AN INTEGRATIVE TEST OF THE DEAD‐END HYPOTHESIS OF SELFING EVOLUTION IN TRITICEAE (POACEAE)

Self‐fertilization is hypothesized to be an evolutionary dead end because reversion to outcrossing can rarely happen, and selfing lineages are thought to rapidly become extinct because of limited potential for adaptation and/or accumulation of deleterious mutations. We tested these two assumptions by combining morphological characters and molecular‐evolution analyses in a tribe of hermaphroditic grasses (Triticeae). First, we determined the mating system of the 19 studied species. Then, we sequenced 27 protein‐coding loci and compared base composition and substitution patterns between selfers and outcrossers. We found that the evolution of the mating system is best described by a model including outcrossing‐to‐selfing transitions only. At the molecular level, we showed that regions of low recombination exhibit signatures of relaxed selection. However, we did not detect any evidence of accumulation of nonsynonymous substitutions in selfers compared to outcrossers. Additionally, we tested for the potential deleterious effects of GC‐biased gene conversion in outcrossing species. We found that recombination and not the mating system affected substitution patterns and base composition. We suggest that, in Triticeae, although recombination patterns have remained stable, selfing lineages are of recent origin and inbreeding may have persisted for insufficient time for differences between the two mating systems to evolve.     

THE GENOME ORIGIN OF TETRAPLOID SPECIES OF LEYMUS (POACEAE: TRITICEAE) INFERRED FROM VARIATION IN REPEATED NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCES

To investigate the origin of the tetraploid species of Leymus Hochst., we examined variation in 26 repeated nucleotide sequence families isolated from four species of Triticeae. The genome relationships were determined by calculating repeated nucleotide sequence identity (RSI) between species. RSI is the ratio of the number of diagnostic bands (DBs) and diagnostic hybridization intensities (DIs) in Southern blots of a diploid taxon encountered in a polyploid species divided by the total number of the DBs and DIs of the diploid taxon (DB is a band in Southern blot observed in a single diploid taxon, and DI is the intensity of hybridization higher by at least one order of magnitude in a diploid taxon than in any other diploid taxon). The RSIs of Psathyrostachys Nevski with Leymus ranged from 0.92 to 0.95, which confirmed that the N genome of Psathyrostachys was involved in the phylogeny of Leymus. Since RSIs of other genera of Triticeae with Leymus varied from 0.00 to 0.17, it is unlikely that any of them contributed the second pair of Leymus genomes. RSIs were also calculated between Leymus and the lineage of Lophopyrum Löve-Thinopyrum Löve or the lineage of Lophopyrum-Thinopyrum-Pseudoroegneria (Nevski) Löve-Agropyron Gaertn. The RSIs were close to zero, which made it unlikely that the second pair of Leymus genomes originated from even an extinct species in these major lineages of Triticeae. Several lines of evidence were obtained that indicated that the second pair of Leymus genomes is also from Psalhyrostachys. The genomes of tetraploid species of Leymus were designated N₁N₁N₂N₂, rather than JJNN as proposed by other workers.     

AN EVALUATION OF BAUM ET AL.'S ASSESSMENT OF THE GENOMIC SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION IN THE TRITICEAE

We have critically evaluated Baum, Estes, and Gupta's (1987) assessment of the genomic system of classification in the tribe Triticeae. They have raised some valid concerns about basing a taxonomic classification on genome relationships. However, some of their objections are ill-founded. Baum et al.'s contention that genome analysis can only supplement other criteria in assessing phylogeny is inaccurate. Genome analysis by itself has yielded extremely useful information on phylogenetic relationships in the Triticeae, and their assertion that an individual morphological trait be given the same weight as genomic relatedness is not tenable. Moreover, these authors have adopted cladistic algorithms in the Triticeae, an analysis appropriate only in groups where reticulation has not occurred. Evolution in the Triticeae is highly reticulate, the main sources of reticulation being allopolyploidy and homoploid recombinational speciation.     

CYTOGENETIC STUDIES IN THE GENUS TRIBOLIUM (POACEAE: ARUNDINEAE)

The genus Tribolium Desv. consists of nine species, i.e., T. utriculosum (Nees) Renv., T. ciliare (Stapf) Renv., T. echinatum (Thunb.) Desv., T. hispidum (Thunb.) Desv., T. acutiflorum (Nees) Renv., T. obliterum sensu Davidse, T. glomeratum sensu Davidse, T. uniolae (L.f.) Renv., and T. brachystachyum (Nees) Renv. The genus has a basic chromosome number of 6, and from diploid to hexaploid specimens have been examined. Precocious segregation of metaphase I bivalents were observed in four species. Multivalent formation results in unequal chromosome segregation during anaphase I, and several cells with an 11–13 chromosome distribution have been observed. The presence of univalents and anaphase I bridges in all T. brachystachyum specimens suggests a hybrid origin for the species. B-chromosomes were present in specimens from four species. The B-chromosomes are similar to the euchromosomes with the exception that they do not participate in meiosis. The B-chromosomes have a possible isochromosome origin. The cytogenetic evidence presented supports the combination of Plagiochloa and Lasiochloa into Tribolium and indicates that the genus is closely related to Urochlaena, whereas it is not closely related to Prionanthium.     

