Floral development and systematic position of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arillastrum</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allosyncarpia</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stockwellia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptopsis</Emphasis> (Myrtaceae)

We have investigated the floral ontogeny of Arillastrum, Allosyncarpia, Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis (of the eucalypt group, Myrtaceae) using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Several critical characters for establishing relationships between these genera and to the eucalypts have been determined. The absence of compound petaline primordia in Arillastrum, Allosyncarpia, Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis excludes these taxa from the eucalypt clade. Post-anthesis circumscissile abscission of the hypanthium above the ovary in Stockwellia, Eucalyptopsis and Allosyncarpia is evidence that these three taxa form a monophyletic group; undifferentiated perianth parts and elongated fusiform buds are characters that unite Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis as sister taxa. No floral characters clearly associate Arillastrum with either the eucalypt clade or the clade of Stockwellia, Eucalyptopsis and Allosyncarpia.We gratefully acknowledge Clyde Dunlop and Bob Harwood (Northern Territory Herbarium) for collecting specimens of Allosyncarpia, and Bruce Gray (Atherton) for collecting specimens of Stockwellia. The Australian National Herbarium (CANB) kindly lent herbarium specimens of Eucalyptopsis for examination. This research was supported by a University of Melbourne Research Development Grant to Andrew Drinnan.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of Perilla (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Perilla frutescens</Emphasis>)

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system for perilla (Perilla frutescens Britt) was developed. Agrobacterium strain EHA105 harboring binary vector pBK I containing bar and γ-tmt cassettes or pIG121Hm containing nptII, hpt, and gusA cassettes were used for transformation. Three different types of explant, hypocotyl, cotyledon and leaf, were evaluated for transformation and hypocotyl explants resulted in the highest transformation efficiency with an average of 3.1 and 2.2%, with pBK I and pIG121Hm, respectively. The Perilla spp. displayed genotype-response for transformation. The effective concentrations of selective agents were 2 mg l⁻¹ phosphinothricin (PPT) and 150 mg l⁻¹ kanamycin, respectively, for shoot induction and 1 mg l⁻¹ PPT and 125 mg l⁻¹ kanamycin, respectively, for shoot elongation. The transformation events were confirmed by herbicide Basta spray or histochemical GUS staining of T₀ and T₁ plants. The T-DNA integration and transgene inheritance were confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis of random samples of T₀ and T₁ transgenic plants.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">briggsae</Emphasis> genome contains active <Emphasis Type="Italic">CbmaT1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tcb1</Emphasis> transposons

The maT clade of transposons is a group of transposable elements intermediate in sequence and predicted protein structure to mariner and Tc transposons, with a distribution thus far limited to a few invertebrate species. We present evidence, based on searches of publicly available databases, that the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae has several maT-like transposons, which we have designated as CbmaT elements, dispersed throughout its genome. We also describe two additional transposon sequences that probably share their evolutionary history with the CbmaT transposons. One resembles a fold back variant of a CbmaT element, with long (380-bp) inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) that show a high degree (71%) of identity to CbmaT1. The other, which shares only the 26-bp ITR sequences with one of the CbmaT variants, is present in eight nearly identical copies, but does not have a transposase gene and may therefore be cross mobilised by a CbmaT transposase. Using PCR-based mobility assays, we show that CbmaT1 transposons are capable of excising from the C. briggsae genome. CbmaT1 excised approximately 500 times less frequently than Tcb1 in the reference strain AF16, but both CbmaT1 and Tcb1 excised at extremely high frequencies in the HK105 strain. The HK105 strain also exhibited a high frequency of spontaneous induction of unc-22 mutants, suggesting that it may be a mutator strain of C. briggsae.     

Identification of self-incompatibility groups in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Hatiora</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Schlumbergera</Emphasis> (Cactaceae)

