Notes on some African hepatic genera 1–5

The present study deals with five genera of hepatics in Africa, Isotachis Mitt., Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph., Tritomaria Schiffn. ex Loeske, Gymnocoleopsis (Schust.) Schust. and Lophozia (Dum.) Dum. All African populations of the genus Isotachis Mitt. are considered to be one species, I. aubertii (Schwaegr.) Mitt. Four species of Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph. (s.l.), A. auritum (Lehm.) Steph., A. piligerum (Nees) Spruce, A. subcomplicatum (Lehm. et Lindenb.) Steph. and A. minutum (Schreb.) Schust., and two species of Tritomaria Schiffn. et Loeske, T. camerunensis S. Arnell and T. exsecta (Schrad.) Schiffn. ex Loeske occur in Africa. Gymmocoleopsis multiflora (Steph.) Schust. represents a genus and species hitherto unreported for the African flora. Finally, five Lophozia (Dum.) Dum. species, L. argentina (Steph.) Schust., L. capensis S. Arnell, L. decolorans (Limpr.) Steph., L. hedbergii S. Arnell and L. tristaniana (S. Arnell) Váňa, are reported from central and southern Africa; two of these (L. argentina (Steph.) Schust. and L. decolorans (Limpr.) Steph.) represent the first reports from Africa.     

Studien über dieJungermannioideae (Hepaticae) 6.Jungermannia Subg.Solenostoma: Europäische und nordamerikanische Arten

Dersechste Beitrag aus der Serie der vorbereiteten Studien über die SubfamilieJungermannioideae (Jungermanniaceae, Hepaticae) enthält die taxonomische Bearbeitung des Subg.Solenostoma (Mitt.)Amak. (GattungJungermannia L. emend.Dum.) in Europa (inkl. Kaukasus und Kleinasien) und Nordamerika. Im genannten Gebiet kommen 10 Arten vor, u. zw.J. caespiticia Lindenb.,J. caucasica Váňa,J. confertissima Nees,J. gracillima Sm.,J. handelii (Schiffn.)Amak.,J. jenseniana Grolle,J. lignicola (Schiffn.)Grolle,J. pyriflora Steph.,J. rubra Gott. exUnd. undJ. sphaerocarpa Hook. Die ArtJ. confertissima Nees (bisher alsSolenostoma levieri (Steph.)Steph. bezeichnet) gehört zu der SektionDesmorhiza Amak., alle anderen Arten gehören zu der SektionSolenostoma.     

LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 1.Brachysporium

Four species of the genusBrachysporium Sacc. emend.Mason etHughes are treated in this paper from Czechoslovakia:B. nigrum (Link)Hughes,B. obovatum (Berk.)Sacc. and two new species,B. abietinum Hol.-Jech. andB. brevius Hol.-Jech.     

Scanning electron microscopic study of anamorphs of someBasidiomycetes in culture

The anamorphs in cultures ofLepista nuda (Bull.:Fr.)Cooke,Coprinus comatus (Müll.:Fr.)S.F. Gray,Fistulina hepatica Sohaeff.:Fr.,Pholiota adiposa (Fr.)Kumm. andAsterophora lycoperdoides (Bull.)S.F. Gray, an imperfect state ofNyctalis lycoperdoides (Bull.)Schroet., were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Arthroconidia were described inLepista nuda for the first time. Examination of the fine structure of dendroid forms inCoprinus comatus revealed why those structures were not propagative.     

New chromosome counts in nine endemic species from Iran

Original meiotic chromosome counts are presented for nine endemic species in seven families of Angiosperms from Iran including:Arum giganteum Ghahr. (Araceae) (n=14),Caccinia actinobole Bunge (Boraginaceae) (n=8),Delphinium aquilegifolium (Boiss.)Bornm. (Ranunculaceae) (n=8),Diplotaenia damavandica Mozaff., Hedge etLamond (Apiaceae) (n=11),Gypsophila caricifolia Boiss. (Caryophyllaceae) (n=17),Iphiona arachnoidea (Boiss.)Anderb. (Asteraceae) (n=9),Moltkia gypsacea Rech. f. etAellen (Boraginaceae) (n=20),Onobrychis gaubae Bornm. (Fabaceae) (n=8) andOnosma platyphyllum Riedl (Boraginaceae) (n=9). Eight counts are reported for the first time. Furthermore, the previous chromosome count forIphiona aracnoidea is corrected. Based on cytological data the species status ofMoltkia gypsacea is confirmed; it is not merely synonymous withM. coerulea (Willd.)Lehm. The basic chromosome number n=11 is reported in the genusDiplotaenia for the first time.     

