Ultrastructure of the frontal organ in Convoluta and Macrostomum spp.: significance for models of the turbellarian archetype

Present models of turbellarian evolution depict the organism with a frontal organ — a complex of glands whose necks emerge at the anterior tip of the body — and therefore imply that this organ is homologous throughout the Turbellaria. However, comparisons of representatives of the Acoela and Macrostomida, two putatively primitive orders of the Turbellaria, show that frontal organs in these two are not similar in ultrastructure or histochemistry. The acoel Convoluta pulchra had a prominent cluster of frontal mucous glands whose necks emerged together in a frontal pore at the exact apical pole of the organism, and an array of smaller glands of at least five other types opened at the anterior end, separately from and ventral to this pore. The frontal organs (Stirndrüsen) of two species of Macrostomum on the other hand, comprised an array of discretely emerging necks of at least two gland types including one with rhabdiform (rhammite) and one with globular mucous secretion granules neither of which emerge at the apical pole. In neither species did the organ appear to be sensory. Our findings indicate a low probability of homology between the frontal glands of the Acoela and Macrostomida.     

Parasites ofEctomyelois ceratoniae with biological studies onApanteles sp.Group ultor in Iraq

Apanteles sp.group ultor [Hym.: Braconidae] is the dominant and most widely distributed parasite ofEctomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller). The parasitization percent was increased from 10 % during April to 35 % at the end of the pomegranate fruiting season at October. Female parasite preferred to infest the host larvae at the age of, 2–3 days than 7 day old. The average number of host larvae parasitized by single female parasite was 58 under the rearing conditions of 27±2 °C., 55±10% RH and photoperiod of 16 h light per day. Parasites other thanA. spgroup ultor were:Bracon hebetor Say.,Ascogaster sp., andPhanerotoma sp. [Braconidae];Nemeritis canescens Grav. [Ichneumonidae];Brachymeria sp., andB. aegyptiaca Masi [Chalcididae]; and the secondary parasitePerilampus tristis Mayr [Perilampidae].     

Incidence of parasites ofLymantria obfuscata [Lymantriidae: Lepidoptera] in Kashmir

Incidence of parasites ofLymantria obfuscata Walker [Lymantriidae: Lepidoptera] was studied in Kashmir during 1983 and 1984. The only egg parasite reared wasAnastatus kashmirensis Mathur parasitising between 4.49 to 11.92 percent of eggs. From 15 study sites as many as 10475 larvae of different stages and pupae were collected and reared in laboratory.Exorista rossica [Tachinidae: Diptera] was recorded to parasitize upto 8.42 per cent of larvae compared to 0.89 percent byCompsilura sp.Tetrastichus sp. [Eulophidae: Hymenoptera] was observed to be most dominant of the 6 pupal parasites, accounting for 33.41 percent of the measured parasitism, followed byPimpla sp. [Ichneumonidae: Hymenoptera] andTheronia atalantae atalantae [Ichneumonidae: Hymenoptera] which parasitized 6.84 and 4.03 per cent of pupae respectively.Brachymeria intermedia Nees [Chalcididae: Hymenoptera] was recorded to parasitize upto 2.98 per cent whereasBrachymeria lasus Walker recorded for the first time in Kashmir was found to parasitize up to 2.01 per cent, but was not widely distributed in the State.     

Numerical classification and ordination of ruderal plant communities (Sisymbrietalia,Onopordetalia) in the western part of Slovakia

The ruderal communities of the orders Sisymbrietalia and Onopordetalia from the western part of Slovakia have been subjected to numerical classification and ordination. The ordination techniques proved to be a useful tool in the elucidation of the cluster pattern as well as in the detection of the main environmental variation underlying the floristic variation within the data. Results obtained with numerical techniques and traditional syntaxonomical classification have been compared. The similarity between these results is low at the level of the orders. This incompatability is explained by the differences in the weighting of the species in the course of the classification process and by the addition of non-floristical criteria that often occurs in syntaxonomical classification according to Braun-Blanquet. The highest value has been observed at the 3-clusters level (both orders and the Malvion neglectae). High similarity among the results of the numerical techniques have been observed, particularly in the group of space-dilating clusterings (Ward's method, Complete linkage clustering and MeQuitty's similarity analysis). Average linkage clustering produces the most diverse result. The Malvion neglectae appeared as a separate group in all numerical techniques adopted. This suggests the upranking of its syntaxonomical position. The Bromo-Hordeion murini turned out to be a very heterotoneous syntaxon.     

