Zwei neue Arten der GattungSaponaria (Caryophyllaceae) aus Afghanistan und Pakistan

Saponaria stenopetala sp.n. in Eastern Afghanistan is close toS. pachyphylla Rech. f. andS. subrosularis Rech. f.—The nearest allies ofS. makranica sp.n. from Western Pakistan and Southeastern Iran areS. kermanensis Bornm. andS. floribunda (Kar. & Kir.)Boiss.

Flora Iranicae praecursores 36–37. — Praecursores praecurrentes in Pl. Syst. Evol.139, 313–317 (1982).     

Megaspore wall growth inSelaginella (Lycopodiatae)

Different stages of megaspore and megasporangial development inSelaginella argentea (Wallich)Spring,S. bigelowii Unerw., andS. kraussiana (Kze.)A. Br. have been seen and studied. Megaspore wall units give positive reactions for polysaccharides and protein in young megaspores, and become the thick and resistant wall typical of the genus only later.—Units forming the exospore and the spaces between units enlarge from widths of 5–10nm early during development up to over 200 nm at pregermination stages. The spaces enlarge first. Initially they are circular and mostly about 70 nm in diameter. Later, spaces toward the inner part of the exospore enlarge more than those near the outer surface. During pregermination, wall spaces range in size from 4 to 50 times the width of units with the larger spaces located near the inner surface. As a result the exospore would be under tension to spring outward during germination when the laesurae are lysed.—A gap in the exospore, shaped like a half-moon in polar sections, forms in equatorial and distal portions of the spore. This gap becomes enormous, three times the volume of the central space plus the mesospore, and is filled with lipids and other nutrients. Late in development, during the period of tapetal cell degeneration, the gap contents are moved into the central space and the gap is closed.—Late in development the mesospore is degraded. Its products, along with gap contents, seem to be added to the contents of the central cavity and appear as reserve storage globules. A primary wall-like endospore is formed during this period, at the inner surface of the exospore. During germination this endospore develops further at its inner surface.—Changes in the size and shape of megasporangia occur independently of the size of megaspores.Megaspore development inSelaginella. II. For first part seeMorbelli & Rowley (1993).     

Genetic mapping,distribution, and properties of an aconitase isozyme in Anopheles albimanus (Diptera:Culicidae)

Electrophoretic analysis of the developmental stages and tissues of Anopheles albimanus showed that qualitatively similar allozymes of aconitase (Acon-2) occur at all stages, and the enzyme is widespread in every larval and adult tissues. Relative heat stabilities of the allozymes were investigated by electrophoresis of heated aqueous extracts and by heating the enzyme in situ in acrylamide gels after electrophoretic separation in Tris-citrate and Tris-maleate buffer systems. The pupal aconitase in the crude extract is more stable to heat than the larval and adult enzyme. The presence of citrate ions in the gel increased the stability of aconitase to heat. Studies of substrate specificities indicated that cis-aconitic acid is the best substrate but citric acid can also serve as a substrate. Zymograms developed with isocitric acid as a substrate showed no aconitase electromorphs and produced only isocitrate dehydrogenase bands. Aconitase has a pH optimum of 8.0 and this enzyme is completely inhibited if treated in situ with ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA), p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), and urea at concentrations higher than 5mm, 5×10^–5 m, and 2 m, respectively. Acon-2¹⁰⁰ and Acon-2¹⁰⁵ do not respond differently to the above treatments. Genetic crosses involving a holandric translocation, pericentric inversions, visible mutants, and allozyme markers were analyzed to map the aconitase (Acon-2) locus on the left arm of chromosome 3. The gene sequence (and map distances) on 3L is centromere—esterase-8 (Est-8)—2—esterase-4 (Est-4)—25—esterase-2 (Est-2)—9—Acon-2—5—phosphoglucomutase (Pgm)—7—esterase-6 (Est-6).     

Long-proboscid fly pollination of two orchids in the Cape Drakensberg mountains,South Africa

Large hovering flies with elongated nectar-feeding mouthparts play an important role in the pollination of South African plants. Here we describe and illustrate the pollination of two long-spurred orchids —Disa oreophila H. Bolus subsp.erecta Linder andBrownleea macroceras Sond. — by the long-proboscid flyProsoeca ganglbaueri Lichtwardt (Nemestrinidae).     