TWO NEW GENERA OF BRAZILIAN BAMBOOS RELATED TO GUADUA (POACEAE: BAMBUSOIDEAE: BAMBUSEAE)

Of all the genera of woody bamboos described from America, only three have pseudospikelets—Atractantha, Elytrostachys, and Guadua. The former two have pseudospikelets with an elongated rachilla internode that precedes the floret, making it pedicellate; they also share a type of leaf anatomy that separates them from the latter. The two new genera herein described, Criciuma and Eremocaulon, show most similarity to species of Guadua, both in spikelet morphology and in leaf anatomy. The study of these new taxa has helped to clarify the limits of New World genera with pseudospikelets and strengthened the case for maintaining Guadua as a genus distinct from its Old World counterpart, Bambusa. We are now able to discern a New World line of bamboos that includes Criciuma, Eremocaulon, and Guadua, separate from an Old World line that includes Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, and several other genera.     

ROOT ANATOMY OF THE BAMBUSOIDEAE (POACEAE)

Root anatomy was examined for 15 species, in 6 of the 11 tribes of the Bambusoideae. Wide ranges of anatomical variation were found in epidermis, exodermis, cortex, endodermis, pericycle, phloem, xylem, and pith. Although roots of most species seem to resemble the Panicoid type, our study shows much more variation than was described by Goller (1977). These variations could play a role in characterizing taxa within tribes.     

POLLEN MORPHOLOGY IN THE GENERA MONTTEA AND MELOSPERMA (SCROPHULARIACEAE)

Pollen of the scrophulariaceous genera Melosperma and Monttea was studied with light and scanning electron microscopy. Both have single, radiosymmetric, isopolar, trizoniaperturate pollen grains with usually ruptured colpus membranes, tectate-perforate to semitectate exines with a columellate interstitium and pitted or perforate nexines. Intergeneric differences in pollen morphology are established based on the differential correlation of sculpturing characters. Comparisons of the pollen of Melosperma and Monttea with that of the tribe Minuleae sensu stricto reveals no difference in the case of Melosperma and the existence of intermediate morphologies and “reticulate” similarities in the case of Monttea; the taxonomic significance of this morphological intergradation is considered. The transfer of Oxycladus aphyllus to Monttea is consistent with the pollen evidence, but proposed affinities between Monttea and tribe Antonieae of the Loganiaceae are not supported.     

SITE-SPECIFIC SEED DORMANCY IN SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA (POACEAE)

Seed dormancy in Spartina alterniflora was studied with regard to: 1) the specific site of the dormancy mechanism, and 2) the influence of three growth-regulating substances: gibberellic acid, fusicoccin, and abscisic acid. The site of the mechanism was determined by assessing the germinability of surgically altered dormant seeds. Effects of the growth substances were determined by assessing the germinability of seeds incubated in their presence. Results revealed that dormancy could be broken surgically by altering the scutellum or chemically by applying fusicoccin. Dormancy could be restored by abscisic acid in the former case but not the latter. It is concluded that the dormancy mechanism is located in the scutellum, that it consists of at least two sequential steps, and that it involves a leachable chemical inhibitor.     

LEAF VASCULATURE IN BARLEY,HORDEUM VULGARE (POACEAE)

The vascular system of the Hordeum vulgare L. leaf consists of multiple longitudinal strands interconnected by transverse bundles. In any transverse section, the longitudinal strands can be categorized into three bundle types: small, intermediate, and large. Individual longitudinal strands intergrade structurally from one bundle type into another as they descend the leaf. At their distal ends, they have the anatomy of a small bundle. As they descend the leaf, most intergrade into intermediate bundle and then into large bundle types. All strands with large bundle anatomy extend basipetally into the stem. Typically, the other longitudinal strands, which do not intergrade structurally into large bundles, do not enter the sheath, but fuse with other longitudinal strands above the junction of the blade with the sheath. Despite the decrease in number of longitudinal bundles entering the sheath, an increase takes place in the total crosssectional area of sieve tubes and tracheary elements. A linear relationship exists between leaf width and total bundle number in the blade but not in the sheath. Moreover, a linear relationship exists between cross-sectional area of vascular bundles and both total and mean cross-sectional area of tracheary elements and thin-walled sieve tubes.     

