Gymnopilus maritimus (Basidiomycota, Agaricales), a new species from coastal psammophilous plant communities of northern Sardinia, Italy, and notes on G. arenophilus

The new species Gymnopilus maritimus is described from coastal plant communities of Juncus maritimus, growing on sandy soil or on decaying plants, from northwestern Sardinia (Italy). The distinguishing features of G. maritimus are: (1) an unusual habitat, (2) robust basidiomata, (3) mild taste, and (4) big and strongly warted spores. The new species is compared with the micromorphologically similar species G. fulgens sensu auct. Brit. p.p. and the biogeographically and ecologically similar species G. arenophilus, as well as with other European species. A photograph of fresh material, drawings of the main micromorphological features, and FESEM and optical microscope microphotographs of basidiospores are added. Furthermore, some notes on micromorphological characters of G. arenophilus are presented and its distribution area enlarged with a record from France. A key for the European species of Gymnopilus morphologically, ecologically, and/or biogeographically related to G. maritimus is presented. The phylogeny inferred from ITS rDNA sequences revealed that G. maritimus represents an independent species and that it is not related to G. arenophilus or G. fulgens. It is the sister group of the clade containing G. imperialis and G. spectabilis, but with a bootstrap support below 50%. The characters shared by the species in this clade are: (1) robust basidiomata, (2) pileus fibrillose or scaly-fibrillose, and (3) spores longer than 8 μm, dextrinoid and strongly warted. Gymnopilus imperialis and G. spectabilis differ by the basidiomata with membranous ring in the stem, living on conifers or decaying wood, and having narrower or wider spores, respectively. Taxonomical novelties: Gymnopilus maritimus Contu, Guzm.-Dáv., A. Ortega & Vizzini     

Taxonomy,biogeography and DNA barcodes of Geodia species (Porifera,Demospongiae, Tetractinellida) in the Atlantic boreo‐arctic region

Geodia species north of 60°N in the Atlantic appeared in the literature for the first time when Bowerbank described Geodia barretti and G. macandrewii in 1858 from western Norway. Since then, a number of species have been based on material from various parts of the region: G. simplex, Isops phlegraei, I. pallida, I. sphaeroides, Synops pyriformis, G. parva, G. normani, G. atlantica, Sidonops mesotriaena (now called G. hentscheli), and G. simplicissima. In addition to these 12 nominal species, four species described from elsewhere are claimed to have been identified in material from the northeast Atlantic, namely G. nodastrella and G. cydonium (and its synonyms Cydonium muelleri and Geodia gigas). In this paper, we revise the boreo‐arctic Geodia species using morphological, molecular, and biogeographical data. We notably compare northwest and northeast Atlantic specimens. Biological data (reproduction, biochemistry, microbiology, epibionts) for each species are also reviewed. Our results show that there are six valid species of boreo‐arctic Atlantic Geodia while other names are synonyms or mis‐identifications. Geodia barretti, G. atlantica, G. macandrewii, and G. hentscheli are well established and widely distributed. The same goes for Geodia phlegraei, but this species shows a striking geographical and bathymetric variation, which led us to recognize two species, G. phlegraei and G. parva (here resurrected). Some Geodia are arctic species (G. hentscheli, G. parva), while others are typically boreal (G. atlantica, G. barretti, G. phlegraei, G. macandrewii). No morphological differences were found between specimens from the northeast and northwest Atlantic, except for G. parva. The Folmer cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) fragment is unique for every species and invariable over their whole distribution range, except for G. barretti which had two haplotypes. 18S is unique for four species but cannot discriminate G. phlegraei and G. parva. Two keys to the boreo‐arctic Geodia are included, one based on external morphology, the other based on spicule morphology. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Grillotia australis n. sp. and G. pristiophori n. sp. (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from Australian elasmobranch and teleost fishes

