The osteology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathysphyraenops symplex</Emphasis> and the diagnosis of the Howellidae (Perciformes: Percoidei) family

The osteology is described of Bathysphyraenops simplex, and its close relationship is demonstrated with genera Howella and Pseudohowella. These three genera should be classified into separate family Howellidae characterized by the specific structure of the bones of the infraorbital series, the absence of the hyomandibular process of metapterygoideum, and the reduction of the anterior plate of hyomandibulare, the absence of contact of pterygiophores of the 1st and 2nd dorsal fins, presence in front of the second dorsal fin of a free pterygiophore having no distal element, 16 caudal vertebrae, the characteristic structure of scales, and some other characters. The osteological distinctions of Bathysphyraemops simplex from Howella sherborni found for the first time are small and the author believes that some of them may make a case of interspecies variation within these genera. The revised diagnosis of the family Howellidae is presented. The status of the fossil genera Synagropoides and Cottopsis is discussed. They may become representatives of this family.     

Thoracic member (pectoral girdle and forelimb) bones of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mylodon darwinii</Emphasis> Owen (Xenarthra,Mylodontidae) from the Late Pleistocene of Central Argentina and their phylogenetic implications

A nearly complete skeleton, including most of the thoracic member bones of the sloth Mylodon darwinii, have been found in Upper Pleistocene strata from Anisacate River, Argentina. The thoracic member bones resemble their homologues in Glossotherium robustum, Paramylodon harlani, and Mylodonopsis ibseni in the following traits: (1) the olecranon is mediolaterally compressed; (2) the radius has an acute styloid process; (3) the radial diaphysis medial border is straight for two thirds of its length; (4) the radial shaft medial border forms an angle with the medial border of the styloid process. The radius presents a distinctive, mostly proximally facing articular circumference. The unfused epiphyses and feeble muscle attachment ridges indicate a sub-adult ontogenetic stage. Deviation of the olecranon and weak M. teres major origin and insertion, suggest a low fossorial specialization. The structure of the thoracic limb bones does not support climbing habits, because pronation-related features are reduced and the humeral head is not prominent. The structure of the radius suggests graviportal adaptations: the proximal head is mediolaterally expanded and the diaphysis straight. A phylogenetic analysis adding thoracic member characters recovers M. darwinii as part of a clade that includes Glossotherium robustum and Paramylodon harlani, but excludes Lestodon armatus. This contrasts with the results of previous analyses focusing on the head skeleton, highlighting the relevance of sampling postcranial characters in phylogenetic analyses of mylodontine sloths.     

The structure of the claspettes in the male genitalia of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ochlerotatus</Emphasis> Lynch Arribalzaga of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes</Emphasis> Meigen (Diptera,Culicidae) and their diagnostic significance

The structure of the claspettes (modified projections in the male genitalia) in species of the subgenus Ochlerotatus Lynch Arribalzaga of the genus Aedes Meigen is described in detail. A thorough investigation of the three-dimensional structure of the claspettes is necessary for identification of the Ochlerotatus species from Russia. The study of 30 species of Ochlerotatus demonstrated that frequently the use of the claspette structure as a diagnostic character was incorrect when the claspettes were described as flat structures. Examination of the three-dimensional structure of the claspettes has revealed characters differentiating Aedes diantaeus, A. intrudens and A. pullatus; A. communis, A. punctor, and A. hexodontus; A. annulipes, A. excrucians, and A. euedes, as well as some other species.     

Osteology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Florenciella lugubris</Emphasis> (Percoidei: Epigonidae)

The osteology of Florenciella lugubris is described. F. lugubris is attributed to the family Epigonidae on the basis of specific characters of structure of orbital bones, skull, jaws and hyoid, presence of three principal spines on operculum, contact of pterygiophores of dorsal fins, 10 + 15 vertebrae, extension of the lateral line onto the caudal fin, structure of the first hemapophysis and interhaemale, caudal skeleton, etc. At the same time, Florenciella is more advanced in comparison with Epigonus having such characters as presence of enlarged, directed to sides and/or forward symphyseal teeth in jaws, of finely and densely denticulatd edges of infraorbitalia 2–8 and of the orbiral edge of frontale, and fontanelle in bulla otica and having specific traits of denticulation of opercular bones, having no separated distal element in the free pterygiophore between the first and second dorsal fins, having modified scales, etc. The related genera Florenciella and Rosenblattia may be synonyms.     