Investigation of the internal bacterial flora of Eurygaster integriceps (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) and pathogenicity of the flora members

Eurygaster integriceps (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) is one of the most serious pest of wheat and other cereal crops throughout the Near and Middle East including Turkey. To contribute biological control of this pest, we investigated the culturable bacterial flora of E. integriceps and their virulence against it. We also tested different entomopathogenic fungi (Isaria fumosorosea ARSEF8356, Beauveria bassiana ARSEF8356, Metarhizium brunneum ARSEF8671 and Nomurae rileyi ARSEF1670) against this pest under laboratory conditions. Bacterial isolates were characterized based on morphological, biochemical, physiological and molecular characteristics (16S rRNA sequencing). The isolates were identified as Pantoea sp. (S1, S5, S7, S8, S10 and S11), P. agglomerans (S2, S3 and S4), Pseudomonas sp. S6 and Micrococcus luteus S9. The highest mortality within bacterial isolates was observed from Pantoea sp. S1, P. agglomerans S4 and Pantoea sp. S7 with 100%. Mortality of other bacterial species ranged from 33% to 88%. The highest mortality among the tested entomopathogenic fungi was obtained from Isaria fumosorosea ARSEF 8333 with 100%. Mortality of other fungi ranged from 33% to 50%. Consequently, Pantoea sp. S1, P. agglomerans S4, Pantoea sp. S7, Beauveria bassiana ARSEF 8356 and Isaria fumosorosea ARSEF 8356 seem to be promising candidates in the control of E. integriceps.     

Phloem unloading in aerial roots of Monstera deliciosa

Plants of Monstera deliciosa Liebm. pruned to exemplars with one leaf and one aerial root were labeled with 7.4 MBq ¹⁴CO₂ over the leaf blade. Microautoradiographs of soluble and insoluble radioactivity were prepared from three different regions of the aerial root. In addition, histochemical localization of ATPase was carried out on similar aerial roots. Vigorously growing aerial roots grew as fast as 26 mm d^-1, and zones of differentiation extended more than 10 cm from the root tip. In the region 2–3 cm from the root tip, in which only protoelements of the vascular tissue were differentiated, ¹⁴C-label was restricted to the protophloem. The activity of ATPase was recognized in many different cellular organelles of the meristematic phloem parenchyma. In the region 5–6 cm from the root tip, in which the first metaelements differentiated, all parenchyma cells of the central cylinder and many cortical cells showed ¹⁴C-label, in addition to the densely labeled protophloem. Differentiating vessels were heavily labeled at sites where secondary walls were formed. In this region of the root, ATPase activity was concentrated on the plasmalemma and cortical cytoplasma of the sieve tubes, and on the tonoplast of the phloem parenchyma cells. In contrast, the strands of internal metaphloem with giant sieve tubes, which are scattered among the metaxylem, were neither labeled nor did they show ATPase activity. In the zone 19–20 cm from the root tip, regions of cell differentiation in the sclerenchymatic mantle of the inner cortex, the late-formed metaxylem vessels and some strands of the internal metaphloem could be identified by dense ¹⁴C-label. Low ATPase activity was found in the plasmalemma of practically all living cells. In this nearly mature region, a strong peroxidase activity was observed in the radial walls of the endodermis. The results indicate that phloem unloading was strongest at sites of root differentiation, where ATPase activity was concentrated in the plasmalemma of sieve tubes and the tonoplast of phloem parenchyma.     

