Fatty Acid n-Propyl and Ethyl Esters in the Volatile Oil from Dentcorn,Zea mays L. var. indentata,Silage

(+)-Marmelo Lactones A(VA) and B (VB) were synthesized from erythro-γ-methyl-l-glutamic acid (IA) and threo acid (IB), respectively. The absolute configurations of natural marmelo lactones were thus determined to be (2R, 4S) for (+)-marmelo lactone A and (2R, 4R) for ( – )-marmelo lactone B.     

Plagiochila atlantica F. Rose,sp. nov.—P. amhagiosa auct.

Abstract

The Irish plant which, following Mitten, has commonly been referred to as Plagiochila ambagiosa Mitt. is specifically different from the type of P. ambagiosa, and is therefore described as Plagiochila atlantica F. Rose, sp. nov. It is now known from very restricted areas in Western Ireland, Western Scotland and North-western France.     

Species group taxa of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera,Cerambycidae) described by N. N. Plavilstshikov and their types preserved in the Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University and in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences,St. Petersburg

The names of all 135 species-group taxa of Cerambycidae described by N. N. Plavilstshikov are listed. Types of all these taxa preserved in the Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University and in the Zoological Institute (St. Petersburg) are catalogued, with lectotypes and paralectotypes designated. New synonymies are proposed: Pseudosieversia rufa (Kraatz, 1879) = Macrorhabdium ruficollis Plavilstshikov, 1915, syn. n.; Pseudo sieversia Pic, 1902 = Macrorhabdium Plavilstshikov, 1915, syn. n.; Agapanthia angelicae Reitter, 1898 = A. jacobsoni Plavilstshikov, 1915, syn. n. Dorcadion arietinum phenax Jakovlev, 1900, stat. n. is a valid name of the taxon known before as D. arietinum strandi Plav. Alosterna tabacicolor subsp. tokatensis Pic, 1901 (= A. t. caucasica Plavilstshikov, 1936, syn. n.) is regarded as a valid name (nomen protectum), and A. chrysomeloides var. subvittata Reitter, 1885 is regarded a nomen oblitum, as well as Cortodera umbripennis var. pallidipes Pic, 1898, while C. ruthena Plavilstshikov, 1936 is nomen protectum. Vadonia bipunctata puchneri Holzschuh, 2007, stat. n. is widely distributed in southern Ukraine and southern Russia from Dnepropetrovsk to Rostov-on-Don, and in the North Caucasus; specimens of this subspecies, as also specimens of V. saucia (Mulsant et Godart, 1855), stat. rest., known from the southern Crimea, constitute a part of the type series of V. bipunctata mulsantiana (Plavilstshikov, 1936).     

Recherches sur le genre Peyssonnelia (Rhodophycées). III. Peyssonnelia crispata sp. nov.

Abstract

Studies on the genus Peyssonnelia (Rhodophyceae). III. Peyssonnelia crispata sp. nov. – A new specie of Peyssonnelia (P. crispata) is described from deep waters (44 to 45 m.) off the mediterranean coast of France.     

Bryophytes of St Helena,South Atlantic Ocean. 8. Lepidopilidium crispifolium,sp. nov. (Hookeriales,Pilotrichaceae)

Abstract

A new species of Lepidopilidium (Pilotrichaceae, Hookeriales), L. crispifolium, sp. nov. from St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean is described and illustrated.     

Insect Antifeedants,Pterocarpans and Pterocarpol,in Heartwood of Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kruz.

The insect antifeedant activities of pterocarpans and a sesquiterpene alcohol from the dichloromethane extract of Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kruz. (Leguminosae) were evaluated against the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura F. (Noctuidae), and the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe)(Rhinotermitidae). Three pterocarpans, (?)-homopterocarpin (1), (?)-pterocarpin (2), and (?)-hydroxyhomopterocarpin (3) and the sesquiterpene alcohol, (+)-pterocarpol (5), were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of the heartwood of P. macrocarpus under guidance by a biological assay. Among these natural products, the most active insect antifeedant against both S. litura and R. speratus was 1. On the other hand, sesquiterpene alcohol 5 showed less insect antifeedant activity than the other pterocarpans against both insect species. While its methylated derivative, (?)-methoxyhomopterocarpin (4), showed high biological activity, 3 showed less insect antifeedant activity in this study. Interestingly, racemic 1 did not show insect antifeedant activity against S. litura. However, all of the test pterocarpans and isoflavones showed antifeedant activity against the test termites. Additionally, since these compounds were major constituents of P. macrocarpus, these antifeedant phenolics may act as chemical defense factors in this tree. In Thailand, lumber made from this tree is used to make furniture and in building construction due to its resistance to termite attack.     

