Serum albumin and erythrocyte adenosine deaminase polymorphisms in Asian macaques with special reference to taxonomic relationships amongMacaca assamensis,M. radiata,andM. mulatta

Serum albumin (Alb) and erythrocyte adenosine deaminase (ADA) polymorphisms in Asian macaques were investigated by means of starch gel electrophoresis. The materials comprise a total of 2,323 blood samples from eight species, namely,Macaca fuscata,M. mulatta,M. cyclopis,M. fascicularis,M. nemestrina,M. speciosa,M. radiata, andM. assamensis. It was observed that three Alb phenotypes were controlled by two codominant alleles, Alb _mac ^A and Alb _mac ^B and six ADA phenotypes by four codominant alleles, ADA _mac ¹ , ADA _mac ² , ADA _mac ³ , and ADA _mac ⁴ . The taxonomic relationships amongM. assamensis,M. radiata, andM. mulatta were analyzed by measuring theNei's (1975) genetic distance. The result supportedHill andBernstein's (1969) postulation thatM. assamensis was more closely related phylogenetically toM. radiata than toM. mulatta.     

Doppellagige Kronenplatten: Ein neues anatomisches Merkmal paläozoischer Crinoiden und Revision der Familie Cupressocrinitidae (Devon)

Kurzfassung  Anhand von Material aus den mitteldevonischen Kalkmulden der Eifel (Rheinisches Schiefergebirge) wird eine auf Kelch- und Armsegmenten der Cupressocrinitidae C.F.Roemer, 1854 aufliegende und deutlich getrennte Skelettschicht als Exoplacoidschicht beschrieben. Aufbau, Morphologie, Ultrastruktur und geochemisches Signal werden vorgestellt, die Funktionsmorphologie diskutiert. Die Ausbildung der Exoplacoidschicht führt innerhalb der bisher monotypischen Familie Cupressocrinitidae C.F.Roemer, 1854 zur Abtrennung der neuen GattungenRobustocriniles n. gen. undAbbreviatocrinites n. gen. Die GattungRobustocrinhes n. gen. undCupressocrinites Goldfuss, 1831 besitzen eine monolamellare Exoplacoidschicht und unterscheiden sich durch weitere anatomische Merkmale von der durch eine multilamellare Exoplacoidschicht charakterisierten GattungAbbreviatocrinites n. gen. Dieser Gattung wird neben anderen, bisherCupressocrinites untergeordneten ArtenAbbreviatocrinites geminatus n. gen. n. sp. mit besonders deutlicher multilamellarer Exoplacoidschicht zugeordnet.      

New celleporid (Bryozoa,Cheilostomata) species from Tertiary deposits of western Kachchh,Gujarat, India

Five new bryozoan species (Buffonellaria cornuta, Lagenipora chedopadiensis, Turbicellepora canui, T. naniberensis andT. rostrata) belonging to the family CelleporidaeHINCKS, 1884 are described and illustrated from the Tertiary sequences of western Kachchh, Gujarat, India. The zoaria of these species comprise about 17 percent of total cheilostome bryozoan colonies from Kachchh in the present collection, and those ofTurbicellepora rostrata n. sp. account for over 64 percent of the celleporid specimens. These records of celleporids enrich our knowledge of the fossil occurrence of this group during the Early Miocene in the Indo-Pacific province.     

A rare form of frontal shield development in the new cheilostome bryozoan genusUharella from the Eocene of Antarctica

A new cheilostome bryozoan,Uharella seymourensis n. gen., n. sp., is described from the Eocene of Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Colonies ofU. seymourensis encrust lithoclasts, locally in high densities with 1–2 mm-wide strips of unencrusted substrate between neighbouring colonies. This unusual patterning could indicate chemical defence against encroaching colonies or may have resulted from grazing.U. seymourensis is an ascophoran-grade cheilostome with an unusual umbonuloid frontal shield apparently derived entirely or in part from kenozooidal overgrowth. The most closely related genus appears to be the European Maastrichtian and Danian genusBrydonella Berthelsen, 1962 with whichUharella is here united in Brydonellidae n. fam.      

