Microfungi on the Pandanaceae: a revision of the hyphomycete genus Balaniopsis with two new species

During research into microfungi that inhabit decaying parts of the monocotyledonous family Pandanaceae, three species of Balaniopsis were collected. One is Balaniopsis africana as originally described and illustrated by Kiffer as Balanium africanum. The second species is conspecific with the specimen treated as Balaniopsis africana by Kirk, but is introduced here as a new species, Balaniopsis kirkii. The third, Balaniopsis dendroidea, is a new species from Australia. Received: March 21, 2001 / Accepted: October 8, 2001     

Myxine formosana, a new species of hagfish (Myxiniformes: Myxinidae) from the southwestern waters of Taiwan

Myxine formosana, a new hagfish species, is described on the basis of the specimens from the Pacific Ocean southwest of Taiwan at depths 588–1500 m. It is five-gilled and white-headed with a three-cusp multicusp on the anterior set of cusps and a two-cusp multicusp on the posterior set. Myxine formosana, M. circifrons, M. mccoskeri, and M. robinsi are superficially rather similar, but M. formosana has low to vestigal caudal finfolds. It is the first record of the genus Myxine from Taiwan. Received: October 25, 2000 / Revised: March 17, 2001 / Accepted: April 21, 2001     

Saprolegnia semihypogyna sp. nov., a saprolegniaceous oomycete isolated from soil in Japan

Saprolegnia semihypogyna, a saprolegniaceous oomycete (Saprolegniales, Oomycetes), is described based on two strains isolated from soil samples collected in Japan. It is characterized by having a new combination of sexual characters in the genus Saprolegnia, namely, producing mostly monosporous oogonia with subeccentric oospores and semihypogynous or androgynous antheridial branches. The species is morphologically similar to Scoliolegnia subeccentrica, although the oogonial wall of the former is smooth and that of the latter is densely ornamented. Morphological comparison of the two species indicates that the generic status of the genus Scoliolegnia is questionable. Received: February 22, 2001 / Accepted: September 5, 2001     

Hyaloscyphaceae in Japan (6): the genus Hyphodiscus in Japan and its anamorph Catenulifera gen. nov.

Three Hyphodiscus species are described and illustrated: Hyphodiscus otanii sp. nov., Hyphodiscus hymeniophilus, and H. theiodeus, which is new to Japan. Culture studies revealed Phialophora-like anamorphs. Catenulifera gen. nov. is proposed for the anamorph of Hyphodiscus. The history of the genus is reviewed. Hyphodiscus can be delimited to members with gelatinized excipulum, Cistella-like hairs with more coarse granulation, small asci, ascospores with conspicuous globules, cylindrical, flexuous paraphyses, and a Catenulifera anamorph. Received: September 6, 2001 / Accepted: October 4, 2001     

Two Ophiostoma species associated with bark beetles in wave-regenerated Abies veitchii forests in Japan

Two species of Ophiostoma were isolated from four bark beetles (i.e., Cryphalus montatus, C. piceae, Dryocoetes hectographus, and Polygraphus proximus) infesting Abies veitchii and from their galleries in the wave-regenerated forests in the central part of the main island (Honshu) of Japan. One of them is described here as a new species, Ophiostoma subalpinum, and the other is identified as O. davidsonii, newly reported in Japan. Ophiostoma subalpinum is characterized by short ostiolar hyphae, oblong or allantoid ascospores enclosed in a thin, hyaline sheath, and a Pesotum anamorph. Received: June 4, 2001 / Accepted: December 25, 2001     

Hyaloscyphaceae in Japan (5): SomeLachnum-like members

Five members of the family Hyaloscyphaceae with multiseptate hairs and lanceolate paraphyses (Lachnum-like members in broad sense) are described:Albotricha fagicola andDasyscyphella longistipitata spp. nov.;Trichopeziza discolor, T. sulphurea, andTrichopezizella barbata, new to Japan. (4): Mycoscience42: 597–609, 2001.     

