Essential oil composition of two yarrow taxonomic forms

Differences in essential oil composition of wild Achillea millefolium L., collected at five habitats in Lithuania, where plants with pink (f. rosea) and white (f. millefolium) flowers grow together, were reported. For the first time, oils of different plant organs (inflorescences and leaves) of both forms from every population were analysed in detail. Chemical analysis was performed by GC and GC-MS. The most predominant constituents of the oils were nerolidol (9.4–31.9%, in 11 out of 20 samples), caryophyllene oxide (8.4–23.0%, 4 leaf oils), ß-pinene (8.0–15.2%, 2 samples), eudesmol (11.8–15.8%, 2 leaf oils) and 1,8-cineole (11.9%, one inflorescence oil). Domination of nerolidol was mostly characteristic of A. millefolium f. rosea essential oils (in 8 out of 10 oils). The inflorescences biosynthesised markedly larger amounts of nerolidol and ß-pinene than those of the leaves. An opposite correlation was observed for caryophyllene oxide and eudesmol. Chamazulene (≤2.7%) was determined only in six oils. The 65 identified constituents made up 75.4–96.5% of the oils.     

Woloszynskia stoschii andGymnodinium indicum,two new freshwater dinoflagellates from India: Morphology,reproduction and cytology

The distinctive morphological and karyological features of the two new species, collected from freshwater habitats in North India, are presented and compared with those of related taxa of the generaWoloszynskia andGymnodinium. Asexual reproduction takes place through zoospore formation and sexual reproduction through planozygotes inWoloszynskia stoschii.     

Glandular trichomes and essential oil characteristics of in vitro propagated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Micromeria pulegium</Emphasis> (Rochel) Benth. (Lamiaceae)

Main conclusion

In vitro conditions and benzyladenine influenced both content and composition of micropropagated Micromeria pulegium essential oils, with pulegone and menthone being the main essential oil components. The content and chemical composition of Micromeria pulegium (Rochel) Benth. essential oils were studied in native plant material at vegetative stage and in micropropagated plants, obtained from nodal segments cultured on solid MS medium supplemented with N⁶–benzyladenine (BA) or kinetin at different concentrations, alone or in combination with indole-3-acetic acid. Shoot proliferation was achieved in all treatments, but the highest biomass production was obtained after treatment with 10 μM BA. Phytochemical analysis identified up to 21 compounds in the essential oils of wild-growing and in vitro cultivated plants, both showing very high percentages of total monoterpenoids dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes of the menthane type. Pulegone and menthone were the main essential oil components detected in both wild-growing plants (60.07 and 26.85 %, respectively) and micropropagated plants grown on either plant growth regulator-free medium (44.57 and 29.14 %, respectively) or BA-supplemented medium (50.77 and 14.45 %, respectively). The percentage of total sesquiterpenoids increased in vitro, particularly owing to sesquiterpene hydrocarbons that were not found in wild-growing plants. Differences in both content and the composition of the essential oils obtained from different samples indicated that in vitro culture conditions and plant growth regulators significantly influence the essential oils properties. In addition, the morphology and structure of M. pulegium glandular trichomes in relation to the secretory process were characterized for the first time using SEM and light microscopy, and their secretion was histochemically analyzed.

     

Bacterial diversity in snow on North Pole ice floes

The microbial abundance and diversity in snow on ice floes at three sites near the North Pole was assessed using quantitative PCR and 454 pyrosequencing. Abundance of 16S rRNA genes in the samples ranged between 43 and 248 gene copies per millilitre of melted snow. A total of 291,331 sequences were obtained through 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes, resulting in 984 OTUs at 97 % identity. Two sites were dominated by Cyanobacteria (72 and 61 %, respectively), including chloroplasts. The third site differed by consisting of 95 % Proteobacteria. Principal component analysis showed that the three sites clustered together when compared to the underlying environments of sea ice and ocean water. The Shannon indices ranged from 2.226 to 3.758, and the Chao1 indices showed species richness between 293 and 353 for the three samples. The relatively low abundances and diversity found in the samples indicate a lower rate of microbial input to this snow habitat compared to snow in the proximity of terrestrial and anthropogenic sources of microorganisms. The differences in species composition and diversity between the sites show that apparently similar snow habitats contain a large variation in biodiversity, although the differences were smaller than the differences to the underlying environment. The results support the idea that a globally distributed community exists in snow and that the global snow community can in part be attributed to microbial input from the atmosphere.     