Studien über die lebenserscheinungen der silphini (cole opt. )

Ohne ZusammenfassungBisher erschienen: Studien über die Lebenserscheinungen der Silphini. I. Silpha obscura L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 6, H. 2, 287 (1926). — II. Phosphuga atrata L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 9, H. 1/2, 271 (1927). — III. Xylodrepa quadripunctata L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 10, H. 2/3, 330 (1928). — IV. Blitophaga opaca L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 14, H. 1. 234 (1929). — V. Silpha tyrolensis Laich. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 17, H. 1/2, 262 (1930). — VI. Blitophaga undata Müll. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 18, H. l/2, I70 (1930). — VII. Oeceoptoma thoracica L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 20, H.4, 691 (1931). — VIII. Ablattaria laevigata F. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 24, H. 2, 259 (1932). — IX. Silpha carinata Hrbst. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 25, H. 2/3, 534 (1932). — X. Silpha tristis Illig. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 28, H.4, 469 (1934).     

Reversion of XO to XY sex chromosome mechanism in a phasmid

Summary The sex chromosomes of the male phasmid Isagoras schraderi Rehn comprise an X and a Y, — each with a submedian kinetochore, and one euchromatic and one heterochromatic arm. At meiosis X and Y form an unequal sex bivalent in which the euchromatic arms are terminally associated. Relatively recent reversion from the XO-XX mechanism characteristic of the Phasmidae is indicated by the presence of the euchromatic arm in both X and Y. The diploid number of the male is 34.Unequal autosomal bivalents are found at meiosis in two other species of Isagoras — Isagoras subaquiles Rehn and Isagoras sp. — and in Pseudophasma menius Westwood. The chromosome complements of these species are described.     

Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen von Entwicklungsstadien der FlechteEndocarpon pusillum unter Kulturbedingungen

The lichenEndocarpon pusillum Hedw. was cultivated under laboratory conditions on agar, silica gel and soil substrate. Selected developmental stages of the life cycle (germination, contact between the symbionts, cortex, squamule and perithecia development) were studied by light and scanning electron microscope.—It could be shown that the spores had no rigid spore walls with germination colpies and the spore cells which are in contact with the substrate were formed directly into germination tubes.— Further studies showed that the initial contact between the components was thigmotropic and both the form and the gelatinous matrix around the algal cells play an important role in this process. — The development of the cortex occurs under reduced moisture conditions resulting in a reduced algal reproduction. The thickness of the cortex was dependent on light intensity during cultivation. The cortex originated from hyphae, which developed beyond the algal layer and were combined to a tight network.—Fruiting bodies with spores and hymenial algae were only formed in cultures on soil substrate.

Frau Prof. Dr.Elisabeth Tschermak-Woess zu ihrem 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Histochemical procedures for the simultaneous visualization of neutral sugars and either sialic acid and its side chain O-acyl variants or O-sulphate ester. I. Methods based upon the selective periodate oxidation of sialic acids