Chromosome counts and chromosome morphology of some selected species

In the years 1976–1981 we studied chromosome counts and karyotypic formulae of the following 29 species of plants from 41 localities (of these 6 from Bohemia, 32 from Moravia, 3 from Slovakia):Batrachium baudotii (Godron) F. W. Schultz,Chenopodium rubrum L.,C. polyspermum L.,C. murale L.,C. ficifolium Sm.,C. opulifolium Schrader ex DC. inLam. et DC.,C. strictum Roth [subsp.strictum, subsp.glaucophyllum (Aellen)Aellen inJust etAellen, subsp.striatiforme Uotila],Arenaria grandiflora L.,Illecebrum verticillatum L.,Spergula morisonii Boreau inDuchartre,Spergularia marginata (DC. inLam. et DC.)Kittel S. marina (L.)Griseb.,S. rubra (L.) J. etC. Presl,Silene conica L.,Sisymbrium loeselii L.,S. volgense Bieb. exE. Fourn.,S. orientale L. [subsp. orientale, subsp.macroloma (A. Pomel)Dvo?ák],S. officinale (L.)Scop.,Descurainia sophia (L.)Webb exPrantl inEngler etPrantl,Nasturtium officinale R. Br. inAiton,Barbarea arcuata (Opiz inPresl J. et C.)Reichenb.,Lunaria annua L.,Soldanella montana Willd.,S. carpatica Vierh. inUrban etGraebner,Lotus tenuis Waldst. etKit. exWilld.,L. uliginosus Schkuhr,Trigonella monspeliaca L.,Geranium sibiricum L.,Lactuca tatarica (L.)C. A. Meyer.     

Chromosome counts of some Cuban Angiosperms

Chromosome numbers are reported for 14 species collected in Cuba. The first chromosome records are reported forAlbizzia cubana Britton etWilson (2n=26),Atkinsia cubensis (Britton etWilson)Howard (2n=26),Caesalpinia violacea (Mill.)Standl. (2n=24),Colubrina ferruginosa Brongn. (2n=24). Chromosome numbers of the following species were confirmed:Albizzia lebbeck (L.)Benth. (2n=26),Canavalia maritima (Aubl.)Thouars (2n=22),Casuarina equisetifolia Forst. (2n=18),Cedrela mexicana M.J. Roem. (2n=56),Delonix regia (Bojer)Raf. (2n=28),Guazuma tomentosa H.B.K. (2n=16),Lysiloma bahamense Benth. (2n=26),L. latisiliqua (L.)Benth. (2n=26),Samanea saman (Jacq.)Merrill (2n=26),Thespesia populnea (L.)Soland (2n=26).     

Bemerkungen zur Variabilität vonSaxifraga marginata

Saxifraga marginata Sternb. is divided into three subspecies:S. m. subsp.marginata, S. m. subsp.bubakii (Rohlena)Chrtek etSoják,S. m. subsp.karadzicensis (Degen etKo?anin)Chrtek etSoják (environments of Skopje, Macedonia).     

LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 2.Bactrodesmium

Six species of the genusBactrodesmium M. C. Cooke are described in this paper from Czechoslovakia:B. betulicola M.B. Ellis,B. obovatum (Oudemans) M.B. Ellis,B. spilomeum (Berk. etBr.)Mason etHughes including three new speciesB. globosum Hol.-Jech.,B. pyriforme Hol.-Jech. andB. submoniliforme Hol.-Jech.     

Verbeitung einiger seltenen und subendemischen Arten der griechischen Flora mit taxonomischen und chorologischen Betrachtungen

The taxa very rare in Greece,Gentianella bulgarica (Velen.)J. Holub andPrimula elatior (L.)Hill subsp.intricata (Gren. etGodron)Lüdi Balkan-South Carpathian and mountain subendemic taxon of South and South-Central Europe also the oreophytesGentiana asclepidaea L. andAndrosace villosa L. rare in Greece at high altitudes endemic species of Central Europe and arcto-alpic element both extending South as far as Central Italy and Central Greece as well as the relatively rare species in Greece,Crocus biflorus Mill. which exists in South Europe from Sicily and eastwards and finally four otherIridaceae, i.e.: the South Balkan Asia-Minor subendemic speciesCrocus olivieri Gay andC. pulchellus Herbert, the South Balkan endemic speciesC. veluchensis Herbert and the Mediterranean and mostly East-para-mediterranean subendemic speciesHermodactylus tuberosus (L.)Miller are reported and investigated. However new habitats and records in the Greek area of the investigated species are given, their distribution is discussed, while the existence of the taxa most rare in GreecePrimula elatior (L.)Hill subsp.intricata (Gren. etGodron)Lüdi inHegi,Gentianella bulgarica (Velen.)J. Holub,Gentiana asclepiadea L.,Androsace villosa L. andCrocus biflorus Mill. are presented in the form of a dot map and thus the southernmost limits of their spreading in the Balkan peninsula or in S.E. Europe are elucidated.     