Early plant domestications in southern India: some preliminary archaeobotanical results

Analysis of flotation samples from twelve sites in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh (south India) provides clear evidence for the predominant subsistence plants of the Neolithic period (2,800–1,200 cal b.c.). This evidence indicates that the likely staples were two pulses (Vigna radiata and Macrotyloma uniflorum) and two millet-grasses (Brachiaria ramosa and Setaria verticillata) which were indigenous to the Indian peninsula. At some sites there is evidence for limited cultivation of wheats (Triticum diococcum, Triticum durum/aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), and a few crops that originated in Africa, including hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana). In addition there is evidence for cotton (Gossypium sp.), and linseed (Linum sp.), as well as gathered fruits of Ziziphus and two Cucurbitaceae. This evidence suggests that the earliest agriculture in south India, dating to the third millennium b.c., was based on plants domesticated in the region, and that subsequently from the late 3^rd millennium b.c. through the 2^nd millennium additional crops from other regions were adopted into the subsistence system.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00334-004-0036-9     

Male external genitalia and systematic relationships of the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata Blyth, 1875)

Penial morphology was studied in six preserved specimens of the Japanese macaque,Macaca fuscata. Structure of the glans penis and baculum inM. fuscata is essentially similar to that in the rhesus macaque,M. mulatta. With age the skin of the penis inM. fuscata apparently becomes progressively more darkly and extensively pigmented, and the baculum becomes progressively longer. One immature specimen examined, with penial skin unpigmented and baculum cartilaginous, appears to be abnormally retarded in penial development. Penial morphology suggests that the allopatric speciesM. fuscata, M. mulatta, M. cyclopis, andM. fascicularis constitute a closely interrelated group. Contrary to a previous report, there is no evidence that penial morphology inM. fuscata is transitional to that inM. radiata andM. sinica. InM. fuscata, M. mulatta, andM. fascicularis, latitudinal variation of body size and relative tail length conforms toBergmann's rule andAllen's rule; external proportions in three specimens ofM. cyclopis only partly conform to this pattern.     

A method for determining the unitary functional capacity of cloned channels and transporters expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes

The Xenopus laevis oocyte is widely used to express exogenous channels and transporters and is well suited for functional measurements including currents, electrolyte and nonelectrolyte fluxes, water permeability and even enzymatic activity. It is difficult, however, to transform functional measurements recorded in whole oocytes into the capacity of a single channel or transporter because their number often cannot be estimated accurately. We describe here a method of estimating the number of exogenously expressed channels and transporters inserted in the plasma membrane of oocytes. The method is based on the facts that the P (protoplasmic) face in water-injected control oocytes exhibit an extremely low density of endogenous particles (212±48 particles/m², mean, sd) and that exogenously expressed channels and transporters increased the density of particles (up to 5,000/m²) only on the P face. The utility and generality of the method were demonstrated by estimating the gating charge per particle of the Na⁺/ glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) and a nonconducting mutant of the Shaker K⁺ channel proteins, and the single molecule water permeability of CHIP (Channel-like Intramembrane Protein) and MIP (Major Intrinsic Protein). We estimated a gating charge of 3.5 electronic charges for SGLT1 and 9 for the mutant Shaker K⁺ channel from the ratio of Q _max to density of particles measured on the same oocytes. The gating charges were 3-fold larger than the effective valences calculated by fitting a Boltzmann equation to the same charge transfer data suggesting that the charge movement in the channel and cotransporter occur in several steps. Single molecule water permeabilities (p _f s) of 1.4 × 10^–14 cm³/ sec for CHIP and of 1.5 × 10^–16 cm³/sec for MIP were estimated from the ratio of the whole-oocyte water permeability (P _f ) to the density of particles. Therefore, MIP is a water transporter in oocytes, albeit 100-fold less effective than CHIP.We thank Manoli Contreras for preparation and injection of oocytes. This work was supported by NIH Grants EY-04110 (to GAZ), DK-19567 (to EW), GM30376 (to F.B.) and EY-05661 (to J.E.H.).     

Inter- and intraspecific polymorphism at chloroplast SSR loci and the inheritance of plastids in Pinus radiata D. Don

DNA sequence analysis of chloroplast genomes has revealed many short nucleotide repeats analogous to nuclear microsatellites, or simple sequence repeats (SSRs). We designed PCR primers flanking five of these regions identified in the chloroplast sequence from Pinus thunbergii and tested them for amplification in Pinus radiata, P. elliotii, P. taeda, P. strobus, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Cupressus macrocarpa, four New Zealand native conifer species (Podocarpus totara, Podocarpus hallii, Podocarpus nivalis, Agathis australis), and four angiosperms (Vitex lucens, Nestegis cunninghamii, Actinidia chinensis, and Arabidopsis thaliana). A PCR product in the expected size range was amplified from all species and interspecific polymorphism was detected at all five loci. Intraspecific polymorphism was detected in P. radiata with four of the five primer pairs. One of these polymorphic chloroplast SSR (cpSSR) was then used to determine the inheritance of chloroplasts in 206 progeny from four control-pollinated, full-sibling P. radiata families. Approximately 99% of the progeny had the cpSSR variant of the pollen parent indicating that in Pinus radiata, like most other conifers, chloroplasts are typically inherited from the paternal parent. These results suggest that polymorphic chloroplast SSRs will be a valuable tool for studying chloroplast diversity, cyto-nuclear disequilibrium, and plastid inheritance in a range of species, and for the analysis of gene flow via pollen and paternity in species with paternal transmission of chloroplasts.     