Two new species of Grillotia are described from elasmobranch and teleost fishes from south-eastern Australia. G. australis n. sp., from the Australian angel shark Squatina australis. Regan, most closely resembles G. smarisgora (Wagener, 1854) and G. angeli Dollfus, 1969, differing from both species in the presence of smaller bulbs, two or occasionally three hooks in each intercalary row in the basal region, reduced to one in the metabasal region compared with four or five hooks in the metabasal region of G. smarisgora and a single hook in G. angeli, and in the limited extent of the band of hooklets on the external surface in the basal region of the tentacle, a region which is covered with hooks in G. smarisgora. Plerocerci of this species were found in the mackerel Trachurus declivis (Jenys) (site not known) from Tasmania. G. pristiophori n. sp., from the saw sharks Pristiophorus cirratus (Latham) and P. nudipinnis Günther, most closely resembles G. spinosissima Dollfus, 1969 in possessing a scolex covered with spiniform microtriches, but differs in having six rather than five hooks in each principal row, no intercalary hooks and by possessing a band of hooklets on the external surface of the tentacle which diminishes distally into a single file, rather than persisting as a band eight to nine files wide. G. pristiophori is the first trypanorhynch to be recorded from saw-sharks.     

Introgressive hybridization between Galaxias depressiceps and Galaxias sp D (Teleostei: Galaxiidae) in Otago, New Zealand: Secondary contact mediated by water races

Central Otago (New Zealand) was the focus of an intense period ofgold mining in the late 19th century. Mining relied on high waterpressure for sluicing, often requiring extensive systems of water raceslinking headwaters over large distances. On Rough Ridge, races connectedheadwaters of Otago's two major river systems, the Taieri and theClutha. We employed genetic analysis of freshwater fish(Galaxias) populations to assess the biological implications ofrace-development. The two galaxiid taxa found on Rough Ridge (G. spD and G. depressiceps) are reciprocally monophyletic formtDNA and have three fixed allozyme differences. Rough Ridge aside,G. sp D is apparently absent from the Taieri system and G.depressiceps from the Clutha system. Distributions of mitochondrialDNA, allozyme and microsatellite alleles imply that artificialconnections have facilitated bidirectional introgression: movementof G. sp D alleles into the Taieri system and G.depressiceps alleles into the Clutha. The finding of some identicalcontrol region haplotypes (of both lineages) on either side of thecatchment boundary confirms the recency of genetic exchange. Near theinferred region of contact, samples from Linn Burn (Taieri) are pureG. depressiceps for three diagnostic allozymes and mtDNA.Samples from upper Pool Burn (Clutha) are pure G. sp D forthese same four markers. However, other collections from around thecontact zone represent genetic mixtures forming a cline. We fear thatsimilar human-induced mixing may have happened elsewhere in uplandOtago.     

The vicarious differentiation of the alpineGalium serpylloides group (Rubiaceae), endemic to the W. Himalaya

Galium serpylloides agg. comprises a group of locally endemic, disjunct and vicarious taxa in the (sub)alpine zone of the W. Himalaya, from W to E:G. gymnopetalum, G. lahulense, G. serpylloides s. str.,G. saipalense, andG. nepalense. Four of these are new to science;G. serpylloides is newly typified. The main characters of the five species are compared and illustrated, their affinities and evolution are discussed, and a map of distribution is presented.Dedicated to Prof.K. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Gambierdiscus (Gonyaulacales,Dinophyceae) diversity in Vietnamese waters with description of G. vietnamensis sp. nov.

Viet Nam has a coastline of 3200 km with thousands of islands providing diverse habitats for benthic harmful algal species including species of Gambierdiscus. Some of these species produce ciguatera toxins, which may accumulate in large carnivore fish potentially posing major threats to public health. This study reports five species of Gambierdiscus from Vietnamese waters, notably G. australes, G. caribaeus, G. carpenteri, G. pacificus, and G. vietnamensis sp. nov. All species are identified morphologically by LM and SEM, and identifications are supported by molecular analyses of nuclear rDNA (D1–D3 and D8–D10 domains of LSU, SSU, and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region) based on cultured material collected during 2010–2021. Statistical analyses of morphometric measurements may be used to differentiate some species if a sufficiently large number of cells are examined. Gambierdiscus vietnamensis sp. nov. is morphologically similar to other strongly reticulated species, such as G. belizeanus and possibly G. pacificus; the latter species is morphologically indistinguishable from G. vietnamensis sp. nov., but they are genetically distinct, and molecular analysis is deemed necessary for proper identification of the new species. This study also revealed that strains denoted G. pacificus from Hainan Island (China) should be included in G. vietnamensis sp. nov.     

