Four new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crinipellis </Emphasis>and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Marasmius </Emphasis>in eastern Honshu,Japan

 Four new species of Crinipellis and Marasmius (Agaricales, Basidiomycetes) in eastern Honshu, Japan, are described and illustrated: (1) Crinipellis conchata sp. nov. (section Excentricinae), forming a conchate pileus and a strongly excentric, short stipe, was found on a dead twig of Trachelospermum asiaticum in Mt. Takao, Tokyo; (2) Marasmius funalis sp. nov. (section Androsacei), forming a densely white-hispid, dark brown stipe bearing numerous setiform caulocystidia, was found on a dead twig of Cryptomeria japonica or on leaf litter in Tokyo and Kanagawa; (3) Marasmius maculosus sp. nov. (section Sicci), having a relatively large, reddish-brown pileus distinctly mottled with pale colored spots and Siccus-type cheilocystidia and pileipellis cells with relatively long setulae, was found on leaf litter in the lowland forest of Kanagawa and Chiba; and (4) Marasmius sasicola sp. nov. (section Marasmius), having a small, plicate-sulcate pileus, a filiform, wiry, blackish stipe, collariate lamellae, and Siccus-type cheilocystidia and pileipellis elements, was found on fallen dead leaves of grass bamboo in Kanagawa. Received: January 30, 2002 / Accepted: May 24, 2002     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Barleria compacta</Emphasis>: a new species in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Barleria</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prionitis</Emphasis> (Acanthaceae) from Somalia

Following a re-examination of the material treated under Barleria brevispina (Fiori) Hedrén in the recent Flora of Somalia account of the Acanthaceae, it is concluded that two distinct species are involved and Barleria compacta Malombe & I. Darbysh. is described here from north-eastern Somalia. Its affinities and conservation status are discussed.     

Revision of “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Septonema ochraceum</Emphasis>” revealed three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Venturiaceae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Herpotrichiellaceae</Emphasis>

Survey of seven strains determined as Septonema ochraceum (Dothideomycetes, inc. sed.) isolated from pine litter or obtained from public collections revealed three new species, Fusicladium cordae, F. sicilianum (Venturiaceae), Cladophialophora matsushimae (Herpotrichiellaceae) and a cryptic species morphologically identical to Devriesia americana (Teratosphaeriaceae), but phylogenetically distinct. Morphological survey and phylogenetic analysis using nucleotide sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal subunit genes indicate a close relationship within three species colonising pine litter needles, F. cordae, F. pini and F. ramoconidii. F. sicilianum is most related to F. rhodense. C. matsushimae represents a species belonging to one of the lineages of the polyphyletic genus Cladophialophora. None of the strains observed can be classified morphologically as S. ochraceum, of which the type material does not exist.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bambusa</Emphasis> (Poaceae) from India

Bambusa majumdarii P. Kumari & P. Singh and Bambusa mohanramii P. Kumari & P. Singh from north-eastern India are described and illustrated.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriocaulon epedunculatum</Emphasis>, a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriocaulaceae</Emphasis> from the Western Ghats,India

Summary  A new species of Eriocaulon, E. epedunculatum (Eriocaulaceae) is described and illustrated from the Western Ghats, India.     

Structural characteristics of the chloroplast <Emphasis Type="Italic">rpS16</Emphasis> intron in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium sativum</Emphasis> and related <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium</Emphasis> species

The intron sequence of chloroplast rpS16 and the secondary structure of its pre-mRNA were characterized for the first time in 26 Allium sativum accessions of different ecologo-geographical origins and seven related Allium species. The boundaries and main stem-loop consensus sequences were identified for all six domains of the intron. Polymorphism was estimated for the total intron and its regions. The structural regions of the rpS16 intron proved to be heterogeneous for mutation rate and spectrum. Mutations were most abundant in domains II and IV, and transition predominated in domains I, III, V, and VI. In addition to structural elements and motifs typical for group IIB introns, several Allium-specific micro- and macrostructural mutations were revealed. A 290-bp deletion involving domains III and IV and part of domain V was observed in A. altaicum, A. fistulosum, and A. schoenoprasum. Several indels and nucleotide substitutions were found to cause a deviation of the pre-mRNA secondary structure from the consensus model of group II introns.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus anthracis</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Francisella tularensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yersinia pestis</Emphasis>. The most important bacterial warfare agents — <Emphasis Type="Italic">review</Emphasis>