Summary Five new methods, based upon the selective oxidation of sialic acid residues with 0.4mm periodic acid in approximately 1m hydrochloric acid at 4°C for 1 h (PA^*), have been devised for the simultaneous visualization of neutral sugars and either sialic acid and its side chainO-acyl variants orO-sulphate ester. In the first of these, the selective periodate oxidation—borohydride reduction—saponification—selective periodate oxidation—Thionin Schiff—saponification—borohydride reduction—periodic acid—Schiff (PA^*—Bh—KOH—PA^*—T—KOH—Bh—PAS) technique, sialic acids withO-acyl substituents at C7, C8 or C9 (or which have two of three side chainO-acyl substituents) stain blue while neutral sugars with periodate-sensitivevicinal diols (hexose, 6-deoxyhexose, andN-acetylhexosamine) stain magenta. The second method, the saponification—selective periodate oxidation—Thionin Schiff—saponification—borohydride reduction—periodic acid—Schiff (KOH—PA^*—T—KOH—Bh—PAS), stains all sialic acids blue and neutral sugars magenta. In the third procedure, the selective periodate oxidation—Thionin Schiff—borohydride reduction—periodic acid—Schiff—saponification (PA^*—T—Bh—PAS—KOH) method, sialic acids without side chain substituents (or which have anO-acyl substituent at C7) stain blue and neutral sugars stain magenta. In the fourth method, the saponification-selective periodate oxidation—borohydride reduction—Alcian Blue pH 1.0—periodic acid—Schiff (KOH—PA^*—Bh—AB1.0—PAS) technique,O-sulphate esters stain aquamarine blue and neutral sugars stain magenta. In all of these techniques mixtures of the components stain in various shades of purple. Performance of the KOH—PA^*—Bh—AB1.0—PAS technique without the Alcian Blue pH 1.0 step provides a method for the selective identification of neutral sugars in macromolecules that also contain sialic acids.     

Beitrag zur Kenntnis der österreichischen Sippen desValeriana officinalis-Aggregats und ihrer Chromosomenzahlen

Zusammenfassung Die vonWalther im wesentlichen für Deutschland ausgearbeitete Gliederung vonValeriana officinalis agg. ist in ihren Grundzügen auch in Österreich anwendbar. Die Chromosomenzahlen der Sippen sind in diesem Land die gleichen wie auch in anderen Teilen Europas.Valeriana officinalis L. s. str. — die in Österreich häufigste Art — ist mit 2n=14 diploid,V. collina Wallr. mit 2n=28 tetraploid. Ob die beiden in Österreich weniger häufigen, einander sehr ähnlichen oktoploiden Sippen mit 2n=56 —V. sambucifolia Mikan fil. undV. procurrens Wallr. — wirklich Artrang verdienen, ist zu diskutieren.V. procurrens wächst in Österreich unter anderem in den Nordtiroler Alpen.

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Summary The subdivision ofValeriana officinalis agg. established byWalther especially for Germany is found to be practicable in its main features in Austria too. The chromosome numbers of the taxa are the same in Austria as in other parts of Europe.Valeriana officinalis L. s. str. is a diploid (2n=14),V. collina Wallr. is a tetraploid species (2n=28). As to the nearly related octoploid taxaV. sambucifolia Mikan fil. andV. procurrens Wallr. (2n=56) it is still to be discussed, if they should be recognized as species or not.

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Herrn Professor Dr. L.Geitler zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Studien über die lebenserscheinungen der silphini (coleopt.)

Ohne ZusammenfassungBisher erschienen:Studien über die Lebenserscheinungen der Silphini. I. Silpha obscura L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 6, H. 2, 287 (1926). — II. Phosphuga atrata L. Ebenda 9, H.1 /2, 271 (1927). — III. Xylodrepa quadripunctata L. Ebenda 10, H. 2/3, 330 (1928). — IV. Blitophaga opaca L. Ebenda 14, H. 1, 234 (1929). — V. Silpha tyrolensis Laich. Ebenda 17, H. 1/2, 262 (1930). — VI. Blitophaga undata Müll. 18, H. 1/2, 170 (1930).     

Anatomische Untersuchungen über die Reaktion vonSolanum demissum Lindl.,Solanum vernei Bitt. et Wittm. und vonSolanum-andigenum-Bastarden auf Befall durch den Kartoffelnematoden,Heterodera rostochiensis Woll.

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 20 AbbildungenHerrn Dr. habil. H.Buhr, Mühlhausen/Thür., zum 60. Geburtstage gewidmet.9. Mitt. überHeterodera-Arten. — Teil der Dissertation vonG. Sembdner, Techn. Univ. Dresden, 1961. —8. Mitt.Sembdner, G., Nematologica9, i. Druck (1963).     