Molecular variation in Galdieria sulphuraria (Galdieri) Merola and its bearing on taxonomy

Cyanidium caldarium, Cyanidioschyzon merolae and Galdieria sulphuraria are three unicellular algae characteristic, of acid thermal environments. Recently, on the basis of morphological characters, three new species of Galdieria (G. partita, G. daedala, G. maxima ) isolated from acid-thermal springs in Russia have been instituted. A selected region of rbcL and the sequence of the intergenic spacer between the rbcL and rbcS have been amplified and sequenced from different Galdieria species and strains, in order to define molecular relationship among these interesting algae. The obtained cladogram shows that Cyanidium caldarium and Cyanidioschyzon merolae form a sister group which, in turn, is in a sister group relationship with Galdieria. This last genus is divided in two clades, one of which includes G. sulphuraria accessions from Naples (Italy), California, and Yellowstone and the other one includes G. sulphuraria accessions from Java (Indonesia) and from the Russian species. These results support the status of the genus Galdieria and suggest that G. daedala, G. maxima and G. partita are three very similar strains of G. sulphuraria; the rbcL variation within Galdieria accessions has a pattern which is broadly connected to the geographial distribution. The data obtained from the intergenic rbcL-rbcS spacer partly confirm those from the rbcL analysis.     

Taxonomic revision of the genus Gynecaptera Skorikov, 1935 from Egypt,with description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Bradynobaenidae,Apterogyninae)

The genus Gynecaptera Skorikov (Bradynobaenidae: Apterogyninae) is revised from Egypt, based on specimens collected from the Sinai Peninsula and those deposited in Egyptian insect collections as well as recorded data from the literature. Three species were previously recorded from Egypt, G. alexandri (Invrea), G. alfierii (Invrea) and G. trimaculata (Skorikov). Gynecaptera sinaitica sp. n. is described here. An illustrated key and a faunistic list comprising all Gynecaptera species recorded from Egypt are also given.     

Species identity of geographically distinct populations of the glassy-winged sharpshooter parasitoid Gonatocerus ashmeadi: morphology, DNA sequences, and reproductive compatibility

Gonatocerus ashmeadi is a common and seemingly widespread egg parasitoid of Homalodisca coagulata, the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS). Location records for G. ashmeadi indicate its natural range to be the southeastern USA and northeastern Mexico (which coincides with the presumed native range of GWSS), and possibly southern and central California (CA) (the adventive range of GWSS). The purpose of our work was to determine whether G. ashmeadi in the USA and northeastern Mexico is one species or a complex of reproductively incompatible sibling species. We used three approaches to determine the species identity of different G. ashmeadi populations: (1) reassessment of key morphological features using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine if subtle morphological differences exist between G. ashmeadi populations which could indicate species differences; (2) to determine if molecular differences exist between G. ashmeadi populations collected from different regions by comparing mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA sequences; (3) mating compatibility studies to determine if different populations of G. ashmeadi are reproductively isolated, or if mating occurs, whether offspring are viable thereby defining species groups on the basis of successful interbreeding. Results from these three areas (morphology, DNA sequences, and reproductive compatibility) have been evaluated collectively; leading us to the conclusion that G. ashmeadi as it is currently viewed is a valid species and not an aggregate of morphologically indistinguishable cryptic species.     

Gracilaria corallicola and G. multipartita (Gracilariales,Rhodophyta), two related flattened European species

Two European species of Gracilaria possess flattened blades borne on cylindrical axes, namely, G. multipartita, known primarily from the Atlantic coast, and G. corallicola from the Mediterranean Sea. They are sister species that cluster with G. armata, G. bursa-pastoris and G. longa in rbcL analyses with strong bootstrap support. Blades of G. multipartita taper towards the tips, whereas those of G. corallicolla have broadly rounded tips. Spermatangia of G. corallicola are borne in shallow conceptacles (textorii-type) and data from the literature indicate that the same is true of G. multipartita. Cystocarp morphology is similar, with the gonimoblast filaments initially elongated, narrow and densely filled with cytoplasm, and with tubular nutritive cells issuing initially from lower gonimoblast cells and fusing with cells in the lowermost regions of the outer pericarp. Tetrasporangia are initiated terminally and displaced laterally with the production of side branches from the subterminal cell. The diagnostic characters of the Gracilariaceae are reviewed from a developmental perspective.     