There are three most important bacterial causative agents of serious infections that could be misused for warfare purposes: Bacillus anthracis (the causative agent of anthrax) is the most frequently mentioned one; however, Fracisella tularensis (causing tularemia) and Yersinia pestis (the causative agent of plague) are further bacterial agents enlisted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into the category A of potential biological weapons. This review intends to summarize basic information about these bacterial agents. Military aspects of their pathogenesis and the detection techniques suitable for field use are discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gagea robusta</Emphasis> (Liliaceae), a new species from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flora Iranica</Emphasis> area

A new species, endemic to the Flora Iranica area, Gagea robusta (Liliaceae) is described and illustrated. It differs from G. reticulata (Pall.) Schult. & Schult. f. in having a puberulent indumentum on the basal leaf and from G. setifolia Baker ex Aitch. in having a long neck (up to 12 cm long). Its ecology, distribution and conservation status are discussed.     

Mapping species differences for adventitious rooting in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corymbia torelliana</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corymbia citriodora</Emphasis> subspecies <Emphasis Type="Italic">variegata</Emphasis> hybrid

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection was carried out for adventitious rooting and associated propagation traits in a second-generation outbred Corymbia torelliana × Corymbia citriodora subspecies variegata hybrid family (n = 186). The parental species of this cross are divergent in their capacity to develop roots adventitiously on stem cuttings and their propensity to form lignotubers. For the ten traits studied, there was one or two QTL detected, with some QTL explaining large amounts of phenotypic variation (e.g. 66% for one QTL for percentage rooting), suggesting that major effects influence rooting in this cross. Collocation of QTL for many strongly genetically correlated rooting traits to a single region on linkage group 12 suggested pleiotropy. A three locus model was most parsimonious for linkage group 12, however, as differences in QTL position and lower genetic correlations suggested separate loci for each of the traits of shoot production and root initiation. Species differences were thought to be the major source of phenotypic variation for some rooting rate and root quality traits because of the major QTL effects and up to 59-fold larger homospecific deviations (attributed to species differences) relative to heterospecific deviations (attributed to standing variation within species) evident at some QTL for these traits. A large homospecific/heterospecific ratio at major QTL suggested that the gene action evident in one cross may be indicative of gene action more broadly in hybrids between these species for some traits.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tarenna pembensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pavetta curalicola</Emphasis>, two new species of Rubiaceae from northern Mozambique

Two new species of Rubiaceae, Tarenna pembensis J. E. Burrows and Pavetta curalicola J. E. Burrows, are described from the coastal region of northern Mozambique.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Psychotria kupensis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubiaceae</Emphasis>) a new dwarf,litter-gathering species from western Cameroon

Summary   Psychotria kupensis Cheek is described as a new species in Psychotria sect. Confertiflorae Hiern. Attention is drawn to its monopodial, dwarf, litter-gathering and adventitious root-forming habit and to its anomalous stipules. The species appears to be endemic to the submontane evergeen forest of Mt Kupe in Cameroon. Its conservation status is assessed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Strobilanthes pothigaiensis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthaceae</Emphasis>) — a new species from southern Western Ghats,India

Summary   Strobilanthes pothigaiensis, a new species of Strobilanthes (Acanthaceae) allied to S. foliosus T. Anderson from southern Western Ghats, India, is described and illustrated.     

Interaction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus</Emphasis> with bacteria <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campylobacter jejuni</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis>

Interaction of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 100NCJB with bacteria Campylobacter jejuni (strains 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) and Helicobacter pylori, strain TX30a, was confirmed. The results indicate that lytic activity of bdellovibrios both in liquid media and cells attached to a surface was observed. The potential use of the antimicrobial activity of predatory bacteria for environmental bioprotection and public health is discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dictyochaeta multifimbriata</Emphasis>, a new species from Taiwan

A new species of the dematiaceous hyphomycete genus Dictyochaeta was collected on a dead twig in Taiwan. It is characterised by solitary conidiophores and reniform, non-septate conidia with several setulae at each end. The species is compared with other species having non-septate, setulate conidia and is described as Dictyochaeta multifimbriata.     

Frequencies of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">DRB1</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">DQA1</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">DQB1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">TNFA</Emphasis> alleles in immigrant population of west Siberia

Based on population analysis of the DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 and TNFA allele frequency distribution patterns, regional features of immunogenetic structure of the population of West Siberia were investigated. Statistically significant linkage disequilibrium within the HLA class II region, as well as between the TNFA and DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 was demonstrated. Population frequency distribution patterns of two- and multilocus haplotypes were examined.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Peristylus sahanii</Emphasis>, a new species of Orchidaceae from India

Peristylus sahanii (Orchidaceae), a new species from Jharkhand state (Chotanagpur plateau), India is described and illustrated.