荔枝异形小卷蛾的人工饲料配方及其效果分析

【目的】为开发一种适用于荔枝异形小卷蛾Cryptophlebia ombrodelta(Lower)的人工饲料,探讨饲喂添加寄主格木ErythrophleumfordiiOliver枝粉和叶粉的人工饲料对荔枝异形小卷蛾生长发育的影响。【方法】以混合饲料为营养基础,特别添加荔枝异形小卷蛾喜好寄主植物格木的枝粉和叶粉配置人工饲料,并对饲养效果进行比较。【结果】5种饲料配方饲养荔枝异形小卷蛾,其均能完成世代发育。5种饲料配方对荔枝异形小卷蛾的幼虫发育历期、幼虫存活率、化蛹率、蛹重、羽化率、成虫寿命和产卵量均有显著(P0.05)或极显著(P0.01)影响,对蛹历期影响不显著(P0.05)。相关分析表明,幼虫发育历期越短越有利于其后各阶段发育,且可提高存活率和产卵量、缩短世代发育历期。从配方组分比较饲养效果发现,添加格木枝粉优于格木叶粉,添加番茄酱优于荔枝酱。饲喂添加格木枝粉和番茄酱的成活率和产卵量显著高于饲喂添加格木叶粉和荔枝酱配方Ⅲ和饲喂添加荔枝酱的配方Ⅴ,分别提高107.58%和27.21%、48.26%和15.88%。【结论】添加格木枝粉的人工饲料对荔枝异形小卷蛾的饲养效果最佳,且材料来源不受时间、地点限制,有助于人工饲养并开展生物学和生态学研究。     

湿度对三角新小卷蛾实验种群生长的影响

在相对湿度(RH)为55%、65%、75%、85%和95%条件下,观察湿度对三角新小卷蛾Olethreutes leucaspis Meyrick各虫态生长、发育及存活的影响,组建三角新小卷蛾实验种群生命表。结果表明:在RH为55%-95%条件下,三角新小卷蛾卵、幼虫、蛹和世代的发育历期在RH为85%时最短,发育历期分别为1.67、12.46、7.67和25.42 d。高湿条件下卵、幼虫和蛹的存活率较高。三角新小卷蛾各虫态发育历期、存活率与相对湿度呈抛物线关系。在RH为55%-95%条件下该虫内禀增长力(rm)均大于0,种群趋势指数(I)均大于1,该虫种群呈增长趋势。三角新小卷蛾发育适宜的RH为75%。     

温度对以白茶为寄主的米缟螟生长发育的影响

为探明温度对以白茶为寄主植物的产虫茶昆虫米缟螟生长发育的影响,分别设置5个温度条件(31、28、25、22、19℃),研究温度对米缟螟各虫态平均发育历期、发育速率和存活率的影响,计算各虫态发育起点温度和有效积温.结果表明:温度对米缟螟各虫态平均发育历期影响显著,除卵的发育历期随温度的升高而缩短外,幼虫、蛹及未成熟期的发育历期均在25℃达到最小值,分别为(249.53±23.83)d、(12.94±1.27)d和(273.00±24.19)d;除蛹外米缟螟各虫态发育速率与温度呈极显著相关,其中卵的发育速率与温度呈线性相关,幼虫、蛹和未成熟期则呈抛物线相关;温度显著影响各虫态存活率,卵、幼虫、蛹及未成熟期各虫态存活率均在25℃最高,分别为94.0％、73.8％、91.3％和63.4％,22和19℃次之,31℃最低;幼虫及蛹存活率在31℃均为0,表明米缟螟不耐高温;卵、幼虫、蛹及未成熟期的发育起点温度分别为13.21、17.12、14.76和16.47℃,有效积温分别为117.94、870.88、149.70和1442.75日·度.研究结果与米缟螟在贵州息烽地区一年发生2至3代的事实大致相符.     