Phylogenetic Relationships and Possible Hybrid Origin of Lycoris Species (Amaryllidaceae) Revealed by ITS Sequences

To examine interspecific relationships and test the hypothesis of hybrid origin within Lycoris species, this study used data from parsimony analyses with nuclear ITS sequences for 19 taxa representing 14 species of Lycoris and two outgroup taxa. The ITS sequences resolved three infrageneric clades. One clade included L. chinensis, L. longituba, L. longituba var. flava, L. anhuiensis, and L. aurea; the second one consisted of L. sprengeri, L. radiata, L. radiata var. radiata, L. radiata var. pumila, L. haywardii, L. rosea, L. sanguinea var. sanguinea, and L. sanguinea var. koreana; and the third included L. caldwellii, L. straminea, L. albiflora, L. flavescens, and two hybrids. The results strongly support the hypothesis that L. straminea originated from hybridization between L. chinensis and L. radiata var. pumila, and the allotriploid L. caldwellii and L. albiflora derived from hybridization between L. chinensis and L. sprengeri. As nucleotide additivity was observed in the artificial hybrids and several presumed hybrids, the likelihood of hybrid origin of Lycoris species is supported.These authors contributed equally to this work.     

Some foliicolous ectoparasites and associated fungi from Jabalpur (M.P.) — I

Summary The present paper describes nine ectoparasitic foliicolous fungi from Jabalpur (M.P.) India. These include four new species viz.Asterina woodfordiae Sahni onWoodfordia fruticosa (L.)Kurz.,Schiffnerula fici Sahni, onFicus infectoria Roxb.,Sarcihella fumosus Sahni onAegle marmelos Corr. andSarcinella odinae Sahni onOdina wodier Roxb.,Acremoniella sarcinellae Pat. &Har.,Fumago vagans Pers.,Stigmella palawanensis Syd. andSchiffnerula cassiae are new fungus records for this country.Mitteriella zizyphina Syd. has been recorded onZizyphus xylopyra Willd., for the first time from this state.Z. xylopyra is a new host record forM. zizyphina.     

Epibiotic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio</Emphasis> Luminous Bacteria Isolated from Some Hydrozoa and Bryozoa Species

Luminous bacteria are isolated from both Hydrozoa and Bryozoa with chitinous structures on their surfaces. All the specimens of the examined hydroid species (Aglaophenia kirchenpaueri, Aglaophenia octodonta, Aglaophenia tubiformis, Halopteris diaphana, Plumularia setacea, Ventromma halecioides), observed under blue light excitation, showed a clear fluorescence on the external side of the perisarc (chitinous exoskeleton) around hydrocladia. In the bryozoan Myriapora truncata, luminous bacteria are present on the chitinous opercula. All the isolated luminous bacteria were identified on the basis of both phenotypic and genotypic analysis. The isolates from A. tubiformis and H. diaphana were unambiguously assigned to the species Vibrio fischeri. In contrast, the isolates from the other hydroids, phenotypically assigned to the species Vibrio harveyi, were then split into two distinct species by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and DNA–DNA hybridization experiments. Scanning electron microscopy analysis and results of culture-based and culture-independent approaches enabled us to establish that luminous vibrios represent major constituents of the bacterial community inhabiting the A. octodonta surface suggesting that the interactions between luminous bacteria and the examined hydrozoan and bryozoan species are highly specific. These interactions might have epidemiological as well as ecological implications because of the opportunistic pathogenicity of luminous Vibrio species for marine organisms and the wide-distribution of the hydrozoan and bryozoan functioning as carriers.     

Zwei neue Heliotropium-Arten aus Afghanistan

Summary Two new species ofHeliotropium sect.Catimas DC. from the desert Registan in south-eastern Afghanistan are described, one of which,H. arenicolum Rech. f. et H.Riedl, is very closely related toH. Rechingeri H.Riedl (1967) and different from it only in the colour of the stems and the longer basal part of the style. The other one,H. leucocladum H.Riedl, belongs to a very natural group of xerophytic and halophytic species includingH. digynum (Forssk.)Aschers.,H. eremobium Bge.,H. Aucheri DC.,H. halame Boiss. etBuhse,H. Popovii H.Riedl andH. carmanicum Bge. Adaptations to the extremely dry habitat are discussed.     