Bioactive secondary metabolites from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nigrospora</Emphasis> sp. LLGLM003, an endophytic fungus of the medicinal plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Moringa oleifera</Emphasis> Lam.

An endophytic fungus was isolated from the root of the medicinal plant Moringa oleifera Lam. Based on analyzing the rDNA sequence, the fungus was identified as Nigrospora sp. This is the first report of the isolation of endophytic Nigrospora from M. oleifera. By bioassay-guided fractionation, four antifungal secondary metabolites were isolated from liquid cultures of the fungus Nigrospora sp. LLGLM003, and their chemical structures were determined to be griseofulvin (1), dechlorogriseofulvin (2), 8-dihydroramulosin (3) and mellein (4) on the basis of spectroscopic analyses. Compound 2, 3 and 4 were isolated from Nigrospora sp. for the first time. In vitro antifungal assay showed that griseofulvin displayed clear inhibition of the growth of 8 plant pathogenic fungi. Dechlorogriseofulvin and mellein exhibited only weak antifungal activities, whereas 8-dihydroramulosin displayed no antifungal activities.     

Contributions to the Flora of Spitsbergen,especially of Red bay,from the Collections of W. S. Bruce,F.R.S.G.S., Naturalist to the Prince of Monaco's Expeditions of 1898 and 1899

Background: Prescribed burning in peatlands is controversial due to concerns over damage to their ecological functioning, particularly regarding their key genus Sphagnum. However, empirical evidence is scarce.

Aims: The aim of the article is to quantify Sphagnum recovery following prescribed burns.

Methods: We completed nine fires at a raised bog in Scotland, achieving a range of fire severities by simulating drought in some plots. We measured Sphagnum cover and chlorophyll fluorescence F_v/F_m ratio (an estimate of photosynthetic capacity) up to 36 months post-fire.

Results: Cover of dominant Sphagnum capillifolium was similar in unburnt and burnt plots, likely due to its high moisture content which prevented combustion. Burning decreased S. capillifolium F_v/F_m 5 months after fire from 0.67 in unburnt plots to 0.44 in low fire severity plots and 0.24 in higher fire severity (drought) plots. After 22 months, F_v/F_m in burnt plots showed a healthy photosynthetic capacity of 0.76 and no differences between severity treatments. Other Sphagnum species showed similar post-fire recovery though their low overall abundance precluded formal statistical analysis.

Conclusions: S. capillifolium is resilient to low–moderate fire severities and the same may be true for a number of other species. This suggests that carefully applied managed burning can be compatible with the conservation of peatland ecosystem function.     

Macromitrium maolanense Zeyou Zhang,D.D.Li,Jing Yu & S.L.Guo,a new species from China based on molecular and morphological evidence

Introduction. During a field excursion in Guizhou Province, China, we collected some interesting moss specimens with branch leaves subulate in the upper part, partially and variably bistratose laminae, and a Macromitrium-like epiphytic growth habit on tree trunks. We present morphological and phylogenetic arguments for recognising these plants as a new moss species in the genus Macromitrium Brid. (Orthotrichaceae).

Methods. We compared the morphology of the potential new species with closely related species of Macromitrium, and constructed a phylogenetic tree based on ITS2, trnL and trnG including sampling from 14 other morphologically similar species of Macromitrium.

Key results. The proposed new species belongs to the genus Macromitrium (Orthotrichaceae, Musci). It is closely related to M. gymnostomum Sull. & Lesq. in the phylogenetic tree and according to gametophytic morphological features, represents a hitherto undescribed species.

Conclusions. A new moss species, Macromitrium maolanense Zeyou Zhang, D.D.Li, Jing Yu & S.L.Guo, is described and illustrated. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners by the combination of the following features of the branch leaves: (1) oblong-lanceolate, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to an easily broken subula; (2) rather obscure upper and medial cells, often with blackish stains among cells, densely pluripapillose; (3) variably and partially bistratose laminae in the upper 1/3 portion; (4) basal cells clear, hyaline and smooth, those near costae forming a ‘cancellina region’; and (5) with numerous brownish, clavate gemmae on upper portion. We also discuss the principal distinctive characters separating the new species from its nearest congeners.     