Key to the eggs of the equid stomach bot flies Gasterophilus Leach 1817 (Diptera: Gasterophilidae) utilizing scanning electron microscopy

Abstract. A key to the eggs of the equid stomach bot flies is presented. Scanning electron photomicrographs of eggs are used to illustrate differences among the eight Gasterophilus species. The eggs include those of G.haemorrhoidalis (Linnaeus, 1758), G.inermis (Brauer, 1858), G.intestinalis (De Geer, 1776), G.meridionalis (Piller and Evans, 1926), G.nasalis (Linnaeus, 1758), G.nigricornis (Loew, 1863), G.pecorum (Fabricius, 1794), and G.ternicinctus Gedoelst, 1912. The eggs of G.meridionalis and G.ternicinctus are shown for the first time. Egg profile is the same for a particular species and is used as a key character for egg identification. Colour of eggs is used in some couplets but only as a supplemental character. Absence or presence of striae on the eggs is used as a primary contrasting character to separate G.pecorum from the other seven species. Shape of the striae varies on eggs of the same species, even those dissected from the same specimen, and is therefore deemed an unreliable taxonomic character for further separation of the Gasterophilus species. Eggs of the same species taken from specimens throughout the world appear the same in profile. Two sets of eggs require close inspection for adequate identification: G.inermis and G.nigricornis separated primarily by the shape of the microphylar region; and G.intestinalis and G.ternicinctus separated by the shape of the egg ventrum. All other eggs have very unique and distinctive profiles. Only G.pecorum was found to possess the Type-II egg attachment organ (AO) used for adherence of the egg to plants or flat surfaces. The eggs of the remaining seven species possess a Type-I AO used to attach the eggs to hair shafts. The type of AO and the degree that the Type-I AO is extended posteriorly were used as key characters in the first and second couplet respectively.     

MOLECULAR EVIDENCE FOR HOMOPLOID RETICULATE EVOLUTION AMONG AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF GOSSYPIUM

Interspecific hybridization and introgression are important evolutionary processes in plants, but their full significance with respect to speciation at the diploid level remains unresolved. In this study, molecular markers from the plastid and nuclear genomes were used to document an unusual evolutionary history of Gossypium bickii Prokh. (Malvaceae). This species is one of three morphologically similar Australian cottons (along with G. austrate F. Muell. and G. nelsonii Fryx.) in section Hibiscoidea. In contrast to expectations based on previous morphological data, cladistic analysis of maternally inherited cpDNA restriction site mutations unites G. bickii with G. sturtianum J. H. Willis, a morphologically distant species in a different taxonomic section (Sturtia). Few restriction site mutations distinguish the plastomes of G. bickii and G. sturtianum, but these two cpDNAs are differentiated from those of G. australe and G. nelsonii by a minimum of 33 mutations (out of 640 sites scored). These two highly distinct clades are not supported by phylogenetic analyses of allozyme markers (from 58 populations) and restriction site mutations in nuclear ribosomal DNAs. Rather, phylogenies based on 83 nuclear markers indicate that G. bickii shares a more recent common ancestor with G. australe and G. nelsonii than it does with G. sturtianum. We suggest that the striking discrepancy between independent molecular phylogenies from two different genomes indicates a biphyletic ancestry of G. bickii. Our preferred hypothesis involves an ancient hybridization, in which G. sturtianum, or a similar species, served as the maternal parent with a paternal donor from the lineage leading to G. australe and G. nelsonii. Because we detected no G. sturtianum nuclear genes in G. bickii, we suggest that the nuclear genomic contribution of the maternal parent was subsequently eliminated from the hybrid or its descendent maternal lineage. Several possible mechanisms of cytoplasm transfer are suggested, including repeated backcrossing of the hybrid, as female, into the paternal donor lineage, selection against recombinant nuclear genomes and a form of apomixis known as semigamy. This example, and several others in Gossypium as well as other genera, attest to the evolutionary possibility of interspecific cytoplasmic transfer, and perhaps the origin of diploid species via reticulate speciation. In addition, this study offers an example of natural cytoplasmic introgression without long-term survival of nuclear genes from the maternal progenitor.     

