Survey of leaf anatomy,especially secretory structures,of tribeCaesalpinieae (Leguminosae,Caesalpinioideae)

We studied leaflet anatomy, emphasizing secretory structures, from herbarium specimens of 128 species of 44 genera of tribeCaesalpinieae, using clearings, resin sections, and scanning electron microscopy. These observations, combined with those from our three earlier papers, provide a survey of 210 species representing all genera. Seventy-three species had secretory structures: 21 had glands or gland-like trichomes, 40 had living mesophyll idioblasts, and nine had cavities (three species each had two different types). Five additional species, all inCercidium (Caesalpinia group), had paired or clustered large spheroidal, thick-walled, empty cells (veinlet idioblasts) interconnected by perforation plate-like gaps. Secretory structures have systematic significance at various taxonomic levels.     

Benthic scavengers collected by baited traps in the high Arctic

Baited traps were deployed in the coastal areas of Svalbard (0–175 m), Franz Josef Land (15 and 20 m), Northeast Greenland (6 and 20 m) and Ellesmere Island (2–145 m). The samples were dominated by Lysianassidae (Amphipoda). In the most extensively sampled locality (Hornsund, Svalbard), differences between the necrophagic fauna of the outer and inner basins were observed. Clear depth separations of closely related species of the Anonyx and Onisimus genera were found between 0 and 175 m in Hornsund. Anonyx nugax and Onisimus edwardsi were the only species found in all of the examined localities. Accepted: 14 January 2000     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomentella furcata</Emphasis>, a new species from Benin (West Africa) with basidia forming internal hyphae

In this study, a new tropical African resupinate thelephoroid species, namely Tomentella furcata, is described. Microscopically, it is characterised by mostly simple septate and thick-walled (1–2 μm) subicular and subhymenial hyphae, suburniform basidia with transverse septa and/or infrequently with an internal hypha, large sterigmata of 2–4 μm at base, and distinctly yellow, subglobose to globose basidiospores (both in frontal and lateral view) with long (1–2 μm) and dense, simple or forked spines. Phylogenetically, T. furcata falls within terminal clades of investigated Tomentella species. We discuss ornamentation types of basidiospores for discrimination of resupinate thelepohoroid genera and confirm the limitation of ornament bifurcation as a diagnostic feature of Pseudotomentella. Anatomical dissimilarities between T. furcata and close species are given. Taxonomical novelty: Tomentella furcata Yorou & Agerer.     

Incidence of seed-borne fungi and aflatoxins in Sudanese lentil seeds

Thirteen seed samples of lentil (Lens esculenta) were incubated on agar plate and moist filter papers (Moist Chambers) at 28 ± 2 °C for determination of the incidence of seed-borne fungi. Aflatoxins content of the seeds was measured using the bright greenish-yellow fluorescence test (BGYF) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Sixty-nine species and seven varieties, which belong to 24 genera of fungi, were isolated from this crop. Of these fungi, 51 species and two varieties are considered new for this crop, whereas seven genera and 13 species are new to the mycoflora of the Sudan. The genus Aspergillus (13 species and 6 varieties) which comprising 44% of the total colony count was the most prevalent genus followed by Rhizopus (2 species, 19%), Penicillium (6 species) and Fusarium (8 species) (12%), Chaetomium (3 species) and Cladosporium (5 species) (6%), where the 18 genera (1–4 species) showed very low level of incidence (19%). Of the possible pathogens of lentil plants, F. oxysporum the main cause of vascular wilt was recovered from seeds of this crop. Thin layer chromatographic analysis of chloroform extracts of 13 seed samples showed that only one samples was naturally contaminated with aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ (14.3 μg/kg). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Early Silurian (Telychian) rugose coral fauna of Daguan area, northeast Yunnan province, China

