Nuovo contributo alla conoscenza delle Laboulbeniali (Ascomycetes) parassite di Stafilinidi italiani (Insecta,Coleoptera)

Abstract

A new contribution to the knowledge of Laboulbeniales (Ascomycetes) parasitic on Italian Staphylinidae (Insecta, Coleoptera).—Two new Laboulbeniales occurring on Italian Staphylinidae are described: Camptomyces europaeus, parasitic on Astenus thoracicus Baudi (Paederinae) and Corethromyces sardous, parasitic on Pseudobium labile (Er.) (Paederinae). Furthermore, the following species are reported for the first time in Italy: Compsomyces verticillatus (Thaxt.), Haplomyces texanus Thaxt., Smeringomyces anomalus (Thaxt.) and Teratomyces actobii Thaxt.     

Notes on the Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota) parasitic on Diptera from Portugal and other countries

Eighteen species of Stigmatomyces are reported for the first time from continental Portugal and/or from the Azores. These are Stigmatomyces asteiae W. Rossi et Cesari, Stigmatomyces athyroglossae W. Rossi et Cesari, Stigmatomycescanzonerii W. Rossi et Cesari, Stigmatomyces ceratophorus Whisler, Stigmatomyces constrictus Thaxt., Stigmatomyces crassicollis Thaxt., Stigmatomyces divergatus Thaxt., Stigmatomyces discocerinae Thaxt., Stigmatomyces ensinae Thaxt., Stigmatomyces cf. ephydrae L. Mercier et R. A. Poiss., Stigmatomycesgeomyzae W. Rossi et Cesari, Stigmatomyces limnophorae Thaxt., Stigmatomyces majewskii H. L. Dainat, Manier et Balazuc, Stigmatomyces papuanus Thaxt., Stigmatomycesplatensis Speg., Stigmatomyces ptylomyiae Thaxt. and Stigmatomyces purpureus Thaxt., Stigmatomyces rugosus Thaxt. New records of these species are also reported from Australia, Canada, Canary Islands (Spain), Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Kenya, Hungary, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, USA, Yemen and Zimbabwe. The new records increase, sometimes considerably, information about distribution of these parasites. Two synonymies are also established: Stigmatomyces autriquei Balazuc = Stigmatomyces ensinae Thaxt.; Stigmatomyces psilopae Thaxt. var. camarguensis H. L. Dainat et J. Dainat = S. rugosus Thaxt.     

Assunzione di Fosforo32 da Parte di Cuscuta Epithymum Parassita di Trifolium Repens

Abstract

Uptake of Phosporus-P³² by CUSCUTA EPITHYMUM parasitic of TRIFOLIUM REPENS. — Filaments of C. epithymum, parasitic on T. repens, partially immersed in a solution containing KH₂P³²O₄, uptake from the host solely, or mainly, radioactive ortophosphate. Radioactive hexose phosphates and radioactive nucleotides present in the extracts prepared from C. epithymum, appear to be the result of the metabolization by the dodder of the orthophosphate uptaken from the host.     

New and interesting Laboulbeniales parasitic on Brazilian Diptera

Three new Laboulbeniales occurring on Brazilian Diptera are described. These are Stigmatomyces cearensis, parasitic on Guttipsilopa (Nesopsilopa) stonei (Mathis & Wirth) (Ephydridae); Stigmatmyces gratiellae, parasitic on Cressonomyia meridionalis (Cresson) (Ephydridae); and Stigmatomyces litoralis, parasitic on Glenanthe caribea Mathis and Paraglenanthe bahamensis Wirth (both Ephydridae). Fifteen other dipterophilous Laboulbeniales are reported for the first time from Brazil. The synonomy between Stigmatomyces notiphilae Thaxt. and S. leucophengae Thaxt. also is proposed.     

La distribuzione dell'acido l-ascorbico nelle foglie di piante officinali italiane. Aspetti quantitativi e tassonomici

Abstract

Distribution of l-ascorbic acid in leaves of Italian officinal plants. Quantitative and taxonomic aspects.—Fresh samples of 119 Italian officinal plants belonging to 41 families of Angiosperme were assayed for l-ascorbic acid content.

Estimation of data as reported by Seybold and Mehner indicates that relatively high contents are generally found among the Rosaceae, while low amounts are usual within Asteraceae. However, species with leaves rich in l-ascorbic acid may be found at widely different places of the taxonomic system.

Since the vitamin C is widespread in the plant kingdom it has been recommended the indication of the exact amount of vitamin C when a plant is reported as antiscorbutic.

Finally the knowledge of families whose species more frequently show large amounts of vitamin C may facilitate researches of edible wild plants with high content of vitamin C.     

I piani di vegetazione in Italia

Abstract

Vertical zonation of vegetation in Italy. – A revision of the scientific terms used by Italian botanists for the vertical zonation of vegetation reveals some inconsistencies and allows to propose an alignement with the nomenclature used in English and proposed already during the International Botanical Congress of 1910: Belt (ital.: fascia) for the topographical zonation and zone (ital.: zona) for the geographical zonation. Italy belongs to two zones: the mediterranean and the medioeuropean one. A scheme of vegetation belts in both of the zones is proposed. The indications subalpine and montane are substituted by boreal and subatlantic.     