GENETIC DIVERSITY,INTROGRESSION, AND INDEPENDENT DOMESTICATION OF OLD WORLD CULTIVATED COTTONS

Gossypium arboreum L. and G. herbaceum L. are the diploid species of cultivated cotton. Little is known regarding the time and place of domestication of either species. Because G. arboreum is known only as a cultigen, others have proposed that it arose from domesticated G. herbaceum during the more than 5,000-year history of Old World cotton cultivation, with wild G. herbaceum subsp. africanum (Watt) Mauer as the putative ancestor of both species. An alternative hypothesis is that the two species have independent origins from progenitors that diverged prior to domestication. The relative merits of these opposing hypotheses were evaluated using data derived from starch gel electrophoresis of enzymes. One hundred and three accessions of G. arboreum and 31 accessions of G. herbaceum were examined for allelic variation at 40 allozyme loci. All measures of genetic variability demonstrated that G. arboreum contains greater diversity than G. herbaceum, although both species have relatively low levels of allozyme variation. In contrast to expectations based on morphology and other chemical data sets, the two species are highly differentiated with respect to allozyme composition. Gossypium arboreum and G. herbaceum each contain a large number of unique alleles and are fixed or nearly fixed for alternate alleles at 8 loci. Five allozyme loci have alleles that are rare in one of the two species but common in the other. Based on restricted occurrence of these alleles to areas with a long history of sympatric cultivation and the geographic distribution of a null allele, we suggest that a significant portion of the allelic diversity in both species results from historical, bidirectional interspecific introgression. The interspecific genetic identity estimate (0.74) is markedly lower than for documented progenitor-derivative and crop-ancestor species pairs. Based on these data, as well as previous cytogenetic data and the observation of F₂ breakdown in interspecific crosses, we suggest that cultivated G. arboreum and G. herbaceum were independently domesticated from divergent ancestors.     

Genetic diversity and geographic pattern in early South American cotton domestication

Amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting was applied to survey the genetic diversity of primitive South American Gossypium barbadense cotton for establishing a possible link to its pre-Columbian expansion. New germplasm was collected along coastal Peru and over an Andean transect in areas where most of the archaeological evidence relating to cotton domestication has been recorded. Gene bank material of three diploid (G. raimondii, G. arboreum, and G. herbaceum) and four allotetraploid cotton species (G. hirsutum, G. mustelinum, G. tomentosum and additional G. barbadense) was added for inter- and intra-specific comparison. Eight primer combinations yielded 340 polymorphic bands among the 131 accessions. The obtained neighbor joining and unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means are in full agreement with the known cytogenetics of the tetraploid cottons and their diploid genome donors. The four tetraploid species are clearly distinct based on taxonomic classification. The genetic diversity within G. barbadense reveals geographic patterns. The locally maintained cottons from coastal Peru display a distinct genetic diversity that mirrors their primitive agro-morphological traits. Accessions from the northernmost coast of Peru and from southwestern (SW) Ecuador cluster basal to the east-of-Andes accessions. The remaining accessions from Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, and the Caribbean and Pacific islands cluster with the east-of-Andes accessions. Northwestern Peru/SW Ecuador (the area flanking the Guayaquil gulf) appears to be the center of the primitive domesticated G. barbadense cotton from where it spread over the Andes and expanded into its pre-Columbian range.This publication is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Drs.h.c. Gerhard Röbbelen on the occasion of his 75th birthday     

The genus Gottschelia Grolle (Jungermanniopsida,Lophoziaceae) in China,with a description of G. grollei,sp. nov.

Abstract

The genus Gottschelia Grolle is reported as new to mainland China, from Yunnan Province. Previously G. schizopleura (Spruce) Grolle was the only known Chinese species, reported from Taiwan. However, two further species have recently been found in the Gaoligong Shan range, Yunnan Province, G. patoniae Grolle, Schill & D.G. Long, previously known from the East Himalaya of Nepal and India (Sikkim) and G. grollei D.G. Long & Váňa, described here as a new species endemic to China, the fourth known species in the genus. The differences between the three Chinese species are enumerated with notes on distribution and ecology.     

