Leaf flavonoids ofGalium sect.Aparinoides (Rubiaceae)

13 taxa belonging to 4 “species groups” ofGalium L. sect.Aparinoides (Jord.)Gren. produce 15 leaf flavonoids: Apigenin-7-diglucoside, Luteolin-7-monoglucoside and 7-diglucoside, Diosmetin, Diosmetin-7-monoglucoside and 7-diglucoside; Kaempferol-3-rutinoside, Kaempferol-3,7-diglucoside, Quercetin, two Quercetin-3-monoglycosides, Rutin, Quercetin-3-rutinoside-7-glucoside, Quercetin-7-glycoside and an unidentified aglycone. TheG. trifidum, G. obtusum andG. palustre groups (with the exception of theG. tinctorium subspecies andG. elongatum) have similar flavone-flavonole patterns, while theG. antarcticum group produces a specific pattern. Leaf flavonoids of theG. trifidum andG. antarcticum group are inhomogenous, becauseG. tinctorium subsp.tinctorium andG. antarcticum lack flavones. For all taxa (with the exception of those of theG. antarcticum group) intraspecific variation is demonstrated, and 4 populations ofG. trifidum subsp.trifidum, G. tinctorium subsp.tinctorium,G. obtusum subsp.obtusum andG. labradoricum even exhibit intrapopulation variation. The implications of flavonoid data on the systematics and the astonishing intrapopulation and intraspecific variation are discussed.     

Restriction fragment length polymorphism and chromosome mapping of a mouse homeo box gene,Hox-2.1

Restriction endonuclease fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were found using the cDNA probe Hox-2.1 for the homeo box-2.1 gene in the mouse. Polymorphism was detected in restriction patterns generated by fragments fromHindIII digestion. The great majority of laboratory strains of mice carries theHox-2.1 ^a allele. Only two laboratory strains carry theHox-2.1 ^b allele. Among strains of wild origin, the European subspecies (Mus m. domesticus, M. m. brevirostris, andM. m. musculus) and some Asian subspecies (M. m. castaneus) carry theHox-2.1 ^a allele. The subspecies from Far Eastern countries (M. m. molossinus, Chinese mice of wild origin, andM. m. yamashinai) carry theHox-2.1 ^ballele. Using the RFLP, theHox-2.1 gene was mapped on chromosome 11. Three-point cross test data showed that the recombination frequency is 29.6% between theHba and theHox-2.1 genes and 23.5% between theHox-2.1 and theEs-3 genes. The gene order ofHba-Hox-2.1-Es-3 has been confirmed.     

A new classification of communities dominated byPotentilla reptans in anthropogenic habitats of Western Slovakia

A new classification is presented of plant communities with predominantPotentilla reptans, in anthropogenic habitats of villages in Western Slovakia, earlier described as thePotentilletum reptantis Eliá? 1974. Species poor communities in drier soils of the roadside and embankments are retained in the associationPotentilletum reptantis Eliá? 1974 emend. Species richer communities in relatively moist ruderal habitats are separated as a new association, thePrunello-Potentilletum reptantis Eliá? 1978.     

Estimation of the above-ground biomass of the herb layer in forest communities

The paper deals with the estimation of maximum above-ground herb-layer biomass in selected forest communities of the Malé Karpaty Mts., (Lesser Carpathians) SW. Slovakia. Use was made of a combined method of indirect sampling and phytocenological relevés, and the following values were ascertained: 41 kg/ha in theLuzulo-Fagetum (276 kg/ha if mosses included), 691 kg/ha in theCarici pilosae-Carpinetum, 364 kg/ha in theDentario-Fagetum, 476 kg/ha in theAceri-Carpinetum, and 1364 kg/ha in theStellario-Alnetum. The results are discussed and compared with earlier data published in the literature.     