桃小食心虫的发育起点温度和有效积温

在17～29℃、RH80%±7%和光周期L:D=15:9的条件下,测定了桃小食心虫Carposina sasakii Matsumura各虫态的发育历期,计算了桃小食心虫卵、幼虫、蛹和全世代的发育起点温度和有效积温。结果表明,各虫态的发育历期随着温度的升高而缩短,各虫态的发育速率与温度之间具有良好的线性关系。桃小食心虫卵、幼虫、结茧前期、蛹及生殖前期的发育起点温度分别为10.02、9.44、10.58、10.09和9.51℃,有效积温分别为87.3、238.6、10.7、156.9和31.6日·度,全世代的发育起点温度和有效积温分别为9.22℃和543.2日·度。     

南亚果实蝇各虫态发育历期及有效积温研究

【背景】南亚果实蝇是世界性的检疫性害虫,在我国多个省市发生为害,对瓜果作物造成了严重的经济损失。【方法】采用人工恒温饲养方法,分别设置10、14、18、22、26、30、34℃7个恒温条件,测定不同温度条件下南亚果实蝇卵、幼虫和蛹的生长发育历期,并推算出相应的发育起点温度和有效积温。【结果】南亚果实蝇卵、幼虫和蛹的发育起点温度分别为7．36、2．43、7．64℃,卵期、幼虫期和蛹期的有效积温分别为20．21、187．69和156．65日度。完成整个世代的发育起点温度是7．64℃,有效积温为364．55日度。当温度达到34℃时,卵的发育历期相对延长,而蛹则不能正常发育,无法羽化为成虫。【结论与意义】在10～30℃,南亚果实蝇的卵、幼虫和蛹的发育历期随温度升高而缩短,各虫态的发育速率和温度呈显著正相关;在26和30℃下,卵、幼虫和蛹的发育历期均显著短于其他各处理温度的发育历期。该试验结果为了解南亚果实蝇的发育温度极限和进一步开展该害虫的适生性分析提供了基础信息,进而为制定该虫的检疫措施提供依据。     

温度对桃蛀螟生长发育和繁殖的影响

为了明确温度对桃蛀螟Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée)生长发育和繁殖的影响, 本实验在恒温条件（15, 19, 23, 27和31℃共5个温度梯度）下, 以板栗为寄主食料, 研究了温度对桃蛀螟实验种群生长发育和繁殖的影响。结果表明： 温度对桃蛀螟各虫态的发育历期、 存活率、 蛹重以及种群繁殖力有显著影响。在15~27℃范围内, 各虫态的发育历期均随温度的升高而缩短, 发育速率与温度呈显著正相关。但是, 当温度上升至31℃时, 幼虫生长发育受到抑制, 其发育历期比27℃时延长了1.11 d, 而卵期、 蛹期和产卵前期仍符合随温度升高趋于缩短的趋势。此外, 15℃下桃蛀螟5龄幼虫发育停滞, 表明老熟幼虫的发育起点温度高于其他低龄幼虫。桃蛀螟世代存活率随环境温度变化的大小顺序为23℃>27℃>19℃>31℃, 其中, 23~27℃的存活率较高, 为54.44%~63.56%, 31℃时为4.30%, 说明温度过高或过低均不利于其生长发育。成虫产卵量在23℃时最高, 单雌平均产卵量达55.00粒, 其次为19℃和27℃, 单雌平均产卵量分别为43.30和39.70粒; 31℃下产卵量最少, 仅为20.90粒。由直接最优法计算得到桃蛀螟卵期、 幼虫期、 蛹期、 产卵前期及全世代的发育起点温度分别为10.37, 10.06, 14.27, 7.47和11.85℃, 有效积温依次为70.84, 287.71, 118.42, 58.33和509.06日度。研究结果为桃蛀螟发生期的预测预报提供了基础参考数据, 对指导生产实践有实际的应用意义。     