Fossil wood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula erkovetskiensis</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Betulaceae) from the Miocene of the Erkovetskii Brown Coal Field,Amur Region,Russia

A new species, Betula erkovetskiensis Blokhina et O.V. Bondarenko (Betulaceae), from the deposits of the Sazanka Formation (upper Middle?Upper Miocene) of the Erkovetskii Brown Coal Field (Amur Region, Russia) is described based on anatomical features of fossil wood. The new species shows some wood anatomical characters of the extant birch subgenus Betula, B. davurica, B. nigra (section Dahuricae), and B. papyrifera (section Betula). Fossil wood of Betula is found in the Amur Region for the first time.     

Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses reveals <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neohelicosporium</Emphasis> gen. nov. and five new species of helicosporous hyphomycetes from aquatic habitats

Helicosporous hyphomycetes are a morphologically allied group of Tubeufiales. We introduce a new helicosporous genus, Neohelicosporium, with five new species, Neohelicosporium aquaticum, N. guangxiense, N. hyalosporum, N. parvisporum, and N. thailandicum, based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. The RPB2 protein gene data are provided to analyze their phylogeny in Tubeufiales. Phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, RPB2, and TEF1α sequence data from 13 new isolates of Neohelicosporium provided evidence to support the establishment of the new taxa. The morphological characters of Neohelicosporium that differentiate it from other helicosporous species are compared and discussed.     

The mitochondrial DNA of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dictyostelium discoideum</Emphasis>: complete sequence,gene content and genome organization

We present an overview of the gene content and organization of the mitochondrial genome of Dictyostelium discoideum. The mitochondria genome consists of 55,564?bp with an A + T content of 72.6%. The identified genes include those for two ribosomal RNAs (rnl and rns), 18 tRNAs, ten subunits of the NADH dehydrogenase complex (nad1, 2, 3, 4, 4L, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11), apocytochrome b (cytb), three subunits of the cytochrome oxidase (cox1/2 and 3), four subunits of the ATP synthase complex (atp1, 6, 8 and 9), 15 ribosomal proteins, and five other ORFs, excluding intronic ORFs. Notable features of D. discoideum mtDNA include the following. (1) All genes are encoded on the same strand of the DNA and a universal genetic code is used. (2) The cox1 gene has no termination codon and is fused to the downstream cox2 gene. The 13 genes for ribosomal proteins and four ORF genes form a cluster 15.4?kb long with several gene overlaps. (3) The number of tRNAs encoded in the genome is not sufficient to support the synthesis of mitochondrial protein. (4) In total, five group I introns reside in rnl and cox1/2, and three of those in cox1/2 contain four free-standing ORFs. We compare the genome to other sequenced mitochondrial genomes, particularly that of Acanthamoeba castellanii.     

Phylogenetic relationships of sculpin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cottus volki</Emphasis> Taranetz, 1933 (Scorpaeniformes,Cottidae) according to the results of analysis of control region in mitochondrial DNA

Sequencing of the fragment of control region in mitochondrial DNA in sculpin Cottus volki and the comparison of obtained data with homologous nucleotide sequences in the other species from genus Cottus demonstrated that C. volki occupies the basal position in the “poecilopus” group, which includes also typical sculpin C. poecilopus Heckel, 1837 from water bodies of Europe, sculpin C. szanaga Dybowski, 1869 from the Amur River basin, and sculpin Cottus cf. poecilopus from the Lena River basin. Early separation of C. volki line from common trunk of “poecilopus” group explains the presence in C. volki of several primitive (plesiomorphic for this group) morphological characters: long interior ray of ventral fin, practically complete lateral body line, and well-developed dentition of palatine bones.     