Study on rugose coral fauna of the Sifengya Formation (early Telychian) and Daluzhai Formation (mid-late Telychian) in Daguan area, northeast Yunnan Province, China was carried out. Rugose coral fauna of the Sifengya Formation included 18 genera and 34 species, while Daluzhai Formation with nine genera, ten species. We described rugose coral fauna (12 genera, 19 species) including one new genus and five new species, i.e. Protoketophyllum daguanense gen. et sp. nov., Crassilasma huanggexiense sp. nov., Pseudophaulactis heae sp. nov., P. convolutus sp. nov., and Shensiphyllum minor sp. nov. The characteristics and geological significance of rugose coral fauna of Sifengya Formation and Daluzhai Formation were analyzed. Particularly, rugose coral fauna of the Sifengya Formation represent early Telychian rugosan fauna in the Upper Yangtze region and improve the sequences of early Silurian (Llandovery) rugose coral assemblages in Yangtze region. It is therefore very meaningful to further analyze radiation period of rugose coral fauna in such epoch. __________ Translated from Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, 2005, 44(2): 229–246 [译自: 古生物学报, 2005, 44(2): 229–246]     

Floral ontogeny in Dipterygeae (Fabaceae) reveals new insights into one of the earliest branching tribes in papilionoid legumes

Flowers of Dipterygeae (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae) exhibit an unusual petaloid calyx. The two adaxial sepals are large and petaloid, and the three abaxial sepals form a three‐toothed lobe. The goal of this study was to elucidate the ontogenetic pathways of this peculiar calyx in light of the floral development of the three genera that comprise the tribe. Floral buds of Dipteryx alata, Pterodon pubescens and Taralea oppositifolia were analysed using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. The order of bracteole and sepal initiation varies among the species. The androecium is asymmetric. The carpel cleft is positioned to the right or to the left, and is opposite the adaxial antepetalous stamen. The peculiarity of the calyx becomes noticeable in the intermediate stages of floral development. It results from the differential growth of the sepal primordia, in which the abaxial and lateral primordia remain diminutive during floral development, compared with the adaxial ones that enlarge and elongate. Bracteoles, abaxial sepals, petals and anthers are appendiculate, except in T. oppositifolia, in which the appendices were not found in bracteoles or anthers. These appendices comprise secretory canals or cavities. Considering that the ontogenetic pathway for the formation of the petaloid calyx is similar and exclusive for Dipterygeae, it might be a potential synapomorphy for the group, with the presence of secretory canals in the appendices of abaxial and lateral sepals and petals. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 174 , 529–550.     

Glomales species associated with surface and deep rhizosphere of Faidherbia albida in Senegal

 Five arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal species were isolated and propagated from surface and deep rhizospheres of Faidherbia albida trees growing in two ecoclimatic zones of West Africa: the semi-arid Sahelian and the more humid Sudano-Guinean areas. Of these species, Glomus aggregatum, Glomus caledonium, and Glomus mosseae were trapped by F. albida roots when cultivated with either surface or deep soils. Glomus fasciculatum was found exclusively at the semi-arid Sahelian sites of Louga and Diokoul and Gigaspora margarita was isolated only from 16.5-m and 34-m-deep samples. Comparable glomalean fungal species richness was identified in deep (1.5–34 m) and surface (0.15 m) samples. The isolation and the propagation of glomalean fungi from F. albida rhizospheres confirmed the presence of viable AM fungal propagules, down to the water table, as deep as 34 m. Accepted: 27 August 2000     

Mycoflora and mycotoxins of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds in Egypt. III. Cellulose-decomposing and mycotoxin-producing fungi

From 40 peanut seed samples collected in Egypt, forty-three species and one variety of fungi, belonging to 16 genera, were collected. The most dominant genera were Aspergillus (11 species + one variety), Penicillium (11 species) and Fusarium (4 species). From the preceding genera A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, P. chrysogenum and F. oxysporum were the most frequent species.Forty-nine isolates belonging to 12 species and one variety were tested for production of mycotoxins, after growth on liquid medium containing two carbon sources (sucrose or cellulose). Thin layer chromatographic analysis revealed that the quality and quantity of mycotoxins was higher on sucrose than cellulose. Mycotoxins identified were aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ & G₂, citrinin; fumagillin; diacetoxyscirpenol T-2 toxin; satratoxin H; and zearalenone.     