Different habitat salinity between genetically divergent groups of a worm-like goby Luciogobius guttatus: an indication of cryptic species

Gobies of the genus Luciogobius have unusual morphological adaptations to interstitial rocky coastal habitats in far eastern Asia; an elongated scale-less body, the loss the first dorsal fin, and a drastically increased number of vertebrae. Convergent evolution makes the species distinction difficult and the existence of many cryptic species has been postulated. Two divergent lineages of L. guttatus had been reported with the possibility of niche differentiation between marine and brackish habitats. Here, we quantitatively assessed the water salinity of the habitats used by the two lineages in Hokkaido, Japan, as well as their morphology. One lineage occurred exclusively in high-salinity habitats in intertidal zones (>25?‰) and the other occurred mostly, but not exclusively, in low-salinity habitats near river mouths (<5?‰). This result, together with mtDNA molecular phylogeny, suggests that the brackish type might have originated from a marine ancestor. Two lineages occurred sympatrically on some shores. No apparent difference was observed in the external morphology between the lineages, whereas the number of vertebrae was significantly different. Our results support the preposition that the divergent lineages within L. guttatus represent cryptic species.     

Preliminary studies of the effects of an induced phosphate deficiency on carbohydrate-nitrogen ratios inAlternanthera philoxeroides [Centrospermae: Amaranthacea] and on the feeding ofAgasicles hygrophila [Col.: Chrysomelidae]

In no-choice tests but not in choice tests, alligatorweed flea beetles,Agasicles hygrophila Selman & Vogt (Col.: Chrysomelidae) exposed to alligatorweed plants grown with two levels of mineral nutrition fed significantly more on those grown in full mineral nutrient than those grown with deficient phosphate. Chemical analysis showed that the full nutrient plants had more ethanol-soluble nitrogen compounds but less total carbohydrate than the phosphate-deficient plants. The response of beetles to phosphate-deficient alligatorweed may thus result from a change in the carbohydrate-nitrogen composition of host plants, though further investigation is needed for confirmation. Flea beetle response was identical to terminal and mature leaf tissue of full nutrient plants.     

Some observations on two populations of Dalyellia Viridis (G. Shaw) (Turbellaria: Neorhabdocoela) living in temporary habitats in England

Certain aspects of the biology of two populations of D. viridis living in Massam's Slack North and a drainage ditch skirting the Hightown Road, Lancs. were studied. The habitats are described; both are devoid of water for several months during the summer/autumn. Sampling techniques are described. Changes in the numbers and size-structure of both populations were studied. After the re-flooding of the habitats, one to a few months elapsed before hatching of cocoons of D. viridis occurred; in both habitats hatching occurred earlier after the drought in 1970 than after the dry period in 1969; hatching ceased by April in the drainage ditch (Hightown) and bij May in Massam's Slack. In both populations animals were still growing into the larger size-categories when the habitats became dry, in June in the case of Massam's Slack and in May in the case of the drainage ditch (Hightown). Cocoon formation started when animals reached a length of 2.0 mm. The maximum number of cocoons observed was 24. Cocoon size varied from 245 × 127 mm to 294 × 137 mm. When first formed the penis stylet does not possess handles; as the stylet grows so the handles, the lateral distal branches, and spines increase in size. The total length of stylet varied from 74 to 370 µm according to the size of specimen examined; the average, minimum and maximum lengths recorded in specimens in the 3.0 mm size-group was 338 µm, 313 µm and 370 µm respectively. The data gleaned on the above aspects of the biology of D. viridis in the present study are compared with some available information presented in previous publications by continental workers.     

Myriophyllum quitense (Haloragaceae) in the United States

A systematic study of more than 15,000Myriophyllum specimens from 189 North American herbaria yielded 63M. quitense specimens. Late 19th century collections were made from Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Jefferson County, Idaho, in 1872, from Santa Cruz Creek, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, in 1881, from Yellowstone Lake in 1885, and from Crook County, Oregon, in 1894. Twentieth century collections have been made from Yellowstone National Park, at several sites along the Snake River in Idaho, in Summit County, Utah, in Lassen and Shasta counties of northern California, at numerous sites along the Deschutes River, and in Benton County, Oregon, and at three sites in Washington. We contend that the species was introduced into North America by migratory waterfowl more than 100 years ago. Only in the Yellowstone Lake and numerous Deschutes River habitats in which populations now exist are environmental conditions conducive to full morphological development of the species in North America.     