Key to palaearctic species of the genusPsyllaephagus [Hym.:Encyrtidae]

The article contains a key to 42 species of the genusPsyllaephagus Ashmead, 1900—parasites ofPsylloidea, mainly from southern regions of Palaearctics.Psyllaephagus tobiasi Trjapitzin, 1967 is synonymized withP. belanensis (Hoffer, 1963).

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Résumé Il est fourni la clé de 42 espèces du genrePsyllaephagus Ashmead, 1990, parasites de psylles, principalement des régions méridionales de la zone paléarctique.Psyllaephagus tobiasi Trjapitzin, 1967 est mis en synonymie avecP. belanensis (Hoffer, 1963).

     

Endocrinological investigation into the reproductive cycles of two sympatric skate species, Malacoraja senta and Amblyraja radiata, in the western Gulf of Maine

The smooth skate, Malacoraja senta, and thorny skate, Amblyraja radiata, are two commercially exploited batoids found within the Gulf of Maine. During the past five years, we conducted a large study to accurately describe important biological life history parameters previously lacking for these species. As part of that project, the current study reports our findings on the hormonal profiles associated with the reproductive cycles of M. senta and A. radiata. Blood samples were obtained from mature M. senta and A. radiata of both sexes from all months of the year, and plasma testosterone (T), estradiol (E₂) and progesterone (P₄) concentrations were determined using radioimmunoassay (RIA). In female M. senta and A. radiata, monthly T concentrations ranged from 4,522 pg ml⁻¹ to 1,373 pg ml⁻¹ and 31,940 pg ml⁻¹ to 14,428 pg ml⁻¹, E₂ concentrations from 831 pg ml⁻¹ to 60 pg ml⁻¹ and 8,515 pg ml⁻¹ to 2,902 pg ml⁻¹, and P₄ concentrations from 3,027 pg ml⁻¹ to 20 pg ml⁻¹ and 3,264 pg ml⁻¹ to 331 pg ml⁻¹, respectively. No statistical differences were detected between any months for any hormone. Estradiol concentrations were not correlated with ovary weight, shell gland weight, or diameter of the largest follicles in either species. Monthly T concentrations in male M. senta and A. radiata ranged from 23,146 to 12,660 pg ml⁻¹ and from 57,500pg ml⁻¹ to 24,737 pg ml⁻¹, while E₂ concentrations ranged from 7.5 pg ml⁻¹ to undetectable and 103 to 30 pg ml⁻¹, respectively. No statistical differences were observed between months for either steroid. Testosterone concentrations were weakly correlated with testes weight and percent of stage VI spermatocysts in A. radiata, however, no correlation was detected between T and stage VI spermatocysts in M. senta. Collectively, these data support the previous conclusion that M. senta and A. radiata of both sexes are capable of reproducing year round in the western Gulf of Maine.     

Rhizobacterial potential to alter auxin content and growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna radiata</Emphasis> (L.)

Potential of non-symbiotic plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to influence the endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content and growth of Vigna radiata (L.) was evaluated. The bacterial strains used belonged to Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Micrococcus and Staphylococcus genera. All strains were able to produce IAA (1.16–8.22 μg ml⁻¹) in the presence of 1,000 μg ml⁻¹ of l-tryptophan as revealed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometric (GC–MS) analysis. However, strains exhibited variable results for other growth promoting traits such as phosphate solubilization and siderophore or hydrogen cyanide production. Bacterial IAA production showed significant positive correlation with endogenous IAA content of roots (r = 0.969; P = 0.01) and leaves (r = 0.905; P = 0.01) under axenic conditions. Bacterization of V. radiata seeds significantly enhanced shoot length (up to 48.10%) and shoot fresh biomass (up to 43.80%) under fully axenic conditions. Bacterial strains applied under wire-house conditions also improved shoot length, number of pods, and grain weight up to 58, 65, and 17.15% respectively, over control. Hence, free living (non-symbiotic) PGPR have the ability to influence endogenous IAA content and growth of leguminous plants.     

