Phylogenetic relationships of the Magnoliaceae inferred from cpDNA matK sequences

The coding region of the matK gene was sequenced to infer the phylogeny of the family Magnoliaceae. Phylogenetic analyses of 21 matK sequences representing ten genera of Magnoliaceae and three outgroups suggest relationships among both subfamilies and genera. Monophyly of the subfamily Liriodendroideae (the genus Liriodendron) and the subfamily Magnolioideae is strongly supported, respectively. Within the subfamily Magnolioideae, three clades are formed: (1) the genus Magnlietia, (2) the subgenus Magnolia, and (3) the subgenus Yulania, with the genera Michelia, Paramichelia, Tsoongiodendron, Alcimandra, Kmeria, Parakmeria and Manglietiastrum. However, the genus Magnolia is shown to be a polyphyletic group, and the genus Michelia a paraphyletic group. Relatively low sequence divergences are detected among genera of the the subfamily Magnolioideae, ranging from 0.14% to 1.70%, especially in the tribe Micheliinae (0.14–0.98%). Molecular evidence from matK sequence data suggests that the phylogenetic positions and the delimitation of the eight genera Magnolia, Michelia, Tsoongiodendron, Paramichelia, Alcimandra, Kmeria, Parakmeria and Manglietiastrum need to be reconsidered. Received: 2 January 2000 / Accepted: 12 February 2000     

Mallocybe velutina (Agaricales,Inocybaceae), a new species from Pakistan

A new species of Mallocybe is described and illustrated based on material collected near the vicinity of Pinus wallichiana in mixed conifer forests in district Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw, Pakistan. Mallocybe velutina is recognized by the presence of moderate yellow to light yellow pileal margin with deep yellow or fulvous pileus center; strikingly velvety pileus surface; subdistant moderate yellow lamellae; subphaseoliform to ellipsoid basidiospores, clavate to cylindrical cheilocystidia and an ecological association with Pinaceae. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nrLSU) were used for the delimitation of this species based on sequence data. The evolutionary relationships of M. velutina with other closely related species of Mallocybe were inferred by means of maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony of concatenated ITS + nrLSU dataset. Mallocybe velutina is most closely related to M. arenaria, M. heimii and M. tomentosula.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Italian Bellevalia species (Asparagaceae), inferred from morphology,karyology and molecular systematics

The seven Bellevalia species and subspecies known from Italy, representing about 10% of the genus and three out of six sections, were studied. An integrated morphological, karyological and molecular approach was used to infer phylogenetic and systematic relationships among them. B. romana (the generitype) is the most distinctive species on karyotype asymmetry grounds. B. boissieri and B.dubia, usually considered as subspecies of one species (the latter endemic to Sicily), deserve specific status based on biparental nrDNA markers (internal transcribed spacer, ITS), since they do not form a single clade. The allotetraploid endemic B. pelagica, morphologically similar to B. romana, is sister to the latter under parsimony, both in morphological and ITS trees; it is also related with B. dubia, based on karyotype asymmetry and a uniparental cpDNA marker (trnL^(UAA)–trnF^(GAA) IGS (intergenic spacer)). A second allotetraploid endemic, B. webbiana, is closely related, on morphological, karyological and molecular grounds, with B. boissieri and B. ciliata, and also with B. trifoliata, three species that might all involved in its origin. B. sect. Conicae Feinbr. and sect. Nutantes Feinbr. are here typified, the former (type: B. ciliata) is most likely a synonym of the latter (type: B. trifoliata).     

Genista valsecchiae (Leguminosae), a new species from Sardinia

Genista valsecchiae from SW Sardinia is described and illustrated as a species new to science. It is very similar toG. ephedroides and can be distinguished by morphological differences of habit and inflorescence. It typically occurs in the garigue or maquis and is widespread in SW Sardinia.     

Thekopsora ostryae (Pucciniastraceae,Pucciniales), a new species from Gansu,northwestern China

Thekopsora ostryae, a new rust fungus on leaves of Ostrya japonica collected from Gansu Province was described. Morphological examination using light and scanning electron microscopy showed that this new species is distinct from other species of Thekopsora in the characteristics of ostiolar peridial cells of uredinia and the spinules on the surface of urediniospores. Analyses of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and 28S rRNA gene partial sequences showed that T. ostryae could be a distinct lineage in the genus Thekopsora.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Chalara and allied species inferred from ribosomal DNA sequences

The phylogenetic relationships of Chalara and allied taxa are studied based on ribosomal DAN sequences. Partial 28S rDNA and 18S rDNA regions from 26 strains were sequenced in this study. These and related sequences from GenBank were analyzed using parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Most of the Chalara species clustered in a strongly supported monophyletic lineage representing Helotiales. However, a few Chalara species appeared closely related to Xylariales. The phylogenetic significance of morphological characters observed in Chalara species are evaluated based on our sequence analyses. Conidial septation, conidial width and conidiophore pigmentation are thought to be indicative in understanding their evolutionary relationships. Sterile setae, which traditionally have been used to delimitate Chaetochalara from Chalara, are phylogenetically insignificant.     