Bacidina genus novum familiaeLecideaceae s. lat. (Ascomycetes lichenisati)

The following eleven species currently classified in the generaBacidia s. lat. andCatillaria s. lat. are transferred to the new genusBacidina Vězda gen. n. (Lecideaceae s. lat.):Bacidina apiahica (Müll. Arg.) comb. n.,B. chloroticula (Nyl.)Vězda etPoelt comb. n.,B. egenula (Nyl.) comb. n.,B. inundata (Fr.) comb. n.,B. mirabilis (Vězda) comb. n.,B. neglecta (Vězda) comb.n.,B. pallidocarnea (Müll. Arg.) comb. n.,B. phacodes (Koerb.) comb.n.,B. scutellifera (Vězda) comb.n.,B. vasakii (Vězda) comb.n., andB. ziamensis (Vězda) comb.n.     

A revision of the genusOlpitrichum Atk

A revision of the genusOlpitrichum Atk. was undertaken, revealing three species:O. macrosporum (Farlow exSacc.)Sumstine,O. patulum (Sacc etBerl.)Hol.-Jech. andO. tenellum (Berk. etCurt)Hol.-Jech.O. macrosporum andO. tenellum occur on decayed cotton bolls,O. patulum on dead rotten wood and bark. Aspergilliform phialosporous state has been found inO. macrosporum andO. patulum.     

Studien über dieJungermannioideae (Hepaticae) 10.Nardia

Die vorliegende Studie, die letzte aus der Serie der vorbereiteten, Studien über die SubfamilieJungermannioideue (Jungermanniaceae, Hepaticae) ist den Arten der GattungNardia S. Gray corr.Carring. gewidmet. Die GattungNardia wird in zwei Untergattungen gegliedert, u. zw. Subg.Geoscypharia Trev. mit den Sektionen Sect.Breidlerion Grolle (2 Arten), Sect.Flagelliformes Inoue (2 Arten), Sect.Geoscypharia (6 Arten), Sect.Nudae sect. nova (1 Art) und Sect.Subclavatae Inoue (3 Arten) und Subg.Nardia (1 Art). Von 16 bekannten Arten der Gattung (eine Art, die nur im sterilen Zustand bekannt ist, hat eine unsichere Stellung) sind in dieser Studie 8 Arten (N. breidleri (Limpr.) Lindb.,N. geoscyphus (De Not.) Lindb.,N. insecta Lindb.,N. scalaris S. Gray corr. Trev.,N. nuda (Lindenb. etGott.)Váňa,N. assamica (Mitt.) Amak.,N. succulenta (Rich. exLehm.)Spruce undN. compressa (Hook.) S. Gray corr. Trev.) eingehend taxonomisch bearbeitet. Die verbliebenen 8 Arten wurden schon von anderen Autoren (Amakawa, Grolle, Inoue, Schuster) oder vom Verfasser in früheren Studien bearbeitet.     

Nomenklatorische Anmerkungen zur GattungPotentilla

Für folgende inkorrekte Epitheta schlägt der Autor richtige Namen vor, die in Klammern angeführt sind:Potentilla opizii Dom. (=P. lindackeri Tausch),P. dealbata Bunge (=P. virgata Lehm.),P. poterioides Franch. (=P. limprichtii J. Krause),P. fulgens Wall. exHook. (=P. siemersiana Lehm.),P. labradorica Lehm. (=P. flexuosa Raf.),P. ambigua Camb. (=P. cuneifolia Bertol.),P. anserina ssp.egedii (Wormsk.) Hitt. (=P. anserina ssp.groenlandica Tratt.),P. raddeana (Wolf) Juz. (=P. bertramii Aznav.) undP. bipinnatifida Dougl. exHook. (=P. normalis Bess. exSpreng.). FürP. nudicaulis Boiss. etBal.,P. eremica Wolf undP. sericata Wolf werden nomina nova veröffentlicht. Es werden einige neue Kombinationen angeführt:P. supina L. ssp.paradoxa (Nutt. exTorr. etGray) c.n.,P. hispanica Zimm. ssp.oreodoxa (Soják) c. n. undP. h. ssp.ibrahimiana (Maire) c. n. Strauchige Arten, oft in die GattungPotentilla eingereiht, betrachtet der Autor als eine selbständige GattungPentaphylloides und in dieser Gattung führt er einige neue Kombinationen (5 für Arten, 4 für Hybriden) an.     