不同变温组合条件下二点委夜蛾的生长发育

【目的】为明确变温条件对二点委夜蛾Athetis lepigone (Möschler) 实验种群生长发育的影响。【方法】分别设置6个变温组合（20/24℃, 20/28℃, 20/32℃, 24/28℃, 24/32℃和28/32℃）,通过测定和计算各虫态发育起点温度和有效积温及生命表参数来研究变温对二点委夜蛾卵、幼虫、蛹、世代平均发育历期、存活率和繁殖力的影响。【结果】不同变温组合对二点委夜蛾各虫态的发育历期、存活率及种群繁殖力有显著影响。发育历期随着变温组合平均温度的升高而缩短,二点委夜蛾世代存活率由大到小的顺序为24/28℃>20/32℃>28/32℃>20/28℃>24/32℃>20/24℃。24/28℃时产卵量最高,单雌产卵量为390.70粒。世代发育起点温度和有效积温分别为10.37℃和663.17日·度。在不同变温组合下内禀增长率r_m值随着平均温度的升高先上升后降低。在24/28℃时,二点委夜蛾r_m、净增殖率R₀和周限增长率λ最大,种群加倍时间 t 和世代平均周期 T 最小。【结论】24/28℃是二点委夜蛾实验种群生长发育及繁殖的最适变温组合,本研究结果为二点委夜蛾的预测预报及综合防治提供了科学依据。     

温度对草小卷蛾发育的影响及其实验种群生命表

【目的】研究温度对草小卷蛾Celypha flavipalpana Herrich-Schaffer种群动态和繁殖情况的影响。【方法】本研究在不同条件下(20~32℃,16L︰8D,RH=70%~80%)对草小卷蛾的发育起点温度和有效积温进行系统研究,并于26℃下建立实验种群生命表和生殖力表。【结果】经统计分析,其卵、幼虫、蛹、成虫及全世代的发育起点温度(℃)分别为14.30±2.43、6.45±1.57、11.01±1.78、12.40±2.7和9.48±2.19,有效积温(日·度)分别为45.05±8.88、492.01±42.48、107.53±13.63、65.51±12.39和671.86±94.19;实验种群趋势指数I>1,次代种群数量呈12.13倍趋势增长,净增值率R0=15.85,世代平均周期T=39.99,内禀增长率rm=0.0691,周限增长速率λ=1.0715,种群倍增时间t=10.0331。【结论】在20~28℃,草小卷蛾各虫态发育历期随着温度的升高而逐渐缩短,32℃下幼虫期和蛹期发育速率减慢,部分幼虫出现休眠状态;26℃下次代实验种群数量呈增长趋势。     

温度对香蕉花蓟马发育和存活的影响

通过在人工气候箱内饲养香蕉花蓟马,测定了14、18、22、26℃和30℃5个温度下香蕉花蓟马不同虫态的发育历期,分析了温度与香蕉花蓟马发育速率的关系,计算了其发育起点温度、有效积温及存活率。结果表明:香蕉花蓟马各虫态的发育历期随温度的升高而缩短,发育速率和温度之间有很大的相关性;香蕉花蓟马卵、一龄若虫、二龄若虫、预蛹、蛹及世代的发育起点温度分别为8.26、10.56、7.92、9.17、9.53、8.69℃,世代的有效积温为153.81d·℃。26℃下香蕉花蓟马的世代存活率最高,为63.16%;30℃下的存活率最低,为46.34%。     

温度对沙蒿金叶甲生长发育和繁殖的影响

为了明确温度对沙蒿金叶甲Chrysolina aeruginosa Faldermann生长发育和繁殖的影响, 本实验在恒温条件（13, 18, 23, 28和33℃）下, 以白沙蒿Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch为寄主植物, 研究了温度对沙蒿金叶甲实验种群生长发育和繁殖的影响。结果表明： 温度对沙蒿金叶甲各虫态的发育历期、 存活率以及种群繁殖力有显著影响。在13～28℃范围内, 各虫态的发育历期均随温度的升高而缩短, 发育速率与温度呈显著正相关。但是, 当温度上升至33℃时, 幼虫和蛹生长发育受到抑制, 其幼虫发育历期与18℃, 23℃和28℃下相比延长并达到了显著差异水平(P<0.05), 成虫不能羽化出土; 低温影响沙蒿金叶甲卵的存活率, 高温影响其蛹的存活率, 说明温度过高或过低均不利于沙蒿金叶甲的生长发育。成虫产卵量随环境温度变化的大小顺序为28℃＞23℃＞18℃＞13℃, 并存在极显著差异(P<0.01)。由直接最优法计算得到沙蒿金叶甲卵期、 1-3龄幼虫期、 4龄幼虫+蛹期的发育起点温度分别为9.72℃, 7.11℃和8.77℃, 有效积温依次为115.36, 441.91和448.40日·度。研究结果为沙蒿金叶甲发生期的预测预报提供了基础参考数据, 对指导生产实践有实际的应用意义。     