The Cactaceae, a family of about 1,800 species of succulent perennials, contains numerous species that exhibit self-incompatibility (SI). The objective of the current study was to determine the number of incompatibility groups present among diploid (2n=2x=22) cultivars of the genera Schlumbergera Lem. (Christmas cacti) and Hatiora Britton & Rose (Easter cacti). Two partial diallel crosses were performed, one with 19 cultivars of Christmas cacti [= S. truncata (Haworth) Moran and S. × buckleyi (Buckley) Tjaden] and the other with 10 cultivars of Easter cacti [= H. gaertneri (Regel) Barthlott, H. rosea (Lagerheim) Barthlott, and H. × graeseri Barthlott ex D. Hunt]. The compatibility/incompatibility status of crosses was determined by percent fruit set and presence of seed in mature fruit. None of the cultivars set fruit when selfed or crossed with a cultivar in the same incompatibility group, but fruit set ranged from 35% to 100% following compatible crosses. For the Christmas cacti, eight intra-incompatible but reciprocally compatible groups were identified, with 13 of the 19 cultivars assigned to three incompatibility groups (68%). The ten cultivars of Easter cacti yielded nine intra-incompatible but reciprocally compatible groups, with two cultivars in one incompatibility group and the other eight cultivars each assigned to a unique group. One cultivar of Christmas cactus ('Abendroth 6') was incompatible when crossed as a male with cultivars in incompatibility group 2 but was compatible in reciprocal crosses, results that suggest that this cultivar is an S-allele homozygote. The crossing relationships are consistent with a one-locus, gametophytic SI system with multiple alleles. Allozyme locus Lap-1, shown previously to be linked with the S locus (recombination frequency 7%) in Schlumbergera, exhibited insufficient allelic diversity for determining the S genotypes of the 19 cultivars of Christmas cacti. Based on the number of incompatibility groups in each diallel, at least five S-alleles occur in the 19 Christmas cacti and the 10 Easter cacti.Publication 3337 of the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station. This material is based on work supported in part by the Cooperative State Research, Extension, Education Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station, under Project No. 746     

Morphological and functional development of characters associated with settlement in the yellowfin goby, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthogobius flavimanus</Emphasis>

Morphological and functional development of characters from pelagic larval to benthic juvenile periods in the yellowfin goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus, were examined on the basis of 275 specimens (9.4–25.9mm in standard length) collected in shallow water in the Tama River estuary, central Japan. Judging from the development of osteological features, late pelagic juveniles possessed fully developed swimming and feeding abilities. Rapid changes in various characters, including the formation of a loop-shaped gut, increases in condition factor and teeth number, broader upper-field view capability, and extended scaly area and pigmentation development, occurred during the transition from late pelagic to early benthic periods. Most of the changes were associated with structural and functional aspects enabling more efficient use of benthic resources or the avoidance of predators in the benthic habitat.     

Thidiazuron Promotes <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vitro</Emphasis> Plant Regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis correntina</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leguminosae</Emphasis>) via Organogenesis

Arachis correntina (Burkart) Krapov. & W.C. Gregory is a herbaceous perennial leguminous plant growing in the Northeast of the Province Corrientes, Argentina. It is important as forage. The development of new A. correntina cultivars with improved traits could be facilitated through the application of biotechnological strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the plant regeneration potential of mature leaves of A. correntina in tissue culture. Buds were induced from both petiole and laminae on 0.7% agar-solidified medium containing 3% sucrose, salts and vitamins from Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 0.5–25 M thidiazuron (TDZ). Shoot induction was achieved by transference of calli with buds to MS supplemented with 5 M TDZ. Fifty-four percent of the regenerated shoot rooted on MS + 5 M naphthaleneacetic acid. Histological studies revealed that shoots regenerated via organogenesis.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kuhlia boninensis</Emphasis> (Fowler, 1907), a junior synonym of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kuhlia munda</Emphasis> (De Vis, 1884) (Perciformes: Kuhliidae)

The three syntypes of Herops munda De Vis (1884), the holotype of Dules marginatus boninensis Fowler (1907), and several Ryukyu specimens of Kuhlia boninensis were compared morphologically, and it was concluded that K. boninensis is a junior synonym of K. munda. Kuhlia munda is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characteristics: number of lateral line scales 47–51, preorbital serrae 12–23, caudal fin with base and all margins broadly black, and the chevron-shaped central part pale.     

Production of interspecific somatic hybrids between tuber mustard (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">juncea</Emphasis>) and red cabbage (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica oleracea</Emphasis>)

In the present investigation, the interspecific somatic hybridization between tuber mustard and red cabbage was established in order to introduce valuable genes from red cabbage (Brassica oleracea) into Brassica juncea. Prior to fusion treatment, protoplasts of red cabbage were inactivated with 2 mM iodoacetamide to inhibit cell division. Micro-calluses were obtained at a frequency of 10.3% after approximately 5 weeks culture following protoplast fusion. Some of the fusion-derived calluses possessed red pigmented cells after being transferred to proliferation medium, and they were presumably considered to be somatic hybrid cell lines. Plantlets were regenerated from 12 cell lines, of which nine plantlets exhibited characteristics intermediate of both parents in terms of plant morphology. With the exception of common protein bands featured by two parents, there were unique banding patterns produced in the hybrids by using SDS-PAGE analysis. By chromosome countings, it was showed that they ranged approximately from 2n=30 to 42 in chromosome numbers. Their hybridity were further confirmed by RAPD analysis revealing that genes of both parents were partially incorporated into the hybrids. Positively, all these hybrids were capable of seed-setting. The pod-setting was 4.2 in somatic hybrid H₇ when backcrossed with tuber mustard.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium avium</Emphasis> disease in wild red-legged partridges (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alectoris rufa</Emphasis>)