New oilseed crops on the horizon

Fats and oils for food uses are now plentiful on a worldwide basis. Tallow, lard and fish oils, as well as vegetable oils, such as those derived from soybean, sunflower, palm, rapeseed, peanut and cottonseed, are often overproduced. Although many of these products are also used for industrial chemicals, they often are not of the most favorable composition for nonfood applications. A search for new oil-seed crops with more advantageous oil composition has led to the development of excellent candidates that are now close to commercial acceptance. Among them areCrambe, Limnanthes, Vernonia, Sapium andSimmondsia. Other crops are at a much lower stage of development but also have excellent potential. They includeCuphea, Foeniculum, Stokesia, Lesquerella andLunaria. In this age of searching for renewable resources to replace petrochemicals and imported strategic materials, a well-organized research and development program on new oilseed crops could soon result in American self-sufficiency for industrial oils and fatty acids.     

Biosystematics of Aletris lutea Small,Aletris obovata Nash,and natural hybrids (Liliaceae)

Hybrids ofAletris lutea XA. obovata were found to occur extensively throughout the area of overlapping distribution of the two species in Florida and in southern Georgia. Hybrids were found only in disturbed habitats near the parental species. Colonization and dispersal of species and of hybrids were probably implemented by roadside maintenance operations. Fertility was high despite the high incidence of quadrivalent formation in parent and hybrid plants. Since all quadrivalents observed were aligned adjacently and since fertility is relatively high, it is suggested that duplicated chromosomes were present. It is further suggested thatAletris represents a tetraploid with a base number ofx = 6 or 7 that either lost or gained one pair of chromosomes to result inn = 13. Introgression in disturbed habitats is favored by zonation of plants in hybrid swarms, phenology of parents and hybrids, and pollinator behavior.     

Diversity of Prokaryotic Community at a Shallow Marine Hydrothermal Site Elucidated by Illumina Sequencing Technology

To investigate the prokaryotic community structure and composition in an active hydrothermal site, named Black Point, off Panarea Island (Eolian Islands, Italy), we examined sediment and fluid samples, differing in temperature, by a massive parallel sequencing (Illumina) technique targeting the V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The used technique enabled us to detect a greater prokaryotic diversity than that until now observed and to reveal also microorganisms occurring at very low abundance (≤0.01 %). Most of sequences were assigned to Bacteria while Archaea were a minor component of the microbial community in both low- and high-temperature samples. Proteobacteria (mainly consisting of Alpha-, Gamma-, and Epsilonproteobacteria) dominated among all samples followed by Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Analyzed DNA obtained from samples taken at different temperatures indicated the presence of members of different dominant genera. The main differences were observed between sediment samples where Rhodovulum and Thiohalospira prevailed at high temperature, while Thalassomonas and Sulfurimonas at low temperature. Chlorobium, Acinetobacter, Sulfurimonas, and Brevundimonas were abundant in both low- and high-temperature fluid samples. Euryarchaeota dominated the archaeal community in all samples. Classes of Euryarchaeota embracing hyperthermophilic members (Thermococci and Thermoplasmata) and of Crenarchaeota (Thermoprotei) were more abundant in high-temperature samples. A great number of sequences referred to Bacteria and Archaea still remained unaffiliated, indicating that Black Point site represents a rich source of so-far uncharted prokaryotic diversity.     