Recognition of heterospecific parasitism: Competition between Aphidiid (Aphidius ervi) and Aphelinid (Aphelinus asychis) parasitoids of Aphids (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae; Aphelinidae)

The solitary parasitoids Aphidius erviHaliday (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) and Aphelinus asychisWalker (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) attacked but generally did not oviposit in pea aphids parasitized by the other species. Wasps selectively oviposited in unparasitized hosts when given a choice. Host discrimination depended on the recognition of internal cues. Females of A. asychiseither could not recognize or ignored A. ervi'sexternal host marking pheromone. Under most conditions, A. ervisurvived in superparasitized hosts, killing competing A. asychislarvae by physical attack and possibly physiological suppression. The outcome of larval competition was not affected by oviposition sequence or age difference between larvae; A. asychissurvived only when it had substantially completed larval development before the host was superparasitized by A. ervi.It is suggested that competition for host resources incurs a cost, for the winner in terms of reduced size or increased development time and for the loser in terms of lost progeny and searching time. Consequently, heterospecific host discrimination can be functional. Internal, and probably general, cues enable wasps to recognize and avoid oviposition in hosts already parasitized by an unrelated species.     

Heterostyly in species ofNarcissus (Amaryllidaceae) andHugonia (Linaceae) and other disputed cases

The hypothesis ofHenriques andFernandes that several Iberian species ofNarcissus (Amaryllidaceae) are tristylous is reconsidered. Contrary to the opinion ofBateman and most subsequent authors, we believe that the available evidence indicates that some populations ofN. triandrus andN. fernandesii, at least, are tristylous; other populations ofN. triandrus are distylous.Hugonia cf.penicillanthemum (Linaceae) from new Caledonia is distylous, but it remains possible that other species ofHugonia are tristylous. The disputed occurrence of heterostyly in S. African species ofBauhinia (Leguminosae),Cleome (Capparaceae) andAneilema (Commelinaceae), and inAgelaea (Connaraceae) is discussed.     

New records of the carabidicolous Laboulbeniales (Ascomycetes) of Japan (II)

Six carabidicolous species of Laboulbeniales are reported as new for the Japanese mycoflora. They areLaboulbenia finitima, L. separata, L. borneensis, L. manubriolata, Dimeromyces caribaeus, andDixomyces ornatus. In Japan, the former three species are parasitic onMochtherus luctuosus and the latter three species onPerigona nigriceps. Laboulbenia finitima occurs on the left legs (tarsi and tibiae);L. separata on the left elytral margin:L. borneensis on the pronotum;L. manubriolata on the pronotum and elytra;Dimeromyces caribaeus on the right inferior posterior surface of the prothorax (pronotal hypomeron); andDixomyces ornatus on the outer margin of the right elytron. Comments and photographs are given for each fungus.     

Generic delimitation of Aralia (Araliaceae)

Aralia, described by Linnaeus, remains a poorly defined genus. Many satellite genera ofAralia have been proposed, and some have been accepted without critical evaluation. These genera includeCoudenbergia, Megalopanax, Parapentapanax, andPentapanax. This study examined the historical background of the establishment of these genera and their diagnostic characters. It was found that (1)Aralia s. str. is a relatively diverse genus; (2) the separation ofPentapanax andParapentapanax fromAralia is unsubstantiated; (3)Megalopanax is synonymous withCoudenbergia; and (4) the boundaries betweenAralia and bothCoudenbergia andPentapanax intergrade. It is proposed, therefore, to mergeCoudenbergia, Parapentapanax, andPentapanax withAralia, which has nomenclatural priority.Aralia is herein defined as consisting of those species in Araliaceae with pinnate leaves, articulated rachises, five to eight-merous flowers, petals imbricate in buds, and articulated pedicels. The revised generic concept requires the following new combinations or new names:Aralia castanopsisicola, A. franchetti, A. gigantea, A. laevis, A. leschenaultii, A. parasitica, A. rex, A. subcordata, A. verticillata, andA. warmingiana.     