The establishment ofAnagyrus saccharicola Timb. [Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae] in Barbados,West Indies,against the sugarcane mealybug,Saccharicoccus sacchari (Ckll.) (Hemiptera: Coccidae]

During the survey of the natural enemies ofSaccharicoccus sacchari in Barbados in 1968 and 1969, the following six indigenous species of natural enemies were recorded: —Hyperaspis trilineata andNephus sp.(Coccinellidae); Oligota barbadorum (Staphylinidae); an unidentified Cecidomyid(Cecidomyidae); Pseudaphycus mundus (Encyrtidae) andAspergillus sp. (Aspergillacae). Of these,H. trilineata was found in fair numbers in the Westmoreland (St. James) area only;Aspergillus sp. was more abundant during the wet season, while the other species were recorded usually in small numbers from most parishes. As the indigenous natural enemies do not provide effective control of the pest, three exotic predators and one parasite were introduced into Barbados, through the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control.Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Hyperaspis sp. andNephus sp. were obtained from India andAnagyrus saccharicola from East Africa. OnlyA. saccharicola became established. It was recovered soon after its release and, augmented by additional releases, spread rapidly. In January 1972, the levels of parasitism in the dry, intermediate and high rainfall areas were: 8.3, 9.0 and 9.7%.     

Copper tolerance in Frankia sp. strain EuI1c involves surface binding and copper transport

Several Frankia strains have been shown to be copper-tolerant. The mechanism of their copper tolerance was investigated for Frankia sp. strain EuI1c. Copper binding was shown by binding studies. Unusual globular structures were observed on the surface of the bacterium. These globular structures were composed of aggregates containing many relatively smaller “leaf-like” structures. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDAX) analysis of these structures indicated elevated copper and phosphate levels compared to the control cells. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis indicated an increase in extracellular phosphate on the cell surface of copper-stressed cells. Bioinformatics’ analysis of the Frankia sp. strain EuI1c genome revealed five potential cop genes: copA, copZ, copC, copCD, and copD. Experiments with Frankia sp. strain EuI1c using qRT-PCR indicated an increase in messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of the five cop genes upon Cu²⁺ stress. After 5 days of Cu²⁺ stress, the copA, copZ, copC, copCD, and copD mRNA levels increased 25-, 8-, 18-, 18-, and 25-fold, respectively. The protein profile of Cu²⁺-stressed Frankia sp. strain EuI1c cells revealed the upregulation of a 36.7 kDa protein that was identified as FraEuI1c_1092 (sulfate-binding periplasmic transport protein). Homologues of this gene were only present in the genomes of the Cu²⁺-resistant Frankia strains (EuI1c, DC12, and CN3). These data indicate that copper tolerance by Frankia sp. strain EuI1c involved the binding of copper to the cell surface and transport proteins.     

Metabolic engineering of Pediococcus acidilactici BD16 for production of vanillin through ferulic acid catabolic pathway and process optimization using response surface methodology

Occurrence of feruloyl-CoA synthetase (fcs) and enoyl-CoA hydratase (ech) genes responsible for the bioconversion of ferulic acid to vanillin have been reported and characterized from Amycolatopsis sp., Streptomyces sp., and Pseudomonas sp. Attempts have been made to express these genes in Escherichia coli DH5α, E. coli JM109, and Pseudomonas fluorescens. However, none of the lactic acid bacteria strain having GRAS status was previously proposed for heterologous expression of fcs and ech genes for production of vanillin through biotechnological process. Present study reports heterologous expression of vanillin synthetic gene cassette bearing fcs and ech genes in a dairy isolate Pediococcus acidilactici BD16. After metabolic engineering, statistical optimization of process parameters that influence ferulic acid to vanillin biotransformation in the recombinant strain was carried out using central composite design of response surface methodology. After scale-up of the process, 3.14 mM vanillin was recovered from 1.08 mM ferulic acid per milligram of recombinant cell biomass within 20 min of biotransformation. From LCMS-ESI spectral analysis, a metabolic pathway of phenolic biotransformations was predicted in the recombinant P. acidilactici BD16 (fcs ⁺/ech ⁺).     

Comparative morphology of statocysts in the Plathelminthes and the Xenoturbellida

The general fine-structural organization of statocysts in Catenulida, Nemertodermatida, Acoela, Proseriata, Lurus (Dalyellioida), and Xenoturbella are summarized. In lithophorous (statocyst-bearing) members of the Catenulida, the statocysts exhibit a few parietal cells and one or several movable statoliths within a spacious intracapsular cavity. Statocysts in the Nemertodermatida have several parietal cells and two lithocytes, each equipped with one statolith, whereas those of the other acoelomorphan taxon, the Acoela, always have two parietal cells and one movable lithocyte. The statocysts of lithophorous members of the Proseriata represent more sophisticated systems: each has two clusters of accessory cells in addition to several parietal cells and a voluminous lithocyte in which the statolith is movable. In catenulids and proseriates, processes of outer neurons penetrate the capsule of the statocyst, whereas such innervations have not been found in the Nemertodermatida and Acoela. I conclude that the different types of statocysts have evolved independently within the Plathelminthes. Xenoturbella displays an intraepidermal statocyst with many monociliary parietal cells and several mobile cells (lithocytes) within the central cavity of the statocyst. Each of these mobile cells carries a statolith-like structure and one prominent cilium. The statocyst of Xenoturbella does not correspond to any type of plathelminth statocyst.     