Pleurovularia, a new genus of hyphomycetes proposed for a parasite on leaves of Microstegium sp. (Poaceae)

The hyphomycete Ovularia polliniae, formerly excluded from Ramularia and allied genera and tentatively considered as related to Beniowskia sphaeroidea, was recently collected on leaves of the grass Microstegium sp. in Taiwan. Based on studies with light and transmission electron microscopy, O. polliniae was redescribed. Using type specimens, the taxonomic status of both fungal species was reevaluated. In O. polliniae, the conidiophores emerge directly through the outer cell wall of the host epidermis. They are either sparsely branched at the base or simple and composed of verruculose intercalary and terminal conidiogenous cells that produce conidia through minute, slightly darkened scars. The conidia are solitary, one-celled, obovoid, hyaline, smooth, and often have a large vacuole. By the combination of these characteristics, this fungus differs from similar species of Beniowskia, Ramularia, and Ramulariopsis. The new genus Pleurovularia and the new combination Pleurovularia polliniae are proposed to accommodate this parasite on Microstegium. Received: May 24, 2001 / Accepted: September 3, 2001     

Taeniolella rudis and Taeniolella longissima sp. nov. with secondary sympodioconidia from freshwater habitats

 Taeniolella rudis, with secondary sympodioconidia, is illustrated and described and its taxonomic assignment evaluated. A second new species, Taeniolella longissima, is described and illustrated. The ecological role of these fungi in the colonization of wood in freshwater habitats is discussed. Received: August 16, 2001 / Accepted: February 8, 2002     

Review of Polydactylus species (Perciformes: Polynemidae) characterized by a large black anterior lateral line spot, with descriptions of two new species

Nominal Polydactylus species characterized by a large black spot anteriorly on the lateral line, P. microstomus (Bleeker), P. sextarius mullani (Hora), P. sextarius sextarius (Bloch and Schneider), and P. zophomus Jordan and McGregor, are reviewed. Polydactylus zophomus, with 5 pectoral filaments, is synonymized under P. microstomus, and P. sextarius mullani, with 7 pectoral filaments, is elevated to species level (as P. mullani). Polydactylus microstomus and P. mullani together with P. sextarius (characterized by 6 pectoral filaments) are considered as valid species and redescribed accordingly. Two new species, P. malagasyensis and P. persicus, each with 6 pectoral filaments, collected from the east coast of Africa, including Madagascar and the Persian Gulf, are also described. Polydactylus sextarius and the 2 new species are characterized by 6 pectoral filaments. However, P. sextarius is distinguished from the latter by having lower gill raker counts (mode 28 vs. 31 in the latter) and an atrophied swimbladder (vs. well-developed). Polydactylus malagasyensis differs from P. persicus in having higher pectoral fin ray counts (14 vs. mode 12 in the latter), the palatines inwardly turned anteriorly (vs. straight), and a longer pectoral fin (mean 24% of standard length vs. 19%). Received: February 5, 2001 / Revised: April 29, 2001 / Accepted: May 1, 2001     

Review of monophyly of the Kyphosidae (sensu Nelson, 1994), inferred from the mitochondrial ND2 gene

 Girella, Kyphosus, Scorpis, and some other perciform fishes have been regarded as being related to each other. Nelson (1994) recognized them as the subfamilies under the Kyphosidae, but he did not show any synapomorphic characters uniting them. Johnson and Fritzsche (1989) suggested that the perciform group characterized by RLA pattern 10, namely, Girellidae, Kyphosidae (not of Nelson, 1994), Scorpididae, Microcanthidae, Kuhliidae, Arripidae, Oplegnathidae, Terapontidae, and families of the Stromateoidei, form a monophyletic group. We estimated the phylogenetic relationships of fishes of the group to review monophyly of the Kyphosidae (sensu Nelson, 1994) by partially sequencing the mitochondrially encoded NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene. Labracoglossa-Scorpis, Oplegnathus, Kyphosus, Kuhlia, Microcanthus, and Girella constituted a single clade with relatively high reliability values for both the neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum-likelihood (ML) trees, but the monophyly of Kyphosidae (sensu Nelson, 1994) was not supported. The group characterized by RLA pattern 10 formed a monophyletic group both in the NJ and ML trees here; however, additional basal perciform taxa need to be analyzed to resolve it more clearly. Received: June 27, 2001 / Revised: September 29, 2001 / Accepted: October 28, 2001     

Karyotype analysis in three species of the genus Chirostoma (Atheriniformes: Atherinidae)

Karyotype analyses of three Chirostoma species, C. estor, C. patzcuaro, and C. jordani from Mexico, are presented. C. estor and C. jordani have both a diploid number of 2N = 48 and a fundamental number of NF = 68, but different karyotype formulae. The co-occurrence of these karyotypes with morphometric and allozymatic primitive features so far reported suggests that the ancestral karyotype of the genus Chirostoma was similar to the one shown by these species. The divergent karyotype of C. patzcuaro (2N = 44 and NF = 44) could be related to its endemism and to the relatively small size of its populations. Received: February 7, 2001 / Revised: September 7, 2001 / Accepted: October 11, 2001     