Middle Ottnangian (late Burdigalian) mollusks from the Rott Valley (SE Germany): the ultimate marine fauna of the Western Paratethys

The Bivalvia and Gastropoda from the Upper Marine Molasse deposits of the lower Rott Valley (North Alpine Foreland Basin, Lower Bavaria, SE Germany) comprise the first mollusk fauna of middle Ottnangian age (ca 17.5 Ma) to be documented in detail. Altogether, the assemblages from Brombach, Kainerding and Anzenkirchen yielded 27 species of Bivalvia and 9 species of Gastropoda. The bivalve species Spisula brombachensis n. sp. is described as new to science, and Aequipecten camaretensis is first reported from the Ottnangian of the North Alpine Foreland Basin. Furthermore, the well-preserved material allowed for the taxonomic revision of the Ottnangian index fossil Pecten herrmannseni. The bivalve community is dominated by suspension feeders, mostly shallow, soft bottom dwellers (Glycymeris, Anadara) and cementing epifauna (Ostrea). Gastropods almost exclusively comprise carnivorous browsers and predators. The parautochthonous assemblages are indicative of normal marine, well-oxygenized sandy-silty shoals at a water depth of presumably less than 20 m. Except for the presence of a single estuarine Crassostrea, the middle Ottnangian fauna is not indicative of reduced salinities. Consequently, the paleoenvironmental turnover to the brackish-water fauna of the directly overlying upper Ottnangian deposits of the Rzehakia Lake was abrupt. Glycymeris–Anadara–Ostrea communities similar to the one recorded from the Rott Valley are widespread in European seas and beyond during the Neogene and Quaternary.     

Identification of bacteria associated with underground parts of Crocus sativus by 16S rRNA gene targeted metagenomic approach

Saffron (Crocus sativus L), an autumn-flowering perennial sterile plant, reproduces vegetatively by underground corms. Saffron has biannual corm–root cycle that makes it an interesting candidate to study microbial dynamics in its rhizosphere and cormosphere (area under influence of corm). Culture independent 16S rRNA gene metagenomic study of rhizosphere and cormosphere of Saffron during flowering stage revealed presence of 22 genera but none of the genus was common in all the three samples. Bulk soil bacterial community was represented by 13 genera with Acidobacteria being dominant. In rhizosphere, out of eight different genera identified, Pseudomonas was the most dominant genus. Cormosphere bacteria comprised of six different genera, dominated by the genus Pantoea. This study revealed that the bacterial composition of all the three samples is significantly different (P < 0.05) from each other. This is the first report on the identification of bacteria associated with rhizosphere, cormosphere and bulk soil of Saffron, using cultivation independent 16S rRNA gene targeted metagenomic approach.     

The inflorescence and leaf essential oils of Tanacetum vulgare L. var. vulgare growing wild in Lithuania

Forty samples of inflorescences and leaves of wild Tanacetum vulgare L. var. vulgare were collected in 20 habitats from Lithuania. The essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The 57 identified compounds in the oils made up 80.7–99.6%. According to the cluster analysis the volatile oils were divided into four groups with 1,8-cineole (23.6–46.3%, 11 oils), trans-thujone (35.7–78.4%, 6 samples), camphor (19.8–61.8%, 17 oils) and myrtenol (13.1–24.9%, 6 samples) as main constituents. The inflorescences and leaves of tansy plants formed the oils with the same dominating constituent in 15 of the 20 habitats investigated. The leaves in five localities produced oils of the 1,8-cineole chemotype, while the inflorescences biosynthesized oils of the camphor type in three habitats and of the myrtenol type in two habitats. Amounts of the 1,8-cineole in all leaf oils were greater than that in inflorescence oils of the plants from the same locality. An opposite correlation was determined for camphor, myrtenol, cis- and trans-thujone. The myrtenol chemotype was not noticed earlier in the essential oils of T. vulgare.     

Yeasts in Antarctic soils

The yeast flora of 126 soil samples from the Ross Dependency of Antarctica was examined and compared with that of eight samples from East Greenland. Fifty-two Antarctic samples contained yeasts, in numbers ranging from 5 to over 100,000/g; species isolated belonged to the generaDebaryomyces, Cryptococcus, Candida, Trichosporon andRhodotorula. Nearly all isolates ofCandida were obligate psychrophils; they belonged toCandida scottii, C. nivalis, C. gelida andC. frigida. Duplicate samples, taken at the same site within a few yards of one another, contained the same size and kind of yeast populations. Although not all samples which contained plants (algae, lichens or mosses) contained yeasts, almost all samples which contained yeasts contained plants. There was no correlation between yeast population and the pH of the sample, nor between yeast populations and the presence of vertebrate animals. The samples from East Greenland, which were from an area sufficiently warm and moist to support growth of higher plants, all contained yeasts, in numbers from 200 to 56,000/g. Species isolated were similar to those from Antarctic material.     