Parasites ofSpodoptera exigua,S. eridania [Lep.: Noctuidae] andHerpetogramma bipunctalis [Lep.: Pyralidae] collected fromAmaranthus hybridus in field corn

Three species of lepidopterous larvae were collected fromAmaranthus hybridus L. growing in field corn during 1975 and 1976 at Hastings, Florida.Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) was the predominant species in May.Spodoptera eridania (Cramer) was predominant in June andHerpetogramma bipunctalis (F.) in July and August. Nine native species of parasites, representing theBraconidae, Eulophidae, Ichneumonidae andTachinidae, emerged from these larvae.Meteorus autographae Muesebeck emerged from bothS. exigua andS. eridania. TheTachinidae, Winthemia rufopicta (Bigot),Eucelatori rubentis (Coquillett) andLespensia sp., emerged from mixtures ofS. exigua andS. eridania. Apanteles marginiventris (Cresson),Temelucha sp., andChelonus texanus Cresson emerged from bothS. exigua andH. bipunctalis larvae, andEuplectrus platyhypenae Howard andOphion sp. emerged fromS. eridania. All the species of parasites from the lepidopterous larvae that feed onAmaranthus hybridus are also reported as parasites ofS. frugiperda, a serious pest of corn. Therefore these larvae onA. hybridus may be a source of the parasites found attackingS. frugiperda.     

A new genus from Mexico: Dendrosida (Malvaceae)

Dendrosida, here described as new, comprises three taxa:D. batesii Fryxell,D. sharpiana (Miranda) Fryxell ssp.sharpiana, andD. sharpiana ssp.occidentalis Fryxell. The genus is interpreted as a primitive representative of the tribe Malveae, and its relationship to other genera of theAbutilon alliance is discussed. An analysis of mericarp morphology in relation to seed dissemination mechanisms indicates that theAbutilon alliance may be divided into an Abutiloid and a Sidoid group.Dendrosida is included in the latter.     

Seasonal density,distribution and interactions of predatory and scavenger arthropods in accumulating poultry wastes in coastal and interior Southern California

Seasonal predatory and scavenger arthropod densities were studied at interior and coastal southern California poultry ranches. Though some seasonal population clumping occurred with some species, the distribution of predators and scavengers was fairly uniform within each ranch. Correlation analyses of key predators in theHisteridae, Staphylinidae, Hydrophylidae andDermaptera with the potential hosts,Musca domestica L.,Tinea fuscipunctella Haworth, andFannia spp. suggested that predator activity was seasonally influenced. Possible periodic avoidance of a particular host's habitat was detected as significant negative correlations. The data tend to support the importance of different species of predators in different seasons and the need for natural enemy complexes rather than single species for biological control.     

Genetics of histocompatibility in mice

Twenty-five new congenic lines with distinctive BALB/cBy-strain histocompatibility alleles introduced onto the C57BL/6By-strain background by a regimen of backcrossing and tailskin grafting have been established. Twenty-one of the histocompatibility loci represented by these lines are new, while four duplicate theH-1, H-2, H-7, andH-8 loci identified by Snell.     

Chromosome numbers and their taxonomic implications for eight Brazilian andropogons (Poaceae: Andropogoneae)

Eleven chromosome counts are reported for Brazilian populations of eight species ofAndropogon. Counts for five of the species are first reports for the species. Four of these species,A. arenarius, A. glaziovii, A. lateralis, andA. lindmanii, are hexaploids (n=30) and belong to a group of about a dozen species informally referred to as theAndropogon lateralis complex. Two other species of this complex,A. bicornis andA. hypogynus, we also found to be hexaploids, in agreement with previous reports. Diploid counts (n=10) forA. macrothrix (a first report) andA. virgatus (the same as two previous reports) support the morphological affinities of these two species to other species complexes withinAndropogon.     

Description ofOligosita tominici n. sp. [Hym., trichogrammatidae] and notes on the hosts ofAnagrus atomus (L.) andAnaphes autumnalis Foerster [Hym. Mymaridae]

Oligosita tominici n. sp. is described, bred fromErythroneura eburnea (Cicadellidae) and a key to theminima-group is given.Anagrus atomus (L.) is recorded fromErythroneura eburnea, too, andAnaphes autumnalis Foerster is bred from an egg ofTipula autumnalis Loew; it is the first record of an egg-parasite ofTipulidae.     

Evidence for a fifth (G) region in theH-2 complex of the mouse

Antisera (B10.129×A)F₁ anti-P and (B10×A)F₁ anti-B10.P contain antibodies that define, in the PVP hemagglutination test, an antigen originally described as G or H-2.7. Of the independentH-2 haplotypes, the H-2.7 antigen is present inf, j, k, p, ands. In addition, the antisera also contain a weak cytotoxic antibody, distinct from anti-H-2.7. The cytotoxic antibody reacts with antigens controlled by theK orI regions. The hemagglutinating H-2.7 antibody does not have cytotoxic activity. The genetic determinant coding for antigen H-2.7 can be mapped into the chromosomal segment between theS andD regions. The H-2.7 antigen thus serves as a marker for a new region of theH-2 complex. The locus coding for antigen H-2.7 is designatedH-2 G and the correspondingH-2 regionG. The H-2.7 antigen has a tissue distribution distinct from that of the H-2 antigens controlled by theK orD regions. So far it could be detected primarily on erythrocytes.     