TAXONOMIC COMMENTS ON THE EURYLAIMIDAE

On the basis of supposed differences in the shape of the spina externa of the sternum, the number of cervical vertebrae, the deep plantar tendons, the quadrato-jugal articulation, and the size of the hallux, the Eurylaimidae were put in a separate suborder, the Eurylaimi. All of these characters are now shown to be variable within the family or shared with other suboscine families. It is recommended that the subordinal designation “Eurylaimi” be abandoned and that the family be included in the suborder Tyranni. A number of characters point to the Cotingidae as the nearest possible extant relatives of the Eurylaimidae. The Eurylaimidae consist of a number of unrelated genera with several relict species, and probably represent the remains of an ancient, once more widespread group that became isolated and gave rise to the suboscine fauna in South America while being largely replaced by oscines in the Old World. Recognition of subfamilies within the Eurylaimidae is discouraged. Smitkornis should be considered the most advanced of the eurylaimids. The sequence of suboscine families is discussed and a rearrangement is suggested.     

樟科木姜子属群的起源与演化

论述了樟科木姜子属群的起源与演化,认为该属群起源于古北大陆南部和古南大陆北部,以及古地中海周围热带地区,起源时间不早于中白垩纪。这一自然属群明显存在着平行进化情况,其核心的木姜子属和山胡椒属极可能是同地起源于共同祖先,我国南部至印度马来西亚可能是这两属的起源和分化中心,并从这里向热带美洲及大洋洲扩散。其余的属可能从这一核心演化出来。     

TRANSFER CELLS IN THE PLACENTAL PAD AND CARYOPSIS COAT OF PAPPOPHORUM SUBBULBOSUM ARECH. (POACEAE)

During caryopsis development the layers of the pericarp, integuments, and nucellus all contribute to the formation of the caryopsis coat. The coat consists of a layer of outer pericarp epidermal transfer cells, a collapsed and senescent layer of middle pericarp cells, and a discontinuous layer of inner pericarp epidermal transfer cells. The latter is not present across the placental pad. The integuments are present as a collapsed dense layer, the nucellus is discontinuous and cellular. The placental pad occurs at the ventral surface of the caryopsis, opposite the scutellum and coleorhiza. It consists of 15–20 collapsed cell layers, including the pigment strand and placental vascular bundle. From the inside several partially collapsed cell layers of the nucellar projection occur which contain transfer-cell walls. The middle dense layers, the pigment strand, consist of the middle pericarp remnant, plus the remains of the placental vascular bundle. The pericarp inner epidermis does not extend across the pad. The aleurone layer is a continuous uniseriate layer around the entire caryopsis except at the placental pad; here it is crushed and contains the remnant of a transfer-cell wall. The outer pericarp epidermis is a continuous layer of transfer cells across the pad. These cells contain membranous inclusions suggesting that they may be functional during germination.     

我国自由生活中气门目螨类科属分类

对我国已知自由生活中气门目螨类15科、51属列出科、属检索表。     

国产含羞草科一些属花粉形态的研究

利用光镜及电镜观察了中国含羞草科金合欢属、合欢属、棋子豆属、围诞树属、朱缨花属、心叶合欢属等６属３７种（含变种）植物的花粉形态,对其花粉大小,外壁纹饰进行了比较分析。结果表明它们均为１６合花粉（除薄叶围诞树Ａｂｅｒａｍａ ｕｔｉｌｅ为８合花粉外）,在分类上无多大价值;而花粉大小及外壁纹饰却有一定分类意义。表现为：金合金欢属花粉较小,直径为２５－３０μｍ,很容易区别;其余属花粉直径均在５０μｍ以上。     

叶蜂总科昆虫生物地理研究I叶蜂总科科级阶元的地理分布分析(膜翅目)

本文在科级阶元水平分析了叶蜂总科的地理分布特征。叶蜂总科在科、亚科和族级水平上可分为３种,９种和１６种分布型。在各级水平上,全北界分布型均占有绝对优势,其中东亚地区中南部是主要分布中心。文中还简要阐述了世界膜翅目广腰类群的分布特性;提出了一个简明实用的“类元分布指数Ｉｔ”,用于表示特定地区某一或全部生物类群的各级阶元的分布数量与世界已知阶元总数之比值。此指数稍作修改提出一个类群起源可能性指数Ｉｏ,用于表示某一类群在一特定区域起源的可能性大小。