Alcune Stazioni di Taxus Baccata L. Nel Gruppo del M. Fumaiolo

Summary

The Author gives details of the station of the jew-tree (Taxvs baccata L.) identified in the region of Mount Fumaiolo. He draws attention to the importance of such findings, allied to what is already known, to the study of plant geography in the Italian peninsula, extending the hope that the caracteristic coniferous pine, rightly considered as a survingin from former times, would be protected, where it grows spontaneously, as evidence of Italian paleoclimatic conditions.     

Nuove Stazioni di Festuca Laxa Host in Territorio Italiano e Considerazioni Sistematiche Sulla Sua Indipendenza Da Festuca Dimorpha Guss

Abstract

New localities of «Festuca laxa» Host in the Italian territory and systematic considerations about its indipendence from «F. dimorpha» Guss. Some new localities of Festuca laxa are given for the Alps of Friuli (Northeastern Italy), which show that this species takes part also of Italian Flora. Until now it was known only for Austria and Jugoslavia. The paper furthermore deals with some anatomical differences in the leaf — structure of the two fescues, as to see in transections. F. laxa has normally 3 larger vascular bundles, which are wholly enclosed by T-shaped sclerenchyma and 4(8–9) smaller veins, where the sclerenchyma occurs only in the abaxial face of the blade. F. dimorpha on the contrary has 5 larger bundles and usually 6 smaller ones. The number of the secondary veins depends in both cases on the various sizes of the leaves. Also the cenotic and ecological behaviour of F. laxa is shortly illustrated on the basis of two phytosociological records.     

Residui di Leccete pure e miste sulla Murgia di Putignano

Summary

Purpose of this paper is to point out the residues of Quercus Ilex woods in the hilly region of Murgia di Putignano (Puglia) which lies inside the distribution area of Q. trojana, now the main wood-forming tree-species of this territory.

Fourteen different small Q. Ilex stands are mentioned, as marked on alleged map. One of them (n° 1 on the map) has been more carefully studied through a whole year, and all plants growing in it have been collected.     

Effetti del cobalto,nichel e cromo sulla germinazione di Alyssum,durante il ciclo di postmaturazione e invecchiamento

Abstract

Cobalt, nickel and chromium effects on germination of Alyssum, during after-ripening and aging. Cobalt (2.5–20mM), nickel (2.5–25mM) and chromium (0.2-1mM) effects have been studied in seeds of three species of Alyssum, of which two, A. bertolonii and A. argenteum, endemics to serpentine soils and one, A. nebrodense, closely related to the others but endemic to the Madonie (Sicily) where it grows on limestone.

The results, expressed as percentage of germinated seeds (p), Kotowski coefficient of velocity (v) and germination average ratio (pτ), have been subjected to statistical analysis.

The effect per mM is generally inhibitory, not significant for cobalt, weak but significant for nickel, more marked and significant for chromium, linearly correlated to concentration. The inhibition reaches its highest level when seeds are ripe, being significantly related to the control germination capacity (pτ).

The values of the specific inhibition (effect/mM modditppτ) for all the three species are higher for chromium, which is more toxic than nickel, and increase from A. nebrodense to A. argenteum, showing that of the two serpentine endemics A. bertolonii is more tolerant both to nickel and chromium.     

Cambrian Acritarchs from the Col di Foglia (Agordo) southalpine metamorphic basement, Italian Eastern Alps: the oldest biostratigraphic record in the alps

Abstract  The Lower Palaeozoic biostratigraphic records in the Alps are briefly reviewed and the result of a new study of the acritarch assemblage found by Sassi et al. (1984) in the greenschist facies black metapelites of the Southalpine metamorphic basement at Col di Foglia, and studied by Kalvacheva et al. (1986), is presented. The new  taxonomic and biostratigraphic study indicates a late Cambrian age, which is the oldest unquestionable, recently assessed, biostratigraphic dating of the entire Alps, as well as of the Italian peninsular. Keywords Alps, Southalpine metamorphic basement, Eastern Alps, Agordo, Acritarchs, Cambrian Subject codes: G17002     

Note critiche sulla flora d'Italia. II. Il gruppo di Minuartia verna

Abstract

Critical notes on the flora of Italy. II. The Minuartia verna group. The following paper contains a re-examination of the Minuartia verna–complex in Italy based on a revision of herbarium-specimens and observations in nature. The author proposes to divide this polymorphic species into 4 subspecies. Two of them (subsp. verna and subsp. collina) are largely corresponding to the opinion of earlier authors. The subsp. attica is also represented in the flora of Southern Italy, but Italian populations are slightly different from those of Greece (which must be regarded as typical). The subsp. grandiflora living in a small area in Sicily, which was incompletely known, is described and its relations to the other subspecies are discussed.     

New Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota) parasitic on Staphylinidae from Ecuador

Nine new species of Laboulbeniales parasitic on Staphylinidae from Ecuador are described and illustrated. These are: Corethromyces palumboi, parasitic on Sepedophilus sp. (Tachyporinae); Diandromyces onorei, parasitic on Hypotelus sp. (Piestinae); Dimeromyces osellae, parasitic on Plesiomalota cotopaxiensis Pace (Aleocharinae); Dimorphomyces carolinae, parasitic on Parosus sp. (Oxytelinae); Kleidiomyces ambiguus, parasitic on Anotylus sp. (Oxytelinae); Mimeomyces gregarius, parasitic on Philonthus sp. (Staphylininae); Monoicomyces trogacti, parasitic on Trogactus sp. (Oxytelinae); Scaphidiomyces pusillus, parasitic on Baeocera sp. (Scaphidiinae); and Teratomyces heterothopsis, parasitic on Heterothops sp. (Staphylininae).     

Identificazione di alcuni lieviti isolati da pasta di legno

Summary Several species of yeasts isolated from wood-pulp used for paper manufacture were studied. A few species were previously found also as parasitic of men; one (Mycotorula mucinosa) is new for the science.     

The relationship between aphid infestations and oviposition by aphidophagous Syrphidae (Diptera)

Oviposition by aphidophagous Syrphidae varies with the size of aphid infestations and different syrphid species have different optimum aphid population sizes for oviposition. In one experiment using potted brussels sprout plants infested with Brevicoryne brassicae L., Platycheirus manicatus (Meig.) preferred about 100 aphids per plant, P. scutatus (Meig.) about 1000 aphids per plant and Syrphus ribesii (L.) about 2000 aphids per plant. These preferences were less clear in certain Platycheirus species (e.g. P. peltatus (Meig.)), than in Syrphus species (e.g. S. luniger Meig.). Once a plant has been selected for oviposition there may still be selection of suitable colonies on that plant. For a given aphid population, S. luniger preferred a small number of large aggregates to a larger number of smaller ones, whereas S. balteatus (Deg.) preferred the opposite. The tendency of the different species to select aphid populations of different sizes and distributions is likely to decrease interspecific competition.     

La flora e le associazioni algali della Sorgente di Salomone (Anterselva,Bolzano). Facies estiva

Abstract

The flora and algal associations of Salomon's spring (Anterselva, Bolzano). Summer facies. – Salomon's spring is situated in Anterselva valley (Bolzano), a characteristic valley of a glacial escavation, having a typical profile formed like a « U » and a wide peat-bog on the bottom. The source springs at 1100 mts above the sea-level from a zone of waste-layer formed by fragments of metamorphic rocks (ortogneiss). Then it gives birth to a small pool from which the water flows very slowly forming a little stream. The spring has a plentiful algal flora rich of species (66, including the varieties too) belonging to the following classes: Cyanophyceae (12), Xanthophyceae (4), Bacillariophyceae (38), Euchlorophyceae (8), Ulothricophyceae (3), Zygophyceae (1).

In the spring are described the following algal associations:

–Diatometum hiemalis, that forms many brown-reddish little flocks on the borders and in the anfractures of the big stones that occupy the source;

–Diatometum hiemalis subass. ceratoneietosum, formed by gelatinous little masses amoung the stalks of some phanerogams forming floating clods at the surface of the spring;

–Melosiretum italicae, the most developed association of the spring, looking like wide islets floating on the surface and filamentous drapings fixed at the stones;

–Homoeothriceto-Chamaesiphonetum, which forms wide blue-coloured casings on many submerged stones;

–Phormidietum membranaceum (Fjerdingstad, 1950, Douglas, 1958; Phormidium community, Fritsch, 1929; Fjerdingstad, 1964), that forms many thick mucous blue-green coloured coats on some of the submerged stones.     

New species of Stigmatomyces from various continents

Four new species of Stigmatomyces (Ascomycetes, Laboulbeniales, Stigmatomycetinae) parasitic on flies (Diptera) are described. These are S. benjaminii, parasitic on Spilochroa polita (Trixoscelididae) from Mexico, S. munarii, parasitic on Trixoscelis namibensis (Trixoscelididae) from Namibia, S. neurochaetae parasitic on Neurochaeta parviceps (Neurochaetidae) from Malaysia, and S. zaleae, parasitic on Zalea spp. (Tethinidae) from Australia. Both Trixoscelididae and Neurochaetidae are new host families for Laboulbeniales.     

Microfunghi del suolo di aree floristicamente omogenee di tre cenosi boschive delle Prealpi bellunesi

Abstract

Soil microfungi in homogeneous areas of three plant communities of North Italy.—The soil microfungi associated with three different community types in Prealpine region of North Italy were investigated. Frequency values for the taxonomic entities isolated were calculated, based on occurrence at sampling sites, in each community. Most of the entities were quantitatively rare. The microfungal communities associated with Acer pseudoplatanus and Fraxinus excelsior, with Ostrya carpinifolia and with Fagus sylvatica appeared to be a distinctive group, even if many of them contained a substantial number of species wich are common with other vegetation types.