Revision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhabdolepis macropterus</Emphasis> (Bronn, 1829) (Osteichthyes,lower Actinopterygii; Lower Permian,SW Germany)

The neotype of Rhabdolepis macropterus is revisited. Together with additional material, a new reconstruction of the skull in lateral view is presented. Main characters of this species of the family Elonichthyidae are a ventral accessory operculum which completely separates the operculum from the suboperculum, and further the border between the frontal (parietal) and the parietal (postparietal) bones lying anterior to the border between the dermosphenotic and the dermopterotic bones. The diagnosis of genus Rhabdolepis is renewed. The species Rh. macropterus is compared with the sympatric elonichthyid species Rhabdolepis saarbrueckensis and Elonichthys fritschi.     

New data on larvae of weevils of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lixus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) from central Asia

Larvae are described for the first time for three species of the genus Lixus (L. bifasciatus, L. rubicundus, and L. subulatus). The larvae dwell in stalks of herbaceous plants. The larvae differ in the structure of the endocarina and prelabium and the chaetotaxy of the head and epipharynx. Analysis of larvae of the new and already described species of this genus has shown that the larva of L. bifasciatus shares some characters with the larvae of L. astrachanicus, and L. rubicundus, and the larva of L. subulatus, with that of L. bescrensis.     

Toxin Gene Contents and Activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> Strains Against Two Sugarcane Borer Species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diatraea saccharalis</Emphasis> (F.) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">D. flavipennella</Emphasis> (Box)

Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) bears essential characteristics in the control of insect pests, such as its unique mode of action, which confers specificity and selectivity. This study assessed cry gene contents from Bt strains and their entomotoxicity against Diatraea saccharalis (F.) and Diatraea flavipennella (Box) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Bioassays with Bt strains were performed against neonates to evaluate their lethal and sublethal activities and were further analyzed by PCR, using primers to identify toxin genes. For D. saccharalis and D. flavipennella, 16 and 18 strains showed over 30% larval mortality in the 7th day, respectively. The LC₅₀ values of strains for D. saccharalis varied from 0.08 × 10⁵ (LIIT-0105) to 4104 × 10⁵ (LIIT-2707) spores + crystals mL^?1. For D. flavipennella, the LC₅₀ values of strains varied from 0.40 × 10⁵ (LIIT-2707) to 542 × 10⁵ (LIIT-2109) spores + crystals mL^?1. For the LIIT-0105 strain, which was the most toxic to D. saccharalis, the genes cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1B, cry1C, cry1D, cry1F, cry1I, cry2Aa, cry2Ab, cry8, and cry9C were detected, whereas for the strain LIIT-2707, which was the most toxic to D. flavipennella, detected genes were cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1B, cry1D, cry1F, cry1I, cry2Aa, cry2Ab, and cry9. The toxicity data and toxin gene content in these strains of Bt suggest a great variability of activity with potential to be used in the development of novel biopesticides or as source of resistance genes that can be expressed in plants to control pests.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phialemoniopsis endophytica</Emphasis> sp. nov., a new species of endophytic fungi from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luffa cylindrica</Emphasis> in Henan,China

During a survey of endophytic fungi in the cucurbit plants collected from Henan, China, a new species, Phialemoniopsis endophytica was isolated from the lower stem of Luffa cylindrica. It differs from other Phialemoniopsis species by its cylindrical to flask-shaped phialides, falcate conidia with blunt ends, ostiolate pycnidium-like conidiomata without marginal setae and ellipsoidal chlamydospores. Multi-locus (ITS, LSU, ACT, and TUB) phylogenetic analysis confirmed that P. endophytica is distinct from other species. A synopsis of the morphological characters of the new species is provided.     