The Bionomics ofCoptera Haywardi(Ogloblin) (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) and Other Pupal Parasitoids of Tephritid Fruit Flies (Diptera)

The endoparasitoidCoptera haywardi(Ogloblin) (Diapriidae) was discovered in Mexico attacking the pupae of the Mexican fruit fly,Anastrepha ludens(Loew). Typically, parasitoids of Diptera Cychlorrhapha pupae develop as ectoparasitoids and are generalists that attack hosts in a number of families. Aspects of the bionomics ofC. haywardiwere compared to those of two chalcidoid ectoparasitoids,Dirhinus himalayanusWestwood andSpalangia geminaBoucek.C. haywardideveloped in three genera of Tephritidae, but not in species of other families. The two species of chalcidoids developed in all the calypterate and acalypterate hosts to which they were exposed. In an olfactometerC. haywardipreferredAnastrepha suspensa(Loew) pupae, while the chalcidoids preferred the pupae ofMusca domestica L.This preference inS. geminawas diminished in insects that had been reared onA. suspensa. C. haywardioviposited in theA. suspensapupae that had been previously parasitized by the braconidDiachasmimorpha longicaudata(Ashmead). However, it completed development only in unparasitized pupae. Mortality of the primary parasitoid due toD. himalayanuswas approximately two-thirds the mortality inflicted on the host fly.S. geminadid not discriminate between parasitized and unparasitized pupae ofA. suspensaand developed in both.C. haywardiappears to have a more restricted host range relative to chalcidoid pupal parasitoids and this may be due to its endoparasitic development.     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Phylogeny and Megasystematics of Phagotrophic Heterokonts (Kingdom Chromista)

Heterokonts are evolutionarily important as the most nutritionally diverse eukaryote supergroup and the most species-rich branch of the eukaryotic kingdom Chromista. Ancestrally photosynthetic/phagotrophic algae (mixotrophs), they include several ecologically important purely heterotrophic lineages, all grossly understudied phylogenetically and of uncertain relationships. We sequenced 18S rRNA genes from 14 phagotrophic non-photosynthetic heterokonts and a probable Ochromonas, performed phylogenetic analysis of 210–430 Heterokonta, and revised higher classification of Heterokonta and its three phyla: the predominantly photosynthetic Ochrophyta; the non-photosynthetic Pseudofungi; and Bigyra (now comprising subphyla Opalozoa, Bicoecia, Sagenista). The deepest heterokont divergence is apparently between Bigyra, as revised here, and Ochrophyta/Pseudofungi. We found a third universal heterokont signature sequence, and deduce three independent losses of ciliary hairs, several of 1-2 cilia, 10 of photosynthesis, but perhaps only two plastid losses. In Ochrophyta, heterotrophic Oikomonas is sister to the photosynthetic Chrysamoeba, whilst the abundant freshwater predator Spumella is biphyletic; neither clade is specifically related to Paraphysomonas, indicating four losses of photosynthesis by chrysomonads. Sister to Chrysomonadea (Chrysophyceae) is Picophagea cl. nov. (Picophagus, Chlamydomyxa). The diatom-parasite Pirsonia belongs in Pseudofungi. Heliozoan-like actinophryids (e.g. Actinosphaerium) are Opalozoa, not related to pedinellids within Hypogyristea cl. nov. of Ochrophyta as once thought. The zooflagellate class Bicoecea (perhaps the ancestral phenotype of Bigyra) is unexpectedly diverse and a major focus of our study. We describe four new biciliate bicoecean genera and five new species: Nerada mexicana, Labromonas fenchelii (=Pseudobodo tremulans sensu Fenchel), Boroka karpovii (=P. tremulans sensu Karpov), Anoeca atlantica and Cafeteria mylnikovii; several cultures were previously misidentified as Pseudobodo tremulans. Nerada and the uniciliate Paramonas are related to Siluania and Adriamonas; this clade (Pseudodendromonadales emend.) is probably sister to Bicosoeca. Genetically diverse Caecitellus is probably related to Anoeca, Symbiomonas and Cafeteria (collectively Anoecales emend.). Boroka is sister to Pseudodendromonadales/Bicoecales/Anoecales. Placidiales are probably divergent bicoeceans (the GenBank Placidia sequence is a basidiomycete/heterokont chimaera). Two GenBank ‘opalinid’ sequences are fungal; Pseudopirsonia is cercozoan; two previous GenBank ‘Caecitellus’ sequences are Adriamonas. Electronic Supplementary Material Electronic Supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users. [Reviewing Editior: Patnck J. Keeling]     