Phylogenetic relationships among Southern Balkan Rutilus species inferred from cytochrome b sequence analysis: Micro-geographic resolution and taxonomic implications

The phylogenetic relationships and geographic distribution of Greek roaches (Rutilus spp.) were investigated by analyzing the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence of 84 specimens collected from 15 southern Balkan lakes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of five highly divergent haplotype groups with mean pairwise sequence divergence between them ranging from 4.1 to 9%, namely at the level of values reported for different species. These five groups correspond to four species namely Rutilus rutilus, Rutilus prespensis, Rutilus panosi and Rutilus ylikiensis. On the other hand, the existence of two highly divergent haplotype groups, which are currently attributed to R. rutilus, suggests the re-examination of the current taxonomic status of this species.     

Monophyly and phylogenetic relationships of the catfish genus Glyptothorax (Teleostei: Sisoridae) inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences

GlyptothoraxBlyth (1860) is the most species-diverse and widely-distributed genus in the Sisoridae, but few studies have examined monophyly of the genus and phylogenetic relations within it. We used the nuclear RAG2 gene and mitochondrial COI and Cyt b genes from 50 of the approximately 70 species to examine monophyly of Glyptothorax and phylogenetic relationships within the genus. Molecular phylogenetic trees were constructed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. All methods strongly supported monophyly of Glyptothorax, with Bagarius as its sister group. Both analyses of two- and three-gene datasets recovered nine major subclades of Glyptothorax, but some internal nodes remained poorly resolved. The phylogenetic relationships within the genus and existing taxonomic problems are discussed.     

Metarhizium brachyspermum sp. nov. (Clavicipitaceae), a new species parasitic on Elateridae from Japan

Ascomata of a Metarhizium species were collected from Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The ascomata were similar to M. kalasinense in its host preference for elaterids, olive-green clavate stromata, and obliquely immersed perithecia, but the asci and ascospores were significantly shorter in length than those of the latter species. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the elongation factor 1-alpha gene showed that the Japanese species was phylogenetically distinctive in the M. anisopliae lineage, including M. kalasinense. Accordingly, we describe a new species, M. brachyspermum. Isolates of this species produced olive-green conidial masses on the surface of the colony. Also, hyphal anastomoses between two metulae were often observed on conidiophores.     

Evolutionary relationships of Spirurina (Nematoda: Chromadorea: Rhabditida) with special emphasis on dracunculoid nematodes inferred from SSU rRNA gene sequences

The analysis of 26 new small subunit rRNA sequences obtained from helminths that primarily parasitize fishes sampled from five continents provided well-supported trees, allowing us to study the phylogenetic relationships among spirurid nematodes. The analyses have shown that Dracunculoidea is a paraphyletic taxon and Anguillicolidae and Gnathostomatidae constitute the basal branch of the suborder Spirurina. The genera Philometra and Philometroides appear to be paraphyletic, while on the higher taxonomic level, good correlation between the morphology-based system and molecular data was observed. Neither co-evolution of the studied helminths with their hosts, nor phylogeographic pattern, are apparent in our dataset.     

Onosma lhokaensis (Boraginaceae), a new species from Xizang,China

A new species of Boraginaceae, Onosma lhokaensis, is described and illustrated from Xizang, China. The new species closely resembles O. waddellii and O. waltonii in having azure corollas, coherent anthers and glabrous filaments, but differs in having particularly bristly indumentum, observably narrow corolla, longer calyxes and anthers, and remarkable nutlets with stipitate cicatrix. An updated key to the species of Onosma known from Xizang is also provided.     

Alyssum mughlaei (Brassicaceae), a new species from Southwest Anatolia

Alyssum mughlaei (Brassicaceae) is a new species, described and illustrated from Southwest Anatolia, Turkey.     

Anchusa formosa (Boraginaceae), a new species from Southern Sardinia (Italy)

ABSTRACT

A new Anchusa species was discovered in the massif of Mt. Lattias in South-Western Sardinia. This species, here described as A. formosa, shows a sharp phenotypic differentiation from the other Sardinian endemic taxa of Anchusa, especially in habit, leaf shape and size, inflorescence and calyx morphology. Ecological traits are also peculiar, the plant being restricted to siliceous debris that accumulates in small depositional areas of dry stream beds. A. formosa is likely to represent a paleogenic schizoendemism originated through isolation and genetic drift from the same genie pool of the other Corso-Sardinian endemic taxa of Anchusa. SEM analyses provide additional information on the micromorphology of the stigma and its papillar pattern, pollen grains, mericarp coat surface and trichomes. The anatomical structure of stem, root and leaf were also analysed. Due to its extreme localization and ecological specialization, A. formosa needs total protection in its natural habitat and should be added to National and International Red Lists of plants at risk of extinction.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Combretoideae (Combretaceae) inferred from plastid,nuclear gene and spacer sequences