Development of Genus/Species-Specific PCR Analysis for Identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carnobacterium</Emphasis> Strains

Heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria belonging to the genus Carnobacterium are currently divided into seven different species, C. piscicola, C. mobile, C. gallinarum, C. inhibens, C. divergens, C. funditum, and C. alterfunditum. 16S rDNA-targeted PCR assay was carried out for the identification of the genus Carnobacterium. In addition, type strains of all Carnobacterium species were analyzed by 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer analysis in comparison with type strains of phylogenetically related lactic acid bacteria. These methods enabled the identification and the discrimination among Carnobacterium species and the other phylogenetically related lactic acid bacteria. Likewise, analogous results were obtained by restriction analysis of amplified 16S rDNA performed with HaeIII and HinfI as restriction enzymes. Received: 25 July 2001 / Accepted: 19 October 2001     

A new species of Caprellinoides (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Phtisicidae) from the Antarctic

A new caprellid species, Caprellinoides singularis, is described and illustrated based on the material collected on the Polarstern Cruise ANT XVII/3 from the Branfield Strait. The most striking characteristic of this species is the presence of bilobed gills on pereonites 3 and 4. The genus Caprellinoides is revised. Caprellinoides antarctica Schellengerg, 1926 and Caprellinoides spinosus Barnard, 1930 are considered junior synonyms of Caprellinoides tristanensis Stebbing, 1888 and Caprellinoides mayeri (Pfeffer, 1888), respectively. The new species, C. singularis, is compared with the remaining species in the genus Caprellinoides: C. tristanensis and C. mayeri, which are illustrated in detail. Received in revised form: 4 June 2001 Electronic Publication     

Paraulopidae and Paraulopus, a new family and genus of aulopiform fishes with revised relationships within the order

A species group hitherto concealed within Chlorophthalmus (Chlorophthalmidae) is described as a new family and genus of Aulopiformes, Paraulopidae and Paraulopus, respectively. Paraulopus clearly belongs in Aulopiformes owing to an enlarged uncinate process on the second epibranchial, the absence of a swimbladder, and fusion of the medial processes of the pelvic girdle, but characterized by having the following combination of characters: the fourth basibranchial with a long tail but no gap separating fourth basibranchial and fifth ceratobranchial, epipleural bones distributed from posterior portion of abdominal vertebra to anterior portion of caudal vertebra, and flesh specimens of most species with paired olive spots dorsally on body. The phylogenetic position of Paraulopus is defined by a cladistic analysis of 101 morphological characters, in 21 genera of Aulopiformes. In a single most parsimonious tree, Paraulopus and Chlorophthalmus are in two different major clades, there being four major clades in all, roughly corresponding to the four suborders of Aulopiformes. Paraulopidae is included in the suborder Synodontoidei. In addition, Bathysauroides is transferred to Chlorophthalmoidei from Giganturoidei, and Bathysauroides and Bathysauropsis are elevated to familial status. Received: January 13, 2001 / Revised: September 27, 2001 / Accepted: October 15, 2001     

Molecular diversity of male sterility inducing and male-fertile cytoplasms in the genus Helianthus

The organisation of mtDNA was investigated for 28 sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and a fertile line (normal cytoplasm) of Helianthus annuus by Southern hybridisation. In addition to nine known mitochondrial genes (atp6, atp9, cob, coxI, coxII, coxIII, 18S, 5S and nd5) three probes for the open reading frames in the rearranged area of PET1, orfH522, orfH708 and orfH873, were used. Genetic similarities of the investigat-ed cytoplasms varied between 0.3 and 1. Cluster analyses using the UPGMA method allowed the distinction of ten mitochondrial (mt) types between the 29 investigated cytoplasms. Most mitochondrial types comprise two or more CMS sources, which could not be further separated, like the PET1-like CMS sources (with the exception of ANO1 and PRR1), or ANN1/ANN2/ANN3, ANN4/ ANN5, ARG3/RIG1, BOL1/EXI1/PEF1/PEP1 and GIG1/ PET2. ANL1, ANL2 and the fertile cytoplasms are also regarded as one mitochondrial type. Unique banding patterns were only observed for ANT1 (atp6), MAX1 (atp6, orfH522 and orfH708) and PRR1 (coxII). However, four of the mitochondrial types showed unique hybridisation signals: ANN4/ANN5 had characteristic bands for atp6 and orfH708, PEF1/PEP1/EXI1/BOL1 for atp6 and coxII, and PET2/GIG1 for atp9. The PET1-like cytoplasms all shared the same patterns for orfH522, orfH708 and cob (except ANO1). It could be demonstrated that CMS sources, like, e.g., PET2 and PEF1, are different from PET1 in mtDNA organisation and the CMS mechanism. Therefore, these CMS sources represent interesting candidates for the development of new hybrid breeding systems based on new CMS mechanisms. Received: 20 April 2001 / Accepted: 3 August 2001     