Investigation of Supragingival Plaque Microbiota in Different Caries Status of Chinese Preschool Children by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

This study aimed to detect differences in the richness of total supragingival plaque microbiota as well as the species composition of oral streptococci involved in the different stages of dental caries. Forty-five plaque samples were collected from caries-moderate (CM, 4 ≤ dmfs ≤ 6), caries-susceptible (CS, dmfs ≥ 10), and age-matched caries-free children separately. Total DNA was isolated directly from each sample, and polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analyses using universal and primers specific for oral streptococci were carried out. Using 16S rDNA PCR-DGGE, 34 different species of bacteria were identified in a culture-independent manner and classified into 11 genera according to phylogenetic analysis. Among them, Mitis group streptococci and Campylobacter, which were present in health status, no longer appeared in caries-susceptible samples. In addition, Capnocytophaga, Burkholderia, and Prevotella were found significantly less frequently in the CS group samples (P < 0.05), while there were no significant differences among the prevalence of Neisseria, Leptotrichia, Haemophilus, Mutans group streptococci, Corynebacterium, and Actinomyces in the three groups. Further DGGE analysis of rnpB gene amplicons obtained with oral streptococci species-specific primers showed that a total of 23 species of oral streptococci were identified. Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus oralis showed a significantly higher prevalence in healthy children (P < 0.05), while that of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus did not vary among the three groups. Overall, these results suggest that supragingival plaque microbiota as a whole undergoes a more complicated shift in the caries process.     

The diversity of bacteria,eukaryotic cells and viruses in an oligotrophic lake

An in situ transmission electron microscopic study of biomass samples concentrated from oligotrophic lake water revealed a variety of virus-infected microbial cells and many free viruses and virus-like particles. The most abundant group of microorganisms in screened and filtered water-column samples were 2 μm or less in diameter, and included representatives of several oligotrophic genera, Prosthecomicrobium, Ancyclobacter, Caulobacter and Hyphomicrobium. Among the prokaryotic host cells, which included both heterotrophs and autotrophs, on the basis of electron microscope observations, approximately 17% were infected with bacteriophage or bore adherent phage particles on their surfaces. Several bacterial morphotypes were observed among the prokaryotic hosts. Water samples passed through a 20-μm Nitex screen allowed us to concentrate and examine the larger host cells as well, including several species of single-celled algae and two amoeba species. The infected algal cells included those Chlorella-like in appearance, photosynthetic flagellates and others that could not be positively identified. About one-third of the eukaryotic cells were infected by viruses that were larger (150–200 nm) and structurally more complex than bacteriophages (50–60 nm). None of the viruses have been isolated, but when 0.2 μm filtrate from a biomass sample was spotted onto lawns of four representative heterotrophs and a Chlorella, the clearing observed was taken as evidence of lysis. Cyanobacterial lawns showed no plaques. Thin sections of two amoeba showed food vacuoles containing what appeared to be virus particles of a type seen in certain prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in the biomass. Received: 26 January 1996 / Received revision: 10 July 1996 / Accepted: 5 August 1996     

β 2 -microglobulin in neotropical primates (Platyrrhini)

 Nucleotide sequences for the three exons of the β₂-microglobulin (β₂m) gene (B2m) were determined for 135 animals representing 37 species and all 16 genera of neotropical primates (Platyrrhini). Twenty-eight different nucleotide sequences, encoding for 26 different proteins, were obtained. In comparison with those of other primate species, the β₂-microglobulins of the Platyrrhini form a distinct clade. Individual genera of neotropical primates have distinctive B2m sequences, but within a genera species can have either the same or different B2m sequences. B2m polymorphism was found within three of the species sampled: Callicebus personatus, Saguinus midas, and Aotus azarae. Of these only the polymorphism in A. azarae has an effect upon the mature, functional β₂m protein: residue 4 being either alanine or threonine. The A. azarae B2m allele encoding alanine at position 4 is shared with another species of Aotus (A. infulatus). In pairwise comparison the mature β₂m proteins of neotropical primates differ by 1–9 amino acid substitutions which can occur at 18 positions within the sequence. The substitutions are distributed throughout the primary structure but are more commonly found in loops rather than β strands of the tertiary structure. Of 17 residues of β₂m which hydrogen-bond with the class I heavy chain in human MHC class I molecules, 13 are conserved in the neotropical primates. The overall pattern of sequence variation in the B2m genes of the Platyrrhini is consistent with an evolution by successive selectively neutral events. Received: 13 November 1997 / Revised: 12 January 1998     

Molecular phylogenetic studies of Lachnum and its allies based on the Japanese material