Delineations of forest fungi

Summary Several forest fungi, primarily species that occur in Mississippi, are discussed, and three species are described as new. These includeBotryobasidium (subgenusBrevibasidium)croceum Lentz,Tharoopama mississippiensis Lentz, andHarpographium zonatum Lentz.Dactylium leptosporum (Sacc.)Lentz is recognized as a distinct species, rather than as a subspecies ofD. dendroides Fr. Allescheriella crocea (Mont.)Hughes,D. leptosporum andMelanographium cookei M. B. Ellis are reported from Mississippi for the first time. Attention is called to the fact thatM. citri (Fragoso &Ciferri)M. B. Ellis apparently has not previously been reported from the United States, although a specimen from Florida is in the National Fungus Collections.B. croceum evidently represents the basidiophorous stage ofA. crocea.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the lichen familySphaerophoraceae (Caliciales); a new generic classification and notes on character evolution

A phylogenetic analysis of the familySphaerophoraceae (Caliciales, lichenized ascomycetes) has resulted in a new generic classification. Notes on character evolution are given. The generaSphaerophorus s. str.,Bunodophoron andLeifidium, gen. nov., are accepted.Pleurocybe andPseudosphaerophorus are considered synonyms ofBunodophoron andThysanophoron is considered synonym toSphaerophorus. The following new combinations are proposed:Bunodophoron coomerense (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. diplotypum (Vain.)Wedin,B. dodgei (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. flaccidum (Kantvilas & Wedin)Wedin,B. formosanum (Zahlbr.)Wedin,B. imshaugii (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. insigne (Laurer)Wedin,B. kinabaluense (M. Satô)Wedin,B. macrocarpum (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. madagascareum (Nyl.)Wedin,B. microsporum (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. murrayi (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. notatum (Tibell)Wedin,B. ohlssonii (Wedin)Wedin,B. patagonicum (C. W. Dodge)Wedin,B. ramuliferum (I. M. Lamb)Wedin,B. scrobiculatum (C. Bab.)Wedin,B. tibellii (Wedin)Wedin,B. whakapapaense (Wedin)Wedin, andLeifidium tenerum (Laurer)Wedin.     

Distribution of low molecular weight carbohydrates in the subgenusCeratotropis of the genusVigna (Leguminosae)

The seeds of 9 members of the subgenusCeratotropis (Piper) Verdc., namelyVigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Maréchal,V. angularis (Willd.) Ohwi et Ohashi,V. minima (Roxb.) Ohwi et Ohashi,V. nakashimae (Ohwi) Ohwi et Ohashi,V. reflexo-pilosa Hayata,V. umbellata (Thumb.) Ohwi et Ohashi,V. mungo (L.) Hepper,V. radiata (L.) Wilczek andV. sp., have been examined. On their low molecular weight carbohydrate compositions, this subgenus has been divided into 2 subgroups, mungo-radiata group and angularis group. Four other species referred to the subgeneraPlectotropis (Schumach.) Bak.,Lasiospron (Benth. emend Piper) Maréchal, Mascherpa et Stainier andVigna, V. vexillata (L.) A. Rich.,V. lasiocarpa (Benth.) Verdc.,V. marina (Burm.) Merr. andV. unguiculata (L.) Walp., were also analyzed and they had distinctive carbohydrate compositions. 1d-4-O-methyl-myo-inositol and 1d-5-O-(α-d-galactopyranosyl)-4-O-methyl-myo-inositol were detected in all species examined exceptV. vexillata, V. mungo andV. radiata.     

Deuteromycetes from Jabalpur-I

Summary In the present paper twelve fungi belonging to the form class Deuteromycetes are described from Jabalpur (M.P.) India. Among these the new host records areMonochaetia carissae Munjal &Kapoor onCarissa spinarum L.,Pestalotia neglecta Thuem. onAtylosia scarabaeoides,Benth.,Pestalotia japonica Syd. onCelastrus paniculatus Willd.,Pestalotia theae Sawada var.minor Stey. onButea monosperma (Lam.)Kuntze,Pestalotia versicolor Speg. onBuchanania lanzan Spreng.,Colletotrichum dematium (Pers. exFr.)Grove onAmorphophallus sp.,Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. &Mag.)Bri. &Cav. onCassia tora L.,Coniella diplodiella (Speg.)Petrak &Syd. on.Anogeissus latifolia Wall.,Hendersonula toruloidea Nattrass onPhilodendron bipinnatifidum Schott. andMyrothecium roridum Tode exFr. onCasearia tomentosa roxb. The above fungi include two species (Pestalotia neglecta Thuem. andPestalotia theae Sawada var.minor Stey.) which have been described for the first time from this country.Sphaeropsis tumefasciens Hedges onCitrus medica L. var.acida L. is a new record from this state; andExcipularia narsapurensis Subramanian, also a new record from the state, is reported for the first time on a named host.