Salinity-dominated change in community structure and ecological function of Archaea from the lower Pearl River to coastal South China Sea

Archaea have multiple roles in global biogeochemical cycles. However, we still have limited knowledge about how environmental factors affect the diversity and function of different archaeal lineages. The goal of this study was to examine the change in the abundance and community structure of Archaea in the sediments collected from the lower Pearl River (mainly North River tributary), its estuary, and coastal South China Sea (SCS) in order to evaluate how archaeal ecological function might change along the salinity gradient. Pyrosequencing of the 16S rDNA gene of Archaea was performed on sediment samples from Feilaixia Dam on the North River tributary to Wanshan islands, which have a salinity range of 0.1 to 31.2?‰. Consistent with the salt tolerance of cultivated representatives, methanogens in the genera Methanoregula, Methanosaeta, and Methanosarcina and Nitrososphaera within Thaumarchaeota of the ammonia-oxidizing Archaea (AOA) were abundant in freshwater sediments of the North River tributary, whereas the marine-associated genera Methanococcoides and Nitrosopumilus were the most abundant methanogens and AOA, respectively, in the estuary and coastal SCS. However, the percentages of total methanogens decreased and Thaumarchaeota increased with salinity, respectively. The phylum Crenarchaeota was largely represented by class-level lineages with no cultivated representatives, which collectively were more abundant in the estuary and coastal SCS in comparison to freshwater sites. This study indicates that salinity is the dominating factor affecting archaeal community structure and ecological function from the North River tributary of the Pearl River, its estuary, and coastal SCS, which is consistent with salinity control on microbial diversity in other regions of the world.     

Distribution and evolution of C4 syndrome inRhynchospora (Rhynchosporeae-Cyperaceae)

In order to elucidate the evolution of C₄ syndrome, the taxonomic relationships, leaf anatomy, and ecological and global distribution of C₃ and C₄ species in the genusRhynchospora were investigated. The anatomical observation for 181 species revealed that 26 C₄ species occurred within theCapitatae group of the subgenusHaplostyleae, a natural group showing highly advanced morphological characteristics, together with several C₃ species. In spite of there being rather few C₄ species, they possessed two kinds of Kranz anatomical structure differing from each other in the location of Kranz cells. Some C₃ species ofCapitatae showed radial arrangement in mesophyll cells surrounding vascular bundles, which is distinguished from typical non-Kranz anatomy. The C₄ species extended their ecological ranges from wet habitats to dry savanna grasslands, while the C₃ species showed the best development in wet habitats. The C₃ species were widespread from tropical to temperate regions with partial range extension into subarctic regions of both hemispheres, showing conspicuously high concentration of species in the New World, but being absent from arid climatic regions. The C₄ species were distributed mostly in tropics and subtropics, showing two separate distributional centers in South and Central America and in Tropical Asia and Australia. The range of C₄ species was nearly completely included in the C₃ range. In conclusion, it seems that inRhynchospora the C₄ syndrome evolved relatively recently, and arose in at least two separate phylogenetic trends in the tropics and the subtropics, more probably in the Neotropics.     

Significance of the fungus balansia cyperi infecting medicinal species of cyperus (Cyperaceae) from Amazonia

At least two species of Amazonian sedges (piripiri, i.e., Cyperus articulatus andC. prolixus, Cyperaceae) are widely utilized for various medicinal purposes, including birth control and induction of labor, and in hallucinogenic preparations. Examination of herbarium specimens collected from throughout South America and of living specimens collected in Ecuador has revealed that plants are infected by the systemic, ascomycetous fungusBalansia cyperi. This fungus is classified in the Clavicipitaceae and is known to infect only six species ofCyperus, including both North and South American species. Pure cultures of the fungus were obtained from two species of piripiri from Ecuador andC. virens from southern USA, and grown in submerged liquid culture. Extracts of the liquid medium revealed several unidentified ergot alkaloids. Current and past pharmacological uses of ergot alkaloids are consistent with uses of piripiri, suggesting a fungal basis for the ethnobotanical utilization of piripiri in Amazonia.