Molecular phylogenetic studies were carried out based on ITS-5.8S rDNA, the D1–D2 region of the large subunit rRNA gene, RPB2, and combined data of D1–D2 and RPB2 as well as these three genes on 36 species among 7 genera for Lachnum and allied genera in the family Hyaloscyphaceae. In the combined data of all three regions, seven strongly supported clades were obtained. The same clades were also recognized in most of the trees based on each gene, and the combined data of D1–D2 and RPB2, although some of them were not strongly supported. Four clades represented Albotricha, Brunnipila, Incrucipulum, and Lachnellula, respectively, whereas Lachnum was distributed to the remaining three clades. The molecular phylogenies strongly supported a group of species with granulate hairs, and we suggest the concept of Lachnaceae should be restricted to these species. Based on the molecular phylogenetic analysis, three new combinations—Incrucipulum longispineum, I. radiatum, and Lachnellula pulverulentum from Lachnum—are proposed.     

Comparative anatomy of resin ducts of the Pinaceae

 Resin ducts are common in the Pinaceae. The comparative anatomy of stems and leaves of 50 species and two varieties from ten genera has been investigated. The structure and distribution of resin ducts differ among genera. Resin ducts occur in foliage leaves of ten genera of Pinaceae. Cortical resin ducts are absent in the stems of Pseudolarix and Larix. Resin ducts only occur in the secondary xylem of stems of Pinus, Picea, Cathaya, Larix, Pseudotsuga and some Keteleeria species. All of the epithelial and sheath cells are alive and thin-walled in the resin ducts of stem cortex and mesophyll. Except for Pinus the epithelial cells of resin ducts in the secondary xylem of stems have thick, lignified walls. Comparative study shows there are obvious differences in the resin ducts of different genera; apparent differences do not exist, however, in the resin ducts of different species of the same genus. According to the structure and distribution of the resin ducts in ten genera of Pinaceae, a synoptical arrangement of the genera is given and generic relationships of the Pinaceae are discussed. Received: 12 September 1995 / Accepted: 14 March 1996     

The uncommon cavitated secretory trichomes in Bauhinia s.s. (Fabaceae): the same roles in different organs

Cavitated secretory trichomes are characterized by a short or absent stalk that is connected to a secretory hollow head. They are rare structures in angiosperms; in Fabaceae, they have been recorded in only seven genera, including Bauhinia s.s. Because B. curvula and B. rufa exhibit glands that are responsible for attracting pollinators to flowers, this study aimed to test whether the cavitated secretory trichomes present in the flowers of these species have an attraction function. As leaf trichomes are commonly related to plant defence, comparative analyses of the morphology, ontogeny, ultrastructure and chemical profile of the secretory trichomes present in flowers and leaves were conducted. It was found that cavitated secretory trichomes are similar in their external morphology and development, regardless of the organ or species analysed. However, interspecific differences were found in the secretion process and chemical profile of the exudate. The differences found in the cavitated secretory trichomes between species indicate that they secrete distinct compounds, whereas the similarities found in these structures between vegetative and reproductive organs indicate that the cavitated trichomes have equivalent ecological functions within a species, probably in plant defence during organ development. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2016, 180 , 104–122.     

The epizoic diatom community on four bryozoan species from Helgoland (German Bight, North Sea)

The composition of the diatom community on the bryozoans Electra pilosa, Membranipora membranacea, Flustra foliacea, and Alcyonidium gelatinosum from the German Bight was studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. In total, members of 26 diatom genera were found, with Cocconeis, Tabularia, Licmophora, Amphora, and Navicula being the most abundant. The amount and the composition of the diatom covering seem to be typical for single bryozoan species. Electra pilosa and Membranipora membranacea showed a rather dense covering with 71–547 cells/mm² and 77–110 cells/mm², respectively. The most prominent genus on Electra pilosa was Cocconeis, reaching up to 58% of all diatoms in one sample, followed by Navicula, Tabularia and Amphora. The most abundant genera on Membranipora membranacea were Tabularia and Licmophora, making up almost 70% of all diatoms in one sample, followed by Navicula, Cocconeis and Amphora. The diatom composition was very stable on all Electra samples, but varied on Membranipora samples. With <1–27 cells/mm², diatoms were much less abundant on Alcyonidium gelatinosum. Members of the genera Tabularia and Navicula were the most frequently found benthic diatoms, whereas the planktonic forms Coscinodiscus, Cyclotella, and Thalassiosira made up 35% of the diatoms. On Flustra foliacea, diatoms were virtually absent, with fewer than 5 cells/mm². The low diatom numbers are probably due to toxic metabolites produced by the host. The same may be true for Alcyonidium gelatinosum, but here they might also be a consequence of the surface properties of the bryozoan. Electronic Publication     