Molecular Variability and Evolution of the Pectate Lyase (<Emphasis Type="Italic">pel</Emphasis>-2) Parasitism Gene in Cyst Nematodes Parasitizing Different <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanaceous</Emphasis> Plants

While pectate lyases are major parasitism factors in plant-parasitic nematodes, there is little information on the variability of these genes within species and their utility as pathotype or host range molecular markers. We have analysed polymorphisms of pectate lyase 2 (pel-2) gene, which degrades the unesterified polygalacturonate (pectate) of the host cell-wall, in the genus Globodera. Molecular variability of the pel-2 gene and the predicted protein was evaluated in populations of G. rostochiensis, G. pallida, G. “mexicana” and G. tabacum. Seventy eight pel-2 sequences were obtained and aligned. Point mutations were observed at 373 positions, 57% of these affect the coding part of the gene and produce 129 aa replacements. The observed polymorphism does not correlate either to the pathotypes proposed in potato cyst nematodes (PCN) or the subspecies described in tobacco cyst nematodes. The trees reveal a topology different from the admitted species topology as G. rostochiensis and G. pallida sequences are more similar to each other than to G. tabacum. Species-specific sites, potentially applicable for identification, and sites distinguishing PCN from tobacco cyst nematodes, were identified. As both G. rostochiensis and G. pallida display the same host range, but distinct from G. tabacum, which cannot parasitize potato plants, it is tempting to speculate that pel-2 genes polymorphism may be implicated in this adaptation, a view supported by the fact that no active pectate lyase 2 was found in G. “mexicana”, a close relative of G. pallida that is unable to develop on cultivated potato varieties.     

Morphology and molecular taxonomy of Gyrodactylus jennyae n. sp. (Monogenea) from tadpoles of captive Rana catesbeiana Shaw (Anura), with a review of the species of Gyrodactylus Nordmann, 1832 parasitising amphibians

Gyrodactylus jennyae n. sp. is described from the body surface and mouthparts of tadpoles of the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana Shaw imported presumably from Missouri, USA, into a federal government facility in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Its morphology resembles most closely that of G. chologastris Mizelle, Whittaker & McDougal, 1969 described from two amblyopsids (blind cave fishes) in Kentucky and North Carolina. Both species have long slender hamuli, a ventral bar with a relatively long membrane and small anterolateral processes, a cirrus with two rows of small spines and marginal hooks with a well-developed sickle heel and short handle. The two species differ morphologically; G. jennyae has a marginal hook sickle with a more pronounced heel than that found in G. chologastris. A BLAST search using a 945 base pair sequence that included the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 and the 5.8S rRNA gene from G. jennyae n. sp. showed that the overall similarity with other Gyrodactylus sequences on GenBank was relatively low. The ITS1 region was similar to that of G. misgurni Ling, 1962; however, no ITS2 and 5.8S rRNA sequences are available for that species. A separate search using 5.8S sequences revealed that G. markakulensis Gvosdev, 1950 and G. laevis Malmberg, 1957 were the closest to G. jennyae (1 and 2 bp differences, respectively). These species are parasites of cyprinids (or their predators) and are similar to G. jennyae and G. chologastris in having a double row of small hooks on the cirrus and overall similar morphologies of the haptoral hard parts. There are now five species of Gyrodactylus described exclusively from amphibians and this appears to have involved at least three separate host-switches from fishes.     

Triploid and tetraploid hybrids from diploid x tetraploid crosses in Grindella (compositae)

Crosses between the diploids G. oxylepis var. eligulata Steyermark (Mexico) and G. havardii Steyermark (New Mexico) and the tetraploid G. aphanactis Rydb. (New Mexico) were made. With G. aphanactis as the pistillate parent and G. havardii as the pollen parent a triploid hybrid was obtained in which the maximum meiotic configuration observed was 6m. The plant was 10 % fertile. Two triploid hybrid plants were also obtained when G. aphanactis was used as the pistillate parent and G. oxylepis var. eligulata was the pollen parent. One plant was about 20 % fertile and the other had a maximum configuration of 3_II + 4_III. The reciprocal cross produced a tetraploid which had a maximum configuration of 6_II + 3_IV and was 8 % fertile. The tetraploid plant undoubtedly resulted from the union of an unreduced gamete from the 2n parent and a normally reduced gamete from the tetraploid. Morphology of the hybrids was usually intermediate when compared with the parental species, although some characters in the triploids were those of the diploid parent. Chromosome end arrangements of the respective genomes and putative pairing relationships are presented and phylogenetic implications are discussed. It is concluded that G. aphanactis is more closely related to G. havardii than to G. oxylepis var. eligulata.     