Spin Trapping by Use of N-Tert-Butylhydroxylamine. Involvement of Fenton Reactions

Spin trapping of short-lived R. radicals is done by use of N-tert-butylhydroxylamine (1) and H²O². The hydroxylamine is oxidized to the radical t-BuN(O)H (2) which is converted into the spin trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (3). Simultaneously, hydroxyl radicals. OH are formed from H²O². The latter radical species abstracts hydrogen atoms from suitable molecules HR to give R. radicals, which are trapped with the formation of aminooxyl radicals, i. e., t-BuN(O)R (4) detectable by EPR spectroscopy. The reaction is enhanced by the presence of iron ions. The cleavage of H²O² into. OH radicals is considered to involve both a radical-driven (t-BuN(O)H 2) and an iron-driven Fenton reaction.     

Lixus petiolicola n. sp. from Northeastern Turkey and Lixus furcatus Olivier: Comparative systematic and ecological study (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Lixinae)

Lixus petiolicola n. sp. is described from Northeastern Turkey. Ecological data and morphological characters are presented in comparison with closely related species Lixus furcatus Olivier from the Palaearctic subgenus Callistolixus Reitter. Host plant of the new species is Prangos sp. (Apiaceae). Female lays eggs in the petiole where immature stages then develop; one generation is produced per year. Lectotypes of Lixus sitta Sahlberg 1823; L. parallelus Boheman 1842; L. eversmanni Hochhuth 1847; L. ferulaginis Apfelbeck 1899, and L. furcatus longicollis Petri 1905 are designated. A new synonymy is established: L. furcatus Olivier 1807 [=L. eversmanni Hochhuth 1847, n. syn.]. The name of L. recurvus Olivier 1807 is resurrected, excluded from synonyms of L. furcatus and attributed to the L. iridis group.     

Physcomitrium,eurystomum Sendtn. in Britain

Abstract

Key to the genera Marchesinia, Dicranolejeunea and Lopholejeunea. D. johnsoniana (Mitt.) comb.nov. from Macaronesia is figured and described in detail. The South African Marchesinia chrysophylla is transferred to Dicranolejeunea and is regarded as conspecific with D. atra (Mitt.) Vanden Berghen, syn.nov. from Central Africa.     

On the taxonomic position of Sciaromium lacustre Herz. & Rich. in Rich.

Abstract

Sciaromium lacustre Herz. & Rich. in Rich. from Peru is misplaced in Sciaromium and a new genus, Richardsiopsis, is erected to accommodate it. Richardsiopsis is considered most closely related to Donrichardsia macroneuron (Grout) Crum & Anderson from Texas on the basis of their similar gametophyte characters including the strong costa, oblong-rhomboidal to linear-flexuose, prorate lamina cells which are partly arranged in pluristratose strands and foliose, suborbicular, broadly rounded at the apex pseudoparaphyllia.     

Marine Fungi Aspergillus sydowii and Trichoderma sp. Catalyze the Hydrolysis of Benzyl Glycidyl Ether

Whole cells of the marine fungi Aspergillus sydowii Gc12, Penicillium raistrickii Ce16, P. miczynskii Gc5, and Trichoderma sp. Gc1, isolated from marine sponges of the South Atlantic Ocean (Brazil), have been screened for the enzymatic resolution of (±)-2-(benzyloxymethyl)oxirane (benzyl glycidyl ether; 1). Whole cells of A. sydowii Gc12 catalyzed the enzymatic hydrolysis of (R,S)-1 to yield (R)-1 with an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 24–46% and 3-(benzyloxy)propane-1,2-diol (2) with ee values <10%. In contrast, whole cells of Trichoderma sp. Gc1 afforded (S)-1 with ee values up to 60% and yields up to 39%, together with (R)-2 in 25% yield and an ee of 32%. This is the first published example of the hydrolysis of 1 by whole cells of marine fungi isolated from the South Atlantic Ocean. The hydrolases from the two studied fungi exhibited complementary regioselectivity in opening the epoxide ring of racemic 1, with those of A. sydowii Gc12 showing an (S) preference and those of Trichoderma sp. Gc1 presenting an (R) preference for the substrate.     

