On three interesting marine red algae (Ceramiales,Rhodophyta) from the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Observations on three interesting Ceramiales from the Mediterranean Sea are reported; Ceramium incospicuum Zanardini, Polysiphonia setacea Hollenberg and Rodriguezella pinnata (Kützing) Schmitz ex Falkenberg. The male reproductive structures on the genus Rodriguezella are described for the first time.     

Two centuries of growth among Czech children and youth

The trend of increasing height can be interpreted as a reflection of the unfolding progress of civilization. Height changes among children and adolescents are good markers of this trend. We analyze the secular trend in the heights of children and adolescents in the Czech Republic on the basis of data from anthropological surveys. The earliest height data pertain to Czech youths who attended the Military Schools in Austria in 1800-1809. Data also exist for 1895 and continue in 1951 and at 10-year intervals thereafter. Growth curves were obtained for separate age groups by fitting mean values via third-order polynomial smoothing splines. Between 1951 and 2001, the mean heights of boys and girls aged 2.5 years increased by 2.7 and 3 cm, respectively. Since 1895, the mean height of 13-year-old boys has increased by 19.4 cm, and the mean height of girls has increased by 18.3 cm.     

Two new interesting genera of Gastrotricha (Macrodasyida and Chaetonotida) from the Brazilian freshwater psammon

Two new genera and species of Gastrotricha are described from the psammon of a freshwater body in Brazil: Redudasys fornerise and Arenotus strixinoi. The former is the first undoubted member of the order Macrodasyida recorded from a freshwater environment. It is characterized by the reduction in number of adhesive tubes, the absence of male sexual organs and the presence of a well-developed protonephridial system. The latter belongs to the order Chaetonotida (family Chaetonotidae) and is characterized by the uniform body covering with a thick layer of soft homogeneous cuticle. A possible mode of colonization of fresh waters by marine Macrodasyida, involving colonization of freshwater areas underlying marine beaches, is discussed.     

Five interesting ascomycetes from herbal drugs

Among strains isolated from herbal drugs in a mycological survey conducted in 1977–1980, five noteworthy species of pyrenomycetous ascomycetes are described and illustrated:Gelasinospora mirabilis var.gigaspora var. nov., isolated from Taraxaci Herba (Japanese name, Hokoei);Lophotrichus ampullus, isolated from Trichosanthis Radix (Japanese name, Karokon);L. bartlettii, isolated from Chamomillae Flos (Japanese name, Kamitsure);Sordaria conoidea, isolated from Plantaginis Semen (Japanese name, Shazenshi); andThielavia subthermophila, isolated from wood ofAbies webbiana, Plantaginis Semen and Plantaginis Herba (Japanese names, Shazenshi and Shazenso).     

New and interesting Myxomycetes from Norway

Forty–nine species of myxomycetes are reported as new to Norway. Of these, 22 species are new to Scandinavia. Several have not, or only rarely, been reported from Europe. Two species (viz. Diderma subfloriformis and Comatricha anomala) were previously known only from their type localities. Brief discussions are given for some of the more interesting species.     

Some interesting agarics from eastern Austria

Four very rare species ofAgaricales of dry grassland of the Galgenberg near Röschitz (Niederösterreich) are described and their taxonomy, affinities, ecology and distribution are discussed.Marasmiellus graminis (Murr.)Sing. & Hausknecht andCrinipellis subtomentosa (Peck.)Sing. var.mauretanica (Mre.)Sing. & Hausknecht are proposed as new combinations;Campanella inquilina Romagn. apudRedhead is a synonym ofC. caesia Romagn.     

Two interesting floral finds from third millennium B.C. Tell Hammam et-Turkman,northern Syria

Charred flower-head remains of Carthamus tinctorius recovered from an Early Bronze Age site in northern Syria indicate that safflower was used as a dye plant. The kernels of Prunus mahaleb probably served as a flavouring agent.     

Pharmaceuticals from cultured algae

Summary An algae screening program, including cultured macroalgae, cultured cyanobacteria and cultured eukaryotic microalgae has been undertaken. Methods for the isolation, purification, preservation and cultivation of axenic cyanobacteria and eukaryotic cultures have been developed. Screening of these groups for biologically active components has lead to the isolation of pachydictyol and caulerpenyne from cultured macroalgae, while a series of hapalindoles and an antifungal depsipeptide have been isolated from cyanobacteria.     