Revision of the genus Thetidos Hedley, 1899 (Gastropoda: Conoidea: Raphitomidae) in the Indo-Pacific with descriptions of three new species

The genus Thetidos was established to accommodate a single species Thetidos morsura, a minute turriform conoidean with an unremarkable paucispiral protoconch, but possessing characteristic globose whorls of the teleoconch and three strong denticles on the inside of outer apertural lip. Subsequently, Thetidos was considered synonymous with Lienardia, and has rarely been mentioned in literature until the recent discovery of a remarkably similar species Thetidos tridentata, though it is different in protoconch morphology. Both molecular data and protoconch morphology unequivocally suggested placement of the new species in Raphitomidae. Examination of shells from the Indo-Pacific identified a number of similar forms, all referable to the genus Thetidos. Six species are now recognized within the genus; of them three, Thetidos puillandrei n. sp., Thetidos minutissima n. sp., Thetidos pallida n. sp., are here described as new. Thetidos species are now known from subtidal depths from the Philippines and Sulawesi to French Polynesia. Thetidos morsura is the only species of the genus that possesses a paucispiral protoconch suggestive of a non-planktotrophic development, although it displays a wide geographic range and a high morphological variability.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F2001CC-6BEA-4B26-AFB8-6B337E101FDB     

A distinctive phenotype in the common-<Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> heterokaryon of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coprinus cinereus</Emphasis>

The homobasidiomycete Coprinus cinereus, unlike Schizophyllum commune, is not known to exhibit an obvious heterokaryotic phenotype in common-A matings. In the present study we found that progeny isolated from a fruit-body collected in the field exhibit a distinctive mycelial development in common-A matings. Genetic analysis suggested that the common-A heterokaryotic phenotype is brought about by a nuclear factor(s) other than the mating type genes. Received: March 30, 2001 / Accepted: October 1, 2001     

Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the genus Aneorhachis Kleine 1923 (Coleoptera: Brentidae: Microtrachelizini)

A taxonomic revision of the genus Aneorhachis Kleine 1923 (Coleoptera: Brentidae) and a phylogenetic analysis of species belonging to this genus are carried out. The genus Ipsopisthius Kabakov 2001 is synonymised with Aneorhachis, and two new combinations are proposed: Aneorhachis hirta (Kabakov 2001), n. comb. and A. incerta (Kleine 1935), n. comb. Higonius nitens Goossens 2008 is synonymized with A. incerta. One new species is described from New Guinea, A. papuana n. sp. All the species are redescribed and type-specimens are illustrated; an identification key is proposed. A maximum parsimony analysis is provided on the base of 23 characters from adult morphology. This analysis confirms the monophyly of the genus and seems to show that Aneorhachis originated on continental Asia and then spread out eastward to colonize Pacific islands.     

Addition and re-examination of Japanese species belonging to the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cercospora </Emphasis>and allied genera. V. Collections from the Nansei Islands (2)

 Five species collected in the Nansei Islands are discussed. Of these, one species found on Gardenia jasminoides is described as a new species, Cercosporidium okinawaense Kobayashi et Nishijima. Asperisporium caricae on Carica papaya, Pseudocercospora melastomobia on Melastoma candidum, and P. neoliquidambaris Nakashima et Kobayashi, nom. nov. on Liquidambar formosana are newly added to the Japanese mycoflora. Cercospora violamaculans on Rhaphiolepis umbellata is transferred to the genus Pseudocercospora as Pseudocercospora violamaculans (Fukui) Kobayashi et Nakashima, comb. nov., with some additional notes. Received: October 26, 2001 / Accepted: March 13, 2002