A New Lignan Amide,Grossamide, from Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum var. grossurri)

Two new phenolic amides, grossamide (7) and N-cis-feruloyl tyramine (2), have been isolated from the roots of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. grossum) together with p-aminobenzaldehyde (1), N-trans-feruloyl tyramine (3), N-trans-p-coumaroyl tyramine (4), N-trans-feruloyl octopamine (5), and N-trans-p-coumaroyl octopamine (6).     

Bryophytes of St Helena,South Atlantic Ocean. 4. Kurzia nemoides (Hook.f. et Taylor) Grolle and Lepidozia africana Steph. (Jungermanniales,Lepidoziaceae) described from the island

Abstract

The little known species Kurzia nemoides (Hook.f. et Taylor) Grolle and Lepidozia africana Steph. (Lepidoziaceae) are described and illustrated from St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean. Details are given of their distributions on the island, and the differences between related species are discussed. This is the first report of the genus Lepidozia from St Helena.     

Tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the compounds isolated from Neolitsea aciculata (Blume) Koidz.

This study was designed to investigate the mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity for the constituents isolated from Neolitsea aciculata. The stems of N. aciculata was extracted with aqueous ethanol and subjected to chromatographic separation, which led to the isolation of 11 compounds: methyl linoleate (1), catechin (2), epicatechin (3), afzelin-7-O-glucopyranoside (4), 2′,3′-di-(p-coumaroyl)afzelin (5), 2′-p-coumaroylafzelin (6), feruloyl tyramine (7), β-sitosterol (8), daucosterol (9), oleic acid (10), and trilaurin (11). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies as well as by comparison with the data available in the literature. Among these isolates, compounds 5 and 6 were identified as potent mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors with IC₅₀ values of 0.067 and 0.080 mM, respectively. The inhibition kinetics, analysed by Lineweaver–Burk plots, indicated that compounds 5 and 6 are competitive tyrosinase inhibitors when using l-tyrosine as a substrate. Notably, compounds 1–11 were isolated for the first time from this plant. These results provide evidence that this plant might be a potential source of anti-melanogenesis agents.     

Regioselective biooxidation of (+)-valencene by recombinant E. coli expressing CYP109B1 from Bacillus subtilis in a two-liquid-phase system

Background  

(+)-Nootkatone (4) is a high added-value compound found in grapefruit juice. Allylic oxidation of the sesquiterpene (+)-valencene (1) provides an attractive route to this sought-after flavoring. So far, chemical methods to produce (+)-nootkatone (4) from (+)-valencene (1) involve unsafe toxic compounds, whereas several biotechnological approaches applied yield large amounts of undesirable byproducts. In the present work 125 cytochrome P450 enzymes from bacteria were tested for regioselective oxidation of (+)-valencene (1) at allylic C2-position to produce (+)-nootkatone (4) via cis- (2) or trans-nootkatol (3). The P450 activity was supported by the co-expression of putidaredoxin reductase (PdR) and putidaredoxin (Pdx) from Pseudomonas putida in Escherichia coli.     

Cuculicola kui n.sp. (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) from the New Zealand shining cuckoo

Abstract

The chewing louse Cuculicola kui n.sp., from Chalcites lucidus lucidus (Gmelin, 1788), is described and illustrated.     

Studies in Neotropical Burseraceae. II. Generic limits in New World Protieae and Canarieae

Trattinnickia is closely related toDacryodes and is transferred to the tribe Canarieae. Additional characters are proposed to supplement the weak characters that traditionally have been used to separateCrepidospermum andTetragastris fromProtium. The assumed “intermediate” genusParaprotium is shown to be an unnatural assemblage and is here merged withProtium. This revised concept of generic limits in the Neotropical Protieae and Canarieae leads to the following new combinations:Tetragastris occhionii (Rizzini) Daly,Protium pilosum (Cuatrec.) Daly,Protium nitidifolium (Cuatrec.) Daly,Protium vestitum (Cuatrec.) Daly, andDacryodes cuspidata (Cuatrec.) Daly. A key to the Neotropical genera of Burseraceae is provided.