Characterization of a recombinant l-rhamnose isomerase from Bacillus subtilis and its application on production of l-lyxose and l-mannose

The gene of an l-rhamnose isomerase (RhaA) from Bacillus subtilis was cloned to the pET28a(+) and then expressed in the E. coli ER2566. The expressed enzyme was purified with a specific activity of 3.58 U/mg by His-Trap affinity chromatography. The recombinant enzyme existed as a 194 kDa tetramer and the maximal activity was observed at pH 8.0 and 60°C. The RhaA displayed activity for l-rhamnose, l-lyxose, l-mannose, d-allose, d-gulose, d-ribose, and l-talose, among all aldopentoses and aldohexoses and it showed enzyme activity for l-form monosaccharides such as l-rhamnose, l-lyxose, l-mannose, and l-talose. The catalytic efficiency (k _cat/K _m) of the recombinant enzyme for l-rhamnose, l-lyxose, and l-mannose were 7,460, 1,013, and 258 M/sec. When l-xylulose 100 g/L and l-fructose 100 g/L were used as substrates, the optimum concentrations of RpiB were determined with 6 and 15 U/mL, respectively. The l-lyxose 40 g/L was produced from l-xylulose 100 g/L by the enzyme during 60 min, while l-mannose 25 g/L was produced from l-fructose 100 g/L for 80 min. The results suggest that RhaA from B. subtilis is a potential producer of l-form monosaccharides.     

Some new nomenclatural combinations I

Twenty new nomenclatural combinations are proposed for various taxa.Haloscias Fries 1846 (aff.Ligusticum L. 1753),Hylebia (Koch)Fourr. 1868 (aff.Stellaria L. 1753) andStuckenia Börner 1912 (aff.Potamogeton L. 1753) are accepted as separate genera,Acetosella (Meisn.)Fourr. 1869 is included inAcetosa Mill. 1754.     

Draba skrivanekii,eine interessante Art aus Montenegro (Jugoslawien)

In den Herbarien der botanischen Abteilung des Nationalmuseums in Pr?honice (PR) werden zwei Belege aufbewahrt, die vonRohlena alsDraba athoa Boiss. bezeichnet sind. Später ordneteRohlena selbst diese Pflanzen der ArtD. elongata Host mit Bezeichnung var.skrivanekii Rohl. zu. Durch eine Analyse des Herbarmaterials hat sich erwiesen, dass es sich um eine selbständige Art—Draba skrivanekii (Rohl.)Chrtek—handelt, die in den Gebirgslagen Montenegros (Kom Vasojevi?ki) wahrscheinlich endemisch ist. Die nächstverwandte Art istDraba athoa (Griseb.)Boiss.     

Observation of algal colonization on Acropora aspera killed by Acanthaster planci

Algae started colonizing branches of the coral Acropora aspera (Dana) killed by the sea star Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus) within less than 24 hours. Two blue-greens ((Microcoleus lyngbyaceus (Crouan) Ag. and Hormothamnion solutum B. & F.)) dominated the early community but became less abundant than a brown ((Giffordia indica (Sonder) Papenfuss & Chihara)) after 26 days.     

The introduction and establishment of insect parasitoids to controlSirex noctilio in Australia

To control the woodwaspSirex noctilio F., accidentally introduced into Australia some time prior to 1952, natural enemies were collected in many parts of the northern hemisphere between 1962 and 1973. A total of 21 species of insect parasitoids were introduced to Tasmania for culturing, and 10 of these, with subspecies and geographic races, have been released in Tasmania and Victoria. Five species are now established. Ibalia leucospoides Hochenw. (subspeciesleucospoides andensiger Norton) andMegarhyssa nortoni (Cresson) (subspeciesnortoni andquebecensis (Provancher)) were the most rapid colonizers,M. nortoni having colonized one area following the liberation of only 10 females.Rhyssa persuasoria (L.) appears to be adaptable although slow to colonize.Ibalia rufipes drewseni Borries attacks host larvae hatching from overwintering eggs.Schlettererius cinctipes (Cresson) emerges later in the season thanM. nortoni andR. persuasoria and so far its abundance has remained low when one or both of these species are present. Of the species not yet established,Rhyssa hoferi Rohwer from the arid zone of the U.S.A. is the most promising. Early indications from evaluation studies are that a combination of the insect parasitoids, and parasitic nematodes which have also been introduced, will achieve a high level of biological control.