Three wild red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) from intensively managed hunting areas in Spain were received for necropsy. They showed granulomatous lesions in different parts of the body, mainly in liver and spleen. Microscope examination of the granulomas showed central caseous necrosis and large amounts of acid-fast bacilli, surrounded by epitheloid cells, giant cells, and lymphocytes. Attempts to isolate and culture the bacillus in Colestsos medium were unsuccessful, but the polymerase chain reaction technique revealed the presence of microorganisms belonging to the Mycobacterium avium complex in one of the partridges. This is the first report of avian tuberculosis in free-living red-legged partridges.     

Expression patterns of leg genes in the mouthparts of the spider<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Cupiennius salei</Emphasis> (Chelicerata: Arachnida)

The leg genes extradenticle, homothorax, dachshund, and Distal-less define three antagonistic developmental domains in the legs, but not in the antenna, of Drosophila. Here we report the expression patterns of these leg genes in the prosomal appendages of the spider Cupiennius salei. The prosoma of the spider bears six pairs of appendages: a pair of cheliceres, a pair of pedipalps, and four pairs of walking legs. Three types of appendages thus can be distinguished in the spider. We show here that in the pedipalp, the leg-like second prosomal appendage, the patterns are very similar to those in the legs themselves, indicating the presence of three antagonistic developmental domains in both appendage types. In contrast, in the chelicera, the fang-like first prosomal appendage, the patterns are different and there is no evidence for antagonistic domains. Together with data from Drosophila this suggests that leg-shaped morphology of arthropod appendages requires an underlying set of antagonistic developmental domains, whereas other morphologies (e.g. antenna, chelicera) may result from the loss of such antagonistic domains.Edited by M. Akam     

Complete larval development of the hermit crabs Clibanarius aequabilis and Clibanarius erythropus (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae), under laboratory conditions, with a revision of the larval features of genus Clibanarius

The complete larval development (four zoeae and one megalopa) of Clibanarius aequabilis and C. erythropus, reared under laboratory conditions, is described and illustrated. The larval stages of the two northeastern Atlantic Clibanarius species cannot be easily differentiated. Their morphological characters are compared with those of other known Clibanarius larvae. The genus Clibanarius is very homogeneous with respect to larval characters. All Clibanarius zoeae display a broad and blunt rostrum, smooth abdominal segments and an antennal scale without a terminal spine. Beyond the second zoeal stage, the fourth telson process is present as a fused spine, and the uropods are biramous. In the fourth larval stage all species display a mandibular palp. The Clibanarius megalopa presents weakly developed or no ocular scales, symmetrical chelipeds, apically curved corneous dactylus in the second and third pereiopods, and 5–11 setae on the posterior margin of the telson. Apart from the number of zoeal stages, Clibanarius species may be separated, beyond the second zoeal stage, by the telson formula and the morphology of the fourth telson process.     

Larval development and food habits of the marbled parrotfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptoscarus vaigiensis</Emphasis>, associated with drifting algae

The larval development and food habits of the marbled parrotfish, Leptoscarus vaigiensis (Scaridae) associated with drifting algae were studied. In this study, 628 L. vaigiensis of various developmental stages ranging from postflexion larvae (9.4mm in standard length, SL) to adults (192.0mmSL) were sampled from drifting algae at two fishing ports in Nakagusuku Bay of Okinawa Island. In 3969 fish comprising 65 taxa in 34 families of Teleostei collected with drifting algae, L. vaigiensis occupied 15.8% of samples and occurred generally throughout the whole year. A large number of L. vaigiensis were collected from July to October accompanied by an occurrence of drifting algae composed of Sargassum spp. Larvae and early juveniles ranging from 11.1 to 14.9mmSL appeared sporadically throughout the year, and postflexion larvae 11mmSL occurred from July to November. Their food shifted from planktonic copepods in postflexion larvae and juveniles ranging from 10.0 to 14.9mmSL to seaweed in the juveniles ranging from 15.0 to 24.9mmSL. Furthermore, adults and young over 25mmSL fed almost exclusively on seaweed, with Sargassum spp. constituting the drifting algae. These facts indicate that drifting algae may have a role concerning food and habitat, and may act as a nursery for L. vaigiensis.     