Genetic linkage studies between congenital adrenal hyperplasia and the HLA blood group system

Seventeen families with one or two children suffering from congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) were not only typed for their HLA-A,B, and D antigens but also tested biochemically forCAH heterozygosity after ACTH stimulation. The lod score analysis showed a close genetic linkage betweenCAH andHLA, indicating that theC-21-hydroxylase deficiency gene(s) causing CAH in the homozygous deficient state are-located in close proximity to theHLA complex on chromosome 6 with an estimated recombination fraction of 0 to 5%. HLA typing in 21 unrelated CAH patients revealed a statistically significant association to the HLA-B5 antigen with a relative risk value of 5.8. There was a significant correlation (P=0.0025) between theHLA segregation data and theCAH heterozygosity test results in relatives of CAH patients although a few ‘false negative’ results in theCAH heterozygosity test were observed. Thus, the combination of HLA typing and this biochemical test at present provides the most precise approach for detecting CAH carriers in families of CAH patients.     

Seasonal variation and distribution of microfungi in forest soils of Delhi

Seasonal occurrence and abundance of microfungi at three different depths in tropical forest soils of Delhi were studied using the soil dilution and soil plate techniques. Surface layer in all the soil types exhibited the highest population and species number which gradually declined with depth increase. In total, 58 genera comprising 118 species were isolated of which theDeuteromycetes was represented by 38 genera and 90 species, thePhycomycetes by 10 genera and 18 species, theAscomycetes by 6 genera and 8 species, and theBasidiomycetes andMyxomycetes by single genus and species. Besides the surface vegetation, the edaphic and environmental factors had a profound influence on the occurrence and distribution of microfungi at various depths of soils.     

Chemical composition and immunological properties of glycoproteins of Sporothrix species

Glycoproteins of 11Sporothrix species were purified from their respective culture filtrates by use of DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and QAE-Sephadex A-25 column chromatography and investigated for their chemical and immunological properties. On the basis of sugar composition, the glycoproteins of the 11Sporothrix species could be divided into two groups, i.e., rhamnose containing (i.e., Rha⁺), and non rhamnose containing (i.e., Rha^?) groups. The species in the former group wereS. curviconia, S. inflata, S. schenckii andS. schenckii var. luriei, and those in the latter group wereS. cyanescens, S. foliorum, S. fungorum, S. ghanensis, S. imectorum, S. luteoalba andS. ramosissima. The glycoproteins of four of the (Rha⁺) species were relatively similar in elution patterns of DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatograms, sugar and amino acid compositions, serological reactivity with rabbit andS. schenckii serum and rabbit antiKlebsiella pneumoniae K47 serum, and cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity. In the case of the (Rha^?) species, the glycoproteins of five species cross-reacted with rabbit antiS. schenckii serum and all, but theS. cyanescens, glycoprotein were reactive to some degree in skin tests in sporotrichotic patients. These results strongly suggest that the chemical and immunological properties of these glycoproteins correspond with the morphological observations amongSporothrix species.     

Plant communities of mires in the western part of the Krkonoše mountains,Czechoslovakia

Mire plant communities of the W. Krkono?e mountains may be grouped in 11 associations and 3 alliances:Caricion canescentis-fuscae, Rhynchosporion albae andOxycocco-Empetrion hermaphroditi. The ecology, structure and geographical distribution of the communities, as well as the ecology of the species occurring in them are discussed.     

Antimicrobial activity of some Indian plants

Antimicrobial activity of 105 Indian plant species was tested. Among them, 30 showed antibacterial activity; 20 of these exhibited antifungal action as well. Seeds ofCarum copticum, stem ofPinus longifolia, roots ofPlumbago zeylanica andSaussurea lappa, and rhizome ofAlpinia officinarum have considerable antifungal activity, especially against pathogenic fungi. Antibiotic activity against a wide variety of microorganisms—pathogenic and nonpathogenic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and fungi—was also noted with leaves ofLawsonia inermis, roots ofPlumbago zeylanica, and fruits ofTamarindus indica,Terminalia belerica, andEmblica officinalis.