Graphiolales: Basidiomycetes parasitic on palms

Graphiola phoenicis was restudied by light microscopy and investigated in detail with the scanning and the transmission electron microscopes. Hyphae of the fruitbody are mainly dikaryotic. Karyogamy occurs in cells which are interpreted as meiosporangia (basidia), and which develop in chains. Shortly after karyogamy, meiosis takes place in these basidia. Primary, sessile meiospores are then formed which later divide and produce thick-walled diaspores. The latter germinate either by hyphae or by yeast-like budding. The nutritional requirements of pure cultures of the yeast stage were also investigated. Life cycle, karyological criteria, ultrastructural details, and chemical tests clearly show thatGraphiola belongs in theBasidiomycetes. The taxonomic position within theHeterobasidiomycetes is discussed and the orderGraphiolales is validated.     

A new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heteropterys</Emphasis> (Malpighiaceae) from semideciduous forest,with notes on wood anatomy

This paper describes and illustrates Heteropterys serrata, a new species endemic to semideciduous forests associated with inselbergs in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Morphological and wood anatomical traits of the new species are compared to those of other species of the Heteropterys Metallophyllis informal group. Based on wood anatomy, H. serrata and H. nitida (the most morphologically similar species) have different axial parenchyma, which is scarce paratracheal in H. nitida (and some other species of the Metallophyllis informal group) and aliform confluent in H. serrata. The most notable morphological and anatomical characters that distinguish the new species are the young hexagonal stems, the unusual widely serrate leaf margins and the aliform confluent axial parenchyma in the wood.     

Possibilities for biological control ofAntigastra catalaunalis [Lep.: Pyralidae], a new pest of sesame in the western hemisphere

The sesame leafroller,Antigastra catalaunalis (Duponchel), is a recently introduced pest of sesame,Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae), in the New World. It is presently the chief pest of this crop in Colombia. Four parasites have been found attackingA. catalaunalis in Colombia:Euplectrus sp.[Hym.: Eulophidae], Bracon sp.(Hym.: Braconidae], Spilochalcis sp., andBrachymeria sp.[Hym.: Chalcididae], but they do not appear to exercise significant control of the insect. A literature search resulted in a list of 19 insect and 1 nematode parasites. Some of these parasites are widespread and well known, and an attempt should be made to have them sent to Colombia. Some also parasitize other important pests in that country.     

The ciliated epidermis of Xenoturbella bocki (Platyhelminthes, Xenoturbellida) with some phylogenetic considerations

The epidermis of Xenoturbella bocki Westblad was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Two cell types predominate in the epidermis: multiciliated epidermal cells and non-ciliated or monociliated gland cells. A conspicuous feature is the dense ciliary coverage and the numerous gland cell openings. Xenoturbella has a characteristic pattern of axonemal filament termination in the distal tips of their cilia. Each epidermal cilium has the typical 9 + 2 patten through the major part of its shaft. Near the tip there is a shelf at which doublets 4–7 terminate. Doublets 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9 continue into the thinner distal part of the cilium. A similar shelf in cilia is known only from the turbellarian orders Nemertodermatida and Acoela, and hence may be an apomorphic feature which indicates a close relationship between Xenoturbellida, Nemertoder-matida and Acoela. The basal body is provided with a so-called basal foot which has a cross-striated appearance and an expanded distal plate that seems to act as a microtubule organizing center. Approximately 15–25 microtubuli radiate from the endplate of the basal foot to the basal bodies caudally. The arrangement of basal foot and ciliary rootlets in Xenoturbella differs from that of Acoela and related orders in that there are two striated rootlets only (an anterior and a posterior one), rather than one main rootlet and two lateral rootlets.