Morphological and molecular taxonomy of novel species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotheciaceae</Emphasis> from freshwater habitats in Yunnan,China

The diversity of lignicolous freshwater fungi of the Greater Mekong Subregion are currently being studied. In this paper, 18 fresh collections of Pleurotheciaceae from submerged wood in freshwater are characterized based on morphological characters and analyses of ITS, LSU, SSU and RPB2 sequence data. Six new species of Pleurotheciella (P. aquatica, P. fusiformis, P. guttulata, P. lunata, P. saprophytica, P. submersa), one new Phaeoisaria species (Ph. aquatica) and one new Pleurothecium species (Pl. aquaticum) are introduced based on their distinct morphology and evidence from molecular phylogeny. Pleurotheciella uniseptata, Phaeoisaria clematidis and Pleurothecium pulneyense are also redescribed and phylogenetic relationships assessed herein, these species are the first records for China.     

Dissection of two quantitative trait loci with pleiotropic effects on plant height and spike length linked in coupling phase on the short arm of chromosome 2D of common wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.)

Key message

Two QTL with pleiotropic effects on plant height and spike length linked in coupling phase on chromosome 2DS were dissected, and diagnostic marker for each QTL was developed.

Abstract

Plant height (PHT) is a crucial trait related to plant architecture and yield potential, and dissection of its underlying genetic basis would help to improve the efficiency of designed breeding in wheat. Here, two quantitative trait loci (QTL) linked in coupling phase on the short arm of chromosome 2D with pleiotropic effects on PHT and spike length, QPht/Sl.cau-2D.1 and QPht/Sl.cau-2D.2, were separated and characterized. QPht/Sl.cau-2D.1 is a novel QTL located between SNP makers BS00022234_51 and BobWhite_rep_c63957_1472. QPht/Sl.cau-2D.2 is mapped between two SSR markers, SSR-2062 and Xgwm484, which are located on the same genomic interval as Rht8. Moreover, the diagnostic marker tightly linked with each QTL was developed for the haplotype analysis using diverse panels of wheat accessions. The frequency of the height-reduced allele of QPht/Sl.cau-2D.1 is much lower than that of QPht/Sl.cau-2D.2, suggesting that this novel QTL may be an attractive target for genetic improvement. Consistent with a previous study of Rht8, a significant difference in cell length was observed between the NILs of QPht/Sl.cau-2D.2. By contrast, there was no difference in cell length between NILs of QPht/Sl.cau-2D.1, indicating that the underlying molecular mechanism for these two QTL may be different. Collectively, these data provide a new example of QTL dissection, and the developed diagnostic markers will be useful in marker-assisted pyramiding of QPht/Sl.cau-2D.1 and/or QPht/Sl.cau-2D.2 with the other genes in wheat breeding.

     

The relationships among the species of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila virilis</Emphasis> group inferred from the gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ras1</Emphasis> sequences

Comparative analysis of a group of closely related Drosophila species (D. virilis, D. lummei, D. novamexicana, D. americana texana, D. flavomontana, D. montana, D. borealis, D. lacicola, D. littoralis, D. kanekoi, and D. ezoana) was conducted based on an incomplete sequence of gene Ras1. The pattern of the relationships among the species corresponded to that expected from analysis of morphological and cytogenetic characters. Statistical data favoring neutrality of the substitutions examined in the Ras1 gene are presented. This character of the gene Ras1 evolution confers more reliability to reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships among closely related species. The resultant tree for main phylads of the group is as follows: D. virilis (D. lummei, D. montana, D. ezoana).     

To the knowledge of the herbivorous scolytid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thamnurgus</Emphasis> Eichhoff (Coleoptera,Scolytidae)