Polymerase Chain Reaction in Detection of Gymnodinium mikimotoi and Alexandrium minutum in Field Samples from Southwest India

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were constructed for the detection of two toxic dinoflagellate species, Gymnodinium mikimotoi and Alexandrium minutum. The primers amplified a product of expected size from cultured cells of G. mikimotoi and A. minutum. The species-specific primers targeting G. mikimotoi did not yield any product with a wide range of other cultured algae used as negative controls. Primers designed for A. minutum were species-group-specific since it PCR yielded a product from the closely related species A. ostenfeldii and A. andersonii, but not from other species of this genus tested. The confirmation of PCR products was performed by digestion of the products with restriction enzymes. Sensitivity analyses of the primers on DNA template from cultured cells was positive by PCR at a DNA template concentration of 1.5 × 10⁻⁴ ng/μl (0.3 cells/L) for A. minutum, and at a DNA concentration of 2.5 × 10⁻² ng/μl (697 cells/L) for G. mikimotoi. The PCR method for detection of G. mikimotoi and A. minutum was applied on field samples collected with a plankton net. Gymnodinium mikimotoi could be detected in 11 field samples by microscopy, and all these field samples were positive by PCR. The cell counts of G. mikimotoi in simultaneously collected water samples ranged from 306 to 2077/L. Alexandrium minutum could be detected by microscopy in 3 different field samples. The cell counts in water samples collected at the same time as the net samples ranged from 115 to 1115 cells/L. Alexandrium minutum was detected by PCR in these field samples, with the exception of the sample displaying the lowest cell count (115 cells/L). Plankton samples that were negative by microscopy for any of the two target species were also negative by PCR. All the PCR products from field samples were confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion. The application of PCR-based detection of harmful algal bloom species for aquaculture and monitoring purposes in natural field samples is discussed. Received April 4, 2000; accepted September 25, 2000.     

Karyology and cytotaxonomy of the genus Passiflora L. (Passifloraceae)

 The chromosomes of 31 species of Passiflora, distributed throughout the subgenera Astrophea, Calopathanthus, Distephana, Dysosmia, Passiflora, Plectostemma and Tacsonia were analysed. Three different karyotypes were observed: 2n = 12, 24, 36; 2n = 18, 72 and 2n = 20. The karyotype of these species was almost always constituted of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes with variable karyotype symmetry. In the group with x = 6, represented by the subgenus Plectostemma, six diploid species with 2n = 12, one tetraploid with 2n = 24 (P. suberosa) and an intraspecific polyploid with 2n = 12, 36 (P. misera) were analysed. P. pentagona (subgenus Astrophea) may also be included in this karyological group since it presents 2n = 24 and may be of polyploid origin, with x = 6. The interphase nuclei in this group were areticulate, except those of P. morifolia and P. pentagona with semi-reticulate characteristics. Two small terminal heterochromatic blocks, positive for chromomycin A₃, were identified in the largest chromosome pair of P. capsularis and P. rubra, species very closely related, while P. tricuspis displayed four chromosomes with proximal blocks. In the group with x = 9, represented mainly by subgenus Passiflora, 20 species with 2n = 18 and one with 2n = 72 were studied. They presented chromosomes larger than those species with x = 6 and interphase nuclei of semi-reticulate type, except for P. mixta with areticulate nuclei. Four terminal CMA⁺ blocks were observed in P. edulis, six blocks in P. caerulea and P. racemosa, while five blocks were observed in the single P. amethystina plant analysed. P. foetida (subgenus Dysosmia), the only species with 2n = 20, exhibited six chromosomes with CMA⁺ blocks and interphase nuclei of the areticulate type. The meiotic analysis of representatives of the three groups (P. foetida, P. suberosa, P. cincinnata and P. racemosa) always presented regular pairing and regular chromosome segregation, except in P. jilekii where a tetravalent was observed. The analysis of the chromosome variation within the genus and the family suggests that the base number of Passiflora may be x₁ = 6 or x₁ = 12, whereas x₂ = 9 is only an important secondary base number. Received April 11, 2000 Accepted October 5, 2000