Ultrahigh bioproductivity from algae

The potential for dramatic increases in bioproductivity in algal photobioreactors relative to current biomass approaches, e.g., for converting sunlight into biofuels, by an unorthodox integration of photonics and biotechnologies is described. The key to greater biomass yields—projected as high as 100 g dry weight m⁻² h⁻¹—is a pronounced heightening of algal flux tolerance, achieved by tailoring the photonic temporal, spectral and intensity characteristics with pulsed light-emitting diodes. Such tailored photonic input is applied in concert with thin-channel ultradense culture photobioreactors with flow patterns that produce rapid light/dark algae exposure cycles. The artificial-light scheme is globally feasible only with electricity generated from renewables. Recent advances in ultra-efficient concentrator photovoltaics, as well as high-performance light-emitting diodes, create a practical reality for converting sunlight into pulsed red light and delivering it to indoor photobioreactors, with characteristic pulse times and intensities optimally suited to the rate-limiting dark reactions of photosynthesis. Cellular engineering built upon recent progress in modifying algal chlorophyll antenna size, in combination with metabolic engineering, could further enhance bioproductivity. The proposed strategy requires no major advances for implementation and adopts existing technologies. Revision submitted to Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology on 25 June 2007.     

New and interesting chaetothyrialean fungi from Spain

In the course of taxonomic studies on saprobic microfungi from Spain, several slow-growing, dematiaceous hyphomycetes were isolated from soil, submerged plant material and river sediments. Sixteen of these strains were identified as members of the ascomycete order Chaetothyriales on the basis of morphology and DNA sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region and partial large subunit ribosomal RNA gene. These included three novel species (Cladophialophora pseudocarrionii, Cyphellophora chlamydospora, and Rhinocladiella amoena) and five interesting, little-known or clinically-relevant species (Cyphellophora suttonii, Exophiala aquamarina, E. lacus, E. radicis, and Rhinocladiella similis). In addition, Exophiala oligosperma, an emerging opportunistic fungus, was found for the first time in an aquatic freshwater environment (river sediments). Cladophialophora pseudocarrionii resembles C. carrionii in the branching pattern of its conidial chains, but differs from the latter species in its inability to grow at 30 °C. Cyphellophora chlamydospora differs from other species of the genus in the absence of conidiation, producing only chlamydospores in vitro. Rhinocladiella amoena shows branched conidiophores similar to those of R. anceps, R. atrovirens, R. basitona and R. similis, but differs from them in conidial shape and size. The ex-type strain of Phialophora livistonae, included in the phylogenetic study, clustered with high statistical support with members of the genus Cyphellophora and is transferred to this genus.     

Glutamate agonists from marine algae

The occurrence of three glutamate agonists — glutamic acid, D-homocysteic acid and kainic acid — in a spontaneous mutant of Palmaria palmata is reported. Glutamic acid and D-homocysteic acid, but not kainic acid, were found in the wild-type plant. The closely related glutamate agonist, domoic acid, was found in the red alga Chondria baileyana and in the diatom Nitzschia pungens forma multiseries. In the diatom, domoic acid can build up to high levels in excess of 3% (dry wt.), making N. pungens a potential commercial source of this neuroactive amino acid. Information is also presented on the distribution, chemistry and biological activity of neuroactive amino acids from algae, and a possible biogenic relationship among kainoid metabolites is discussed. author for correspondence     

New and interesting species ofNeosartorya from Brazilian soil

Neosartorya udagawae, a new heterothallic species isolated from Brazilian soil, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by dull green colony on malt extract agar, light yellow large ascomata, broadly lenticular ascospores with two equatorial or several irregular crests and tuberculate convex surfaces, and with anAspergillus anamorph.Neosartorya aureola is also described as a new record from Brazilian soil.     

New and interesting species ofEurotium from Chinese soil

Eurotium taklimakanense, a new species isolated from desert soil in the Taklimakan desert, Xinjiang Province, China, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by light yellow to reddish yellow colonies on Czapek's agar with 70% (w/v) sucrose, yellow ascomata, broadly lenticular ascospores with conspicuously irregular equatorial crests and tuberculate or verrucose convex surfaces, and anAspergillus anamorph.Eurotium cristatum is also described as a new record from China. It is characterized by light yellow colonies on Czapek's agar with 70% sucrose, yellow ascomata, broadly lenticular ascospores with two equatorial crests and echinulate convex surfaces, and small tuberculate conidia.     

New and interesting species ofEmericella from Brazilian soil

Among the ascomycete isolates from soil and armadillo dung collected in São Paulo State, Brazil, a new species ofEmericella, E. montenegroi and a new variety ofE. rugulosa, E. rugulosa var.Iazulina are described and illustrated.Emericella montenegroi differs from the other known species of the genus in having ascospores with an incompletely reticulate or ribbed ornamentation on the convex walls.Emericella rugulosa var.Iazulina differs from the type variety in having blue to violet color of ascospores. Isolations ofE. corrugata andE. foveolata are also reported as a South American record. A synoptic key to all accepted species of the genus is provided.