Penicillin derivatives induce chemical structure-dependent root development,and application for plant transformation

We investigated five penicillin derivatives that are popularly used for transformation experiments with Agrobacterium rhizogenes—penicillin G, carbenicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin and cephalexin—for their effects on the growth and morphology of Beta vulgaris, Capsicum annuum and Glehnia littoralis roots. Attention was given to the relationship between their chemical structures and functions. Ampicillin was found to stimulate root elongation but inhibit root branching, whereas carbenicillin inhibited root elongation but promoted root branching. Root cultures were also exposed to hydrolyzed products of these antibiotics—i.e. phenylmalonic acid (PM), phenylglycine and 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA): PM inhibited root elongation the most, while root elongation was supported best by 6-APA. These results indicate that both the side chains and the major component of penicillin derivatives affect root development and that the nature of the side chains is responsible for the responses. Ampicillin but not carbenicillin was used in subsequent experiments described herein to eliminate bacteria and to support root growth of transformants of the recalcitrant plants.Abbreviations Amox: Amoxicillin - Amp: Ampicillin - 6-APA: 6-Aminopenicillanic acid - Carb: Carbenicillin - Ceph: Cephalexin - HG: d(–)-2-p-Hydroxyphenylglycine - PA: Phenylacetic acid - PenG: Penicillin G - PG: d(–)--Phenylglycine - PM: Phenylmalonic acid Communicated by L.C. Fowke     

Takakia im Himalaya

Summary A second species of the hitherto monotypic order Takakiales is described and figured en detail. This Himalayan species —T. ceratophylla (Mitt.)Gro. n. c. — is very similar to the type speciesT. lepidozioides from M-Japan and SW-Canada and also an orophyt.

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Herrn Dr. C. T.Rogerson, New York, möchte ich meinen herzlichen Dank für die Ausleihe des Originales vonLepidozia ceratophylla Mitt. auch hier aussprcehen.     

Senkungsgeschwindigkeit der Erythrozyten bei einigen Fischarten des Adriatischen Meeres

Zusammenlassung Es wurde die Senkungsgeschwindigkeit der Erythrozyten bei einigen Fischarten des Adriatischen Meeres untersucht.Die Senkungsgeschwindigkeit der Erythrozyten bei Scomber colias L. Gm., Scomber scomber L. und Orcynus thynnus Ltkn. (bekannter unermüdlicher Schwimmer) — aus der Familie Scombridae — zeigen sehr ähnliche Werte, die sich im Durchschnitt mit unbedeutenden Fehlern der Mittelwerte wie folgt bewegen: nach den ersten 2 Std Senkung zwischen 1,6 und 2,0 mm, nach 24 Std zwischen 26,7 und 28,7 mm.Bei Mugil capito Cuv. — aus der Familie Mugilidae — (die an sich weniger beweglieh als die vorhergehende Art ist und in Küstennähe lebt) ist die Senkunggeschwindigkeit nach 24 Std fast doppelt so groß wie bei der vorhergehenden Art und beträgt 46,1 mm im Durchschnitt, obwohl sie nach den ersten Stunden der Sedimentation im Durchschnitt die gleichen Werte wie bei den Scombriden hat: 1,9 mm.Die Sedimentation der Blutkörperchen bei Mullus surmuletus L. — aus der Familie Mullidae —, zeigt jedoch, obwohl sie nach 24 Std die gleichen Werte wie bei den Scombriden von 27,9 mm im Durchschnitt hat, innerhalb der ersten Stunden eine größere Geschwindigkeit als bei irgendeiner der vorhergehenden Arten, d. h. 2,6 mm nach der 2. bzw. 5,1 mm nach der 4. Senkungsstunde.     

An electron microscope study of spermiogenesis in Spirorbis (Laeospira) mörchi Levinsen (Polychaeta)

