respectively. Their living morphology, infraciliature, and small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences were determined using standard methods. Barrel‐shaped L. taehwae nov. spec. is a small ciliate with an average size of 45 × 25 μm in vivo, about 15 ciliary rows each composed of 12 monokinetids and two perioral dikinetids, and two 20 μm‐long caudal cilia. The sequence length and GC content of the SSU rRNA gene are 1,669 bp, 44.5%. This novel species is similar in body size to Coleps hirtus, and has six armor tiers and hirtus‐type tier plates, and the same number of ciliary rows as C. hirtus; however, it can be distinguished from the latter by the absence of armor spines and its sequence similarity of SSU rRNA gene is about 92.8% which indicates that it is a distinct form. Levicoleps biwae jejuensis nov. subspec., is a medium colepid ciliate which has a barrel‐shaped body, about 22 somatic kineties and 16 transverse ciliary rows, three mini adoral organelles, and four 15 μm‐long caudal cilia. The sequence length and GC content of the SSU rRNA gene are 1,666 bp and 44.4%.     

Some observations on the physiology ofPseudomonas natriegens nov. spec.

Summary Pseudomonas natriegens, nov. spec. which requires Na⁺ for growth, has been found to produce a considerable quantity of acid by the dissimilation of glucose in aerobic cultures. The products of glucose catabolism have been identified as CO₂ and acetic, pyruvic and lactic acids. Acid production is very rapid as well in broth cultures containing sodium glucuronate, but not in cultures containing galacturonate. Growth of this bacterium was not inhibited by saturating quantities of 2,4-diamino-6,7-diisopropyl pteridine. This property indicates that the isolate is more likely to be appropriately placed in the genusPseudomonas than in the genusVibrio. Induction of enzymes in resting cells for the oxidation of glucuronate was inhibited by chloramphenicol added at various intervals during the first 2 hrs of incubation. Supported by research grants G-7128 and G-9865 from the National Science Foundation and by Equipment Loan Contract NR-103-398 with the Office of Naval Research. Contribution no. 26 from the University of Georgia Marine Institute at Sapelo Island.