Chemical Composition of Volatiles of Eight Geranium L. Species from Vlasina Plateau (South Eastern Serbia)

Geranium species are widely used in traditional medicine of Balkan. The aim of this work was to investigate and compare chemical composition of volatile fractions obtained by hydrodistillation from aerial parts of G. macrorrhizum, G. phaeum, G. sanguineum, G. robertianum, G. palustre, G. pyrenaicum, G. columbinum and G. lucidum as well as from underground parts of G. macrorrhizum and G. phaeum, originated from Vlasina plateau in South Eastern Serbia. The volatiles were analyzed using GC/MS and GC‐FID. G. palustre volatiles have been studied for the first time with β‐selinene (18.6 %) as a characteristic compound. The cluster analysis revealed separation of volatiles into two main groups. Volatile fractions of G. macrorrhizum were separated from all other samples due to high sesquiterpene content (92.3 % in aerial and 94.6 % in underground parts). The volatile fractions of other samples were mainly composed of sesquiterpenes (10.8–61.8 %), diterpenes (12.9–43.0 %) and fatty acids and their derivatives (6.6–21.6 %) with the exception of volatile fraction of G. phaeum underground parts which was dominated only by fatty acids and their derivatives (76.6 %). The results presented in this article contribute to the knowledge on the chemistry of this genus and advances the knowledge on flora of southeast Serbia.     

SOLVING TAXONOMIC AND NOMENCLATURAL PROBLEMS IN PACIFIC GIGARTINACEAE (RHODOPHYTA) USING DNA FROM TYPE MATERIAL

Molecular data obtained by a procedure for extracting PCR-amplifiable nuclear and chloroplast DNA from old and formalin-fixed red algal herbarium specimens were used to elucidate problems in the systematics of Pacific Gigartinaceae. Correspondence between nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 1 region or the RUBISCO spacer from type specimens and modern collections supports the following conclusions. (1) The type of Fucus cordatus Turner, now Iridaea cordata (Turner) Bory, came from the southern hemisphere (probably from Isla de los Estados, Argentina) rather than from Banks Island, B.C., Canada. (2) The type of Iridaea heterocarpa P. et R. [Mazzaella heterocarpa (P. et R.) Fred.] represents the tetrasporangial phase of a species of Chondrus, possibly C. crispus Stackh. (3) The types of Iridaea lilacina P. et R., I. phyllocarpa P. et R., and Iridophycus furcatum S. et G. represent a single species from Alaska, Mazzaella phyllocarpa (P. et R.) Perest., currently but incorrectly called M. heterocarpa. (4) The type of Iridophycus oregonum Doty represents the tetrasporangial phase of the species from southern Alaska to southern California known incorrectly as M. heterocarpa. (5) Mazzaella splendens (S. et G.) Fred. is more closely related to M. linearis (S. et G.) Fred. than it is to M. flaccida (S. et G.) Fred. (6) Iridophycus coriaceum S. et G. is conspecific with M. splendens, whereas Rhodoglossum coriaceum E.Y. Dawson is an independent species: Mazzaella coriacea (E.Y. Dawson) Hughey. (7) Iridaea cornucopiae P. et R. is conspecific with Mazzaella laminarioides (Bory) Fred., and the type probably came from Chile rather than from the North Pacific. (8) Plants attributed to Iridaea cornucopiae in Pacific North America are referable to Mazzaella parksii (S. et G.) comb. nov. (9) Rhodoglossum parvum G. M. Smith et Hollenb. is an independent species: Mazzaella parva (G. M. Smith et Hollenb.) comb. nov. (10) Grateloupia squarrulosa S. et G., Grateloupia johnstonii S. et G., and Gigartina pectinata E.Y. Dawson represent a single species: Chondracanthus squarrulosus (S. et G.) comb. nov.