Summary 1. In the hermaphroditic polychaete Spirorbis (Laeospira) mörchi, early spermatids develop in clusters within the coelom of the male segments. The cells within a single cluster are all in the same stage of development and are connected by an extensive cytoplasmic bridge system. 2. The acrosome forms in a single lamella of the Golgi apparatus which bears a close association to the plasma membrane. The final position of the acrosome is at a point considerably removed from the site of formation. 3. The nuclear changes culminating in condensation and elongation of the head are described. A rearrangement of cytoplasmic microtubules occurs simultaneously with nuclear elongation. 4. Redundant nuclear envelope, resulting from nuclear volume reduction, is pinched off in the form of four vesicles. The latter structures are lost with the residual cytoplasm. 5. Pour spherical mitochondria elongate to become incorporated into the middle-piece. A rearrangement of microtubules also occurs simultaneously with mitochondrial elongation. Cytoplasmic microtubules are absent from the fully formed sperm.This investigation was made possible through a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the National Science Foundation, 44150. — I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. John Luft for the training I received in the techniques of electron microscopy. Dr. James Koehler and Dr. Daniel Szollosi are thanked for their many helpful suggestions.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Polarisationsoptische Untersuchungen am Auge von Calliphora erythrocephala (Meig.)

Zusammenfassung Die Doppelbrechung der Cornealinse und der Rhabdomere im Facettenauge von Calliphora erythrocephala (MEIG.) wurde untersucht.Der Gangunterschied wurde in Schnitten parallel zur Ommatidienachse gemessen. Die Differenz der Brechungsindices — die Doppelbrechung — zwischen dem außerordentlichen und dem ordentlichen Strahl ist (n _e – n _o) = 0,0012. Die Cornealinse ist ein einachsig, negativ doppelbrechender Kristall. Die optische Achse verläuft parallel zur Ommenachse.Die Kristallkegel und die Rhabdomerenkappen sind isotrop. Die Rhabdomere selbst sind anisotrop. Der Gangunterschied in den Sehstäben 1–6 (50 nm) scheint größer zu sein als im siebenten Rhabdomer (18 nm). Die Rhabdomere der siebenten und achten Sehzelle liegen jedoch genau hintereinander in einer Achse und dieTubuli sind zueinander senkrecht orientiert. Polarisationsoptisch gesehen liegen die beiden Sehstäbe in Subtraktionsstellung. Die Doppelbrechung der Rhabdomere ist (n _e – n _o) = – 0,0004.

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Investigations with polarized light on the eye of Calliphora erythrocephala (Meig.)

Summary The birefringency of the corneal lens and of the rhabdomeres in the compound eye of Calliphora erythrocephala (MEIG.) was investigated.The phase difference was measured in sections parallel to the axis of the ommatidium. The difference of the refractive indices — the birefringency — between the extraordinary and the ordinary beam is (n _{e – n o}) = –0,0012. The corneal lens is a negative birefringent crystal. Its optical axis runs parallel to the axis of the ommatidium.The crystalline cones and the extracellular distal processes of the rhabdomeres are isotropic. The rhabdomeres are anisotropic. The phase difference along the rhabdomeres No. 1–6 (50 nm) seems to be higher than in the seventh (18 nm). As rhabdomere No. 8 is situated beneath rhabdomere No. 7 and the tubules of these two rhabdomeres are perpendicularly orientated, the phase differences are partially cancelled. The birefringency of the rhabdomeres is (n _e – n _o) = –0,0004.

     

Six new species ofGagea (Liliaceae) from the Flora Iranica area

Six new species are described:Gagea anonyma, G. Staintonii, G. siphonantha, G. Grey-Wilsonii, G. chloroneura. All belong to subgen.Platyspermum (Boiss.)Miscz. Florae Iranicae praecursores63–68. — Praecursores praecurrentes: Pl. Syst. Evol.151, 281–293 (1986).     

Siphonostylis,eine neue Gattung der Iridaceae

Zusammenfassung Die GattungSiphonostylis — begründet aufIris unguicularis Poir.,I. cretensis Janka undI. lazica Alb. — wird beschrieben.Es werden 4 Pollentypen charakterisiert, die für die Gliederung der Arten von Bedeutung sind. S. cretensis bildet drei geographisch vikariante Rassen, die als Subspecies ausgegliedert werden.Systematisch unklar bleiben die in Griechenland und den Ionischen Inseln verbreiteten Pflanzen, die als Hybridpopulationen, entstanden aus Kreuzungen zwischenS. unguicularis undS. cretensis, aufgefaßt werden.Meinem hochverehrten Lehrer, Herrn Prof. Dr. O.Schwarz, zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.