Systematic study ofOsbertia (Asteraceae-Astereae)

Osbertia, a stoloniferous group confined to the montane regions of Mexico and adjacent Guatemala, was first proposed as a genus byGreene (1895), but most workers have retained the taxon as part ofHaplopappus. It is clearly closer toNoticastrum, Erigeron orHeterotheca than it is toHaplopappus sensu stricto. The present treatment recognizes two species, a widespread highly variableOsbertia stolonifera and a newly describedO. chihuahuana from northwestern Mexico. Distribution maps, distinguishing features, full synonymy and illustrations are presented.     

Demographic characteristics of an intertidal bay goby (Lepidogobius lepidus)

Synopsis In a fourteen month study (May 1976 – June 1977) I examined the following characteristics of an intertidal bay goby (Lepidogobius lepidus) in Morro Bay, California, U.S.A.: annual and seasonal patterns of abundance, age composition and growth rates, survivorship and mortality patterns, and the reproductive cycle for female gobies. Fishes were collected with the aid of quinaldine and otoliths and ovaries removed. Age and growth rates were estimated from otolith annuli using a back calculation formula and a Brody-Bertalanffy growth curve. Mortality rates were derived using the methods of Heincke (1913), Robson & Chapman (1960), mean age, and a catch curve (Ricker 1975). A gonad index was used to describe the annual reproductive cycle. Results indicated that abundance fluctuated seasonally and that these fluctuations appeared to be caused by reproductive emigrations. Bay gobies reached an age of 7+ and a standard length of 87 mm. Growth was relatively constant (6 mm yr⁻¹) until age 5, at which point it began to decline. The mean rates of survivorship, mortality, and instantaneous mortality were 0.75, 0.25, and 0.29 respectively. Mortality rates for individual age classes ranged from 0.13 to 0.51 and increased with age. This stock appears to reproduce mainly during the winter.     

ThechlL (frxC) gene: Phylogenetic distribution in vascular plants and DNA sequence fromPolystichum acrostichoides (Pteridophyta) andSynechococcus sp. 7002 (Cyanobacteria)

We examinedchlL (frxC) gene evolution using several approaches. Sequences from the chloroplast genome of the fernPolystichum acrostichoides and from the cyanobacteriumSynechococcus sp. 7002 were determined and found to be highly conserved. A complete physical map of the fern chloroplast genome and partial maps of other vascular plant taxa show thatchlL is located primarily in the small single copy region as inMarchantia polymorpha. A survey of a wide variety of non-angiospermous vascular plant DNAs shows thatchlL is widely distributed but has been lost in the pteridophytePsilotum and (presumably independently) within the Gnetalean gymnosperms.The namefrxC was originally used to denote a gene encoding a product with probable Fe : S cluster binding activity. This activity was postulated due to the amino acid sequence similarity between this product and the Fe : S-binding nitrogenase iron proteinnifH. Fe : S-binding is a property shared by ferredoxins, which are denoted by the prefix frx. However, this gene does not encode a ferredoxin. It is much larger than any known ferredoxin, it binds its Fe : S cluster between two halves of a homodimer (Fujita & al. 1989,Burke & al. 1993 a, c) instead of within a single subunit, and it lacks the pattern of clustered cysteines present in all ferredoxins (Meyer 1988). Therefore, we use the namechlL to recognize the sequence and functional similarities to the bacterial PChlide reductase subunit,bchL. Similar usage has been adopted for this (Suzuki & Bauer 1992) and other (Choquet & al. 1992,Burke & al. 1993b) PChlide reductase subunits.