Based on the male genitalia structure, 3 subgenera are distinguished in the genus Thamnurgus: Thamnurgus s. str. (type species Thamnurgus euphorbiae Küster; the subgenus includes also Th. characiae and Th. varipes), Parathamnurgus subgen. n. (type species Thamnurgus caucasicus Reitter; includes also Th. armeniacus, Th. kaltenbachii, Th. brylinskyi, and Th. pegani) and Macrothamnurgus subgen. n. (type species Thamnurgus delphinii Rosenhauer; includes also Th. petzi and Th. rossicus). Thamnurgus s. str. comprises species with the aedeagus lacking supporting apical structures and with unbranched apophyses. In the two other subgenera the aedeagal apophyses are branched and the apical supporting structures are differently arranged. Species of Thamnurgus s. str. are associated exclusively with Euphorbiaceae, species of Macrothamnurgus, with Ranunculaceae, and those of Parathamnurgus, with plants of several families. A key to Palaearctic Thamnurgus species based on the external and genital characters is proposed. The host plants and distribution of some species are clarified. In the aedeagus structure, the Palaearctic Thamnurgus species clearly differ from the African Thamnurgus and also from the members of Taphronurgus, Cynanchophagus, Triotemnus, and Xylocleptes. Data on the male genital structure support generic distinctness of Thamnurgus, Taphronurgus and Xylocleptes. Lectotypes of Th. armeniacus Reitter, 1897, Th. brylinskyi Reitter, 1889, Th. characiae Rosenhauer, 1878, Th. declivis Reitter, 1897, Th. delphinii (Rosenhauer, 1856), Th. pegani Eggers, 1933, and Th. petzi Reitter, 1901 are designated. Thamnurgus jemeniae Schedl, 1975 is transferred to Xylocleptes, and Th. orientalis Schedl, 1978, to Pseudothamnurgus. Based on the endophallus characters, Thamnurgus ugandensis Nunberg, 1961 and Th. lobeliae Eggers, 1939 are considered to belong to a genus distinct from the Palaearctic Thamnurgus.     

The hybrid nature of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Danaea plicata</Emphasis> (Marattiaceae), a Costa Rican endemic

We present evidence that Danaea plicata, endemic to Costa Rica, is a hybrid between D. carillensis and D. crispa. The laminae of D. plicata are intermediate in several morphological characters between the two putative parents, and the spores of D. plicata are misshapen and collapsed. The stomatal density of D. plicata is intermediate between that of D. crispa, which has no stomata, and D. carillensis. Circumstantial evidence also supports hybrid origin: D. plicata occurs only within the elevational range of its putative parents, and it is often found growing with them. This is the second report of a hybrid in Danaea. A lectotype is designated for D. plicata .     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">K-ras,BRCA1/2</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">CHEK2</Emphasis> mutations and loss of heterozygosity at 9p, 17p,and 18q in sporadic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

The diagnostic significance of molecular markers was assessed for the most common somatic aberrations at the K-ras, TP53, CDKN2A, and MADH4 loci, as well as less common mutations of BRCA1, BRCA2, and CHEK2, arising in preinvasive stages of sporadic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The study was performed on paired primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma and normal pancreatic tissue specimens obtained from 37 Russian patients. Surgical adenocarcinoma specimens were subjected to manual microdissection. Mutations of K-ras codon 12 were found in 24 tumor specimens (0.65), but not in normal pancreatic tissue specimens. Mutations of BRCA1 (185delAG, 300T > G, 4153delA, 4158A > G, 5382insC), BRCA2 (695insT, 6174delT), and CHEK2 (1100delC) were not found. The informativeness of allelic losses did not differ significantly among the three tumor suppressor loci and was 60% for TP53 (GDB186817) and CDKN2A (D9S974 + D9S162) and 65.7% for MADH4 (D18S363 + D18S474) (t = 0.48). The CDKN2A locus had the highest LOH frequency of 0.95. For TP53 and MADH4 the LOH frequency was 0.62 and 0.70, respectively. In 80% of adenocarcinomas, at least one locus was characterized with LOH. The overall informativeness of the combined data on K-ras mutations and loss of heterozygosity at 9p, 17p, and 18q was 85.7%. Only 9% of the tumors were characterized with microsatellite instability.     

A review of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deporaus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Rhynchitidae) from the Russian fauna: 2. Subgenera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Roelofsideporaus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deporaus</Emphasis>

The subgenera Roelofsideporaus and Deporaus s. str. of the genus Deporaus with four species (D. affectatus, D. unicolor, D. nidificus, and D. betulae) recorded from the Russian fauna are revised. Keys to the species of the subgenus Roelofsideporaus and to the females of the subgenera Roelofsideporaus and Deporaus s. str. are given. The distribution of D. nidificus in Russia is not confirmed.