Expression of the<Emphasis Type="Italic"> lacZ</Emphasis> reporter gene in sporophytes of the seaweed<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Laminaria japonica</Emphasis> (Phaeophyceae) by gametophyte-targeted transformation

The seaweed Laminaria japonica (Phaeophyceae) has a two-generation life cycle consisting of haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes. Female and/or male gametophytes were transformed using particle bombardment and the histological LacZ assay was performed on sporophytes generated by either parthenogenesis or inbreeding. Female gametophyte-targeted transformation resulted in similar lower efficiencies in both parthenogenetic and zygotic sporophytes, and only a chimeric expression pattern was observed. Male gametophyte-targeted transformation led to a higher efficiency, with 3.5% of the zygotic sporophytes stained completely blue (all-blue), implying the integration of lacZ at the one-cell stage. Polymerase chain reaction analysis using primers specific for a lacZ-vector juncture fragment and subsequent blotting indicated the presence of the introduced gene in the sporophytes. The method reported here has a potential for seaweed transformation using spore-based bombardment followed by the developmental process.Abbreviations DPR Detected positive rate - ER Expression rateCommunicated by F. Sato     

Oviposition Behavior of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pheropsophus aequinoctialis</Emphasis> L. (Coleoptera: Carabidae): A Natural Enemy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scapteriscus</Emphasis> Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

In the southeastern United States, South American Scapteriscus mole crickets are serious pests of turf and pasture grasses and vegetable seedlings. The larval stage of Pheropsophus aequinoctialis L. is a specialist predator of Scapteriscus mole cricket eggs and is currently under evaluation as a potential biological control agent. The objective of this study was to understand the oviposition behavior of P. aequinoctialis. The results indicated that in two-choice substrate oviposition arenas, female P. aequinoctialis significantly preferred to lay eggs in sand with mole cricket tunnels compared with artificially created tunnels or sand without tunnels. Physical tunnel presence influenced oviposition depth, but was not the only factor influencing oviposition. The reproductive strategy and behavior of P. aequinoctialis is discussed in relation to its specialized life history and to other carabid beetles displaying close host associations.     

Pathogenicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium anisopliae</Emphasis> (Deuteromycetes) and permethrin to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ixodes scapularis</Emphasis> (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs

Effectiveness of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, for controlling nymphal Ixodes scapularis, was tested in laboratory and field trials. In the laboratory, M. anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin strain ESC1 was moderately pathogenic, with an LC₅₀ of 10⁷ spores/ml and induced 70% mortality at 10⁹ spores/ml. In a field study, however, 10⁹ spores/ml M. anisopliae did not effectively control questing I. scapularis nymphs, and significant differences were not detected in pre- and post-treatment densities. For nymphs collected and returned to the laboratory for observation, mortality was low in treatment groups, ranging from 20 to 36%. To assess whether a chemical acaricide would synergistically enhance pathogenicity of the fungus, we challenged unfed nymphal I. scapularis with combinations of M. anisopliae and permethrin, a relatively safe pyrethroid acaricide, in two separate bioassays. Significant interactions between M. anisopliae and permethrin were not observed, supporting neither synergism nor antagonism.     

Persistence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paranosema</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nosema</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">locustae</Emphasis> (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) among grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) populations in the Inner Mongolia Rangeland,China

Paranosema (Nosema) locustae Canning has persisted in grasshopper populations in the Inner Mongolia Rangeland since spore treatment was applied in 1993. In the treatment year, a 58.32–71.43% reduction of grasshoppers was recorded and 59.26–80.36% of surviving grasshoppers of various species were infected. In the years following application, prevalence of P. locustae varied from 13.65% to 60.71%, demonstrating that P. locustae remains in grasshopper populations for many years. Infection prevalence was more than 60.00% for Dasyhippus barbipes (F.-W.), Bryodema luctuosum luctuosoma (Stoll) and Angaracris barabensis (Pall.) in 1993 but was very variable, ranging from 20.00% to 60.71% over the subsequent nine years. Disease prevalence was 43.72–60.71% in 1993 and 1994 for Oedaleus asiaticus B.-Bienko and Myrmeleotettix palpalis (Zub.) but gradually declined to approximately 20%, where it remained. Persistence of P. locustae in grasshopper populations may be important in keeping densities below economic thresholds for a number of years after application. Handling Editor: Helen Roy.     

First report of the oriental shrimp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Palaemon macrodactylus</Emphasis> Rathbun, 1902 (Decapoda,Caridea, Palaemonidae) from German waters

The native East Asian shrimp Palaemon macrodactylus has become a common inhabitant of estuaries along the Pacific coast of North America. More recently (documented since 1999), the species has also been colonising European waters and has been reported from Spain, England, Belgium and the Netherlands. In this study, we present a chronology of the reported introductions of this species and provide the first detailed report of its occurrence in German waters. P. macrodactylus was found in the Geeste river mouth (Weser Estuary) as well as in Hooksiel, north of Wilhelmshaven between 2004 and 2005. We assume its presence in other estuarine habitats of the North Sea and predict its introduction into the Baltic Sea.