Phylogenetic relationships of the subfamily Combretoideae (Combretaceae) were studied based on DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the plastid rbcL gene and the intergenic spacer between the psaA and ycf3 genes (PY-IGS), including 16 species of eight genera within two traditional tribes of Combretoideae, and two species of the subfamily Strephonematoideae of Combretaceae as outgroups. Phylogenetic trees based on the three data sets (ITS, rbcL, and PY-IGS) were generated by using maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses. Partition-homogeneity tests indicated that the three data sets and the combined data set are homogeneous. In the combined phylogenetic trees, all ingroup taxa are divided into two main clades, which correspond to the two tribes Laguncularieae and Combreteae. In the Laguncularieae clade, two mangrove genera, Lumnitzera and Laguncularia, are shown to be sister taxa. In the tribe Combreteae, two major clades can be classified: one includes three genera Quisqualis, Combretum and Calycopteris, within which the monophyly of the tribe Combreteae sensu Engler and Diels including Quisqualis and Combretum is strongly supported, and this monophyly is then sister to the monotypic genus Calycopteris; another major clade includes three genera Anogeissus, Terminalia and Conocarpus. There is no support for the monophyly of Terminalia as it forms a polytomy with Anogeissus. This clade is sister to Conocarpus. Electronic Publication     

Ceratopteris chunii and Ceratopteris chingii(Pteridaceae),two new diploid species from China,based on morphological,cytological,and molecular dataOA

Understanding how natural hybridization and polyploidizations originate in plants requires identifying potential diploid ancestors.However,cryptic plant species are widespread,particularly in Ceratopteris(Pteridaceae).Identifying Ceratopteris cryptic species with different polyploidy levels is a challenge because Ceratopteris spp.exhibit high degrees of phenotypic plasticity.Here,two new cryptic species of Ceratopteris,Ceratopteris chunii and Ceratopteris chingii,are described and illustrated.Ph...     

On the phylogeny of Euryteinae (Crustacea,Copepoda, Cyclopoida), with description of one new species from Korea

Euryte koreana sp. nov. is described from the shallow littoral on the East Coast of South Korea, and represents the first record of the subfamily Euryteinae Monchenko, 1974 in the Pacific Ocean north of the tropics. It belongs to a group of species that have the caudal rami length/width ratio of around four, but differs from all congeners by a number of morphological features. Detailed drawings and extensive scanning electron micrographs of many characters of ornamentation provided for this species should serve as a benchmark for distinguishing closely related species in this subfamily with conservative macro-morphology. A morphologically distinct population from anchialine caves in Mallorca, identified previously as Euryte longicauda Philippi, 1843, is described as another new species: Euryte jaumei sp. nov. To test the phylogenetic relationships of its members and previous hypotheses about generic placement of two species associated with scleractinian corals, several cladistic analyses are performed on all 16 currently recognized species of Euryteinae and two outgroups, Neocyclops australiensis Karanovic, 2008 and Troglocyclops janstocki Rocha and Iliffe, 1994, using 25 morphological characters. All resulting trees suggest a close relationship between the two commensal species and them as a sister clade to all other Euryteinae. They are transferred into a newly erected genus Coraleuryte gen. nov., as C. bellatula (Humes, 1991) comb. nov. and C. verecunda (Humes, 1992) comb. nov., and a revised diagnoses is provided for the genus Euryte Philippi, 1843. Obtained cladograms also show that Ancheuryte Herbst, 1989 is nested deeply within the Euryte clade, so the genus is synonymized and its only species is transferred, as E. notabilis (Herbst, 1989) comb. nov. A key to species of Euryteinae is also provided.     

云南凤仙花属一新种及一新记录种

报道了在云南西南部发现的凤仙花属一新种——滇红凤仙花（Impatiens quintadecimacopii G.W.Hu&Q.F.Wang）和一新记录种——伸展凤仙花（I.porrecta Wall.ex Hook.f.&Thomson）。这两个种在形态上很相似,但在花色、侧萼片形状、旗瓣形状和蒴果颜色上明显有别。根据形态特征,这两个种应属于凤仙花亚属（I. subg.Impatiens）单花组（I. sect.Uniflora）。结合核糖体DNA内转录间隔区序列（ITS）与叶绿体atpB-rbcL间隔区序列开展系统发育分析,结果进一步确认了这两个种关系紧密,以及它们在单花组内的系统位置。     

Congruence between nuclear and mitochondrial genes in Demospongiae: a new hypothesis for relationships within the G4 clade (Porifera: Demospongiae)

The current morphological classification of the Demospongiae G4 clade was tested using large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU rRNA) sequences from 119 taxa. Fifty-three mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) barcoding sequences were also analysed to test whether the 28S phylogeny could be recovered using an independent gene. This is the largest and most comprehensive study of the Demospongiae G4 clade. The 28S and CO1 genetrees result in congruent clades but conflict with the current morphological classification. The results confirm the polyphyly of Halichondrida, Hadromerida, Dictyonellidae, Axinellidae and Poecilosclerida and show that several of the characters used in morphological classifications are homoplasious. Robust clades are clearly shown and a new hypothesis for relationships of taxa allocated to G4 is proposed.