On factors influencing fruit-set and sterility in arecanut (Areca Catechu Linn.)

Summary (1) Histological studies on the stigmas of female flowers of areca indicate the possibility of the stigmatic surfaces being impacted upon by air spora. The presence of spores or hyphae together with pollen grains has been shown in stigmatic surface.(2) Air spora of arecanut plantation chiefly consist ofAspergillus, Penicillium, Actinomycetes, Mucor, Alternaria, Cladosporium andBacteria.(3) The types of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes adhering to the stigma are isolated.(4) The metabolites of the fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes isolated from the stigmas of arecanut flowers inhibit,in vitro, considerably the germination of pollen grains and rate of growth of pollen tubes. In certain instances there is no germination of the pollen grains in the metabolites of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes. In view of the results the significance of the air spora in affecting the normal course of pollination and fertilization is discussed.     

Fungal Air Spora at Ibadan, Nigeria

The fungal air spora at Ibadan, Nigeria, was investigated by using Casella Slit Samplers. Three sites, incorporating three locations at each site, were selected for the exposure of replicate plates during sampling. To provide data on a wide range of saprophytic and pathogenic fungal spores, isolations were made on Sabouraud dextrose agar and malt agar plates incubated at 26 and 37 C. Altogether over 60,000 fungal colonies were isolated and counted during the 12-month sampling period. The prevalent fungal genera recorded were: Cladosporum, Curvularia, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Pithomyces, Aureobasidium, Geotrichum, Phoma, Nigrospora, Epicoccum, and Neurospora. The wet and dry seasons (indicated by the temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall data) caused seasonal periodicity in colony numbers. The influence of culture media on the isolated colonies was not significant when the total number of isolated colonies were considered on a monthly basis, but in reviewing a few of the fungal genera there were marked differences between the two media, especially with Pithomyces. Attempts were made to identify some of the isolated colonies by species, e.g., Aspergillus carneus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Curvularia geniculata, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium herquei, Pithomyces chartaum, Rhizopus arrhizus, and Syncephalastrum racemosum. Such identifications provide a basis for further studies on the role of these fungal species in the frontier problem of contamination and biodegradation of drugs and pharmaceuticals, allergies and other problems in the local environment.     

Ecological studies of spores of aquatic hyphomycetes in the cringle brook,lincs

The aquatic Hyphomycete spora of the Cringle Brook, Lincs, was examined by foam sampling and by the use of cellophane impaction traps between August, 1968 and January, 1970.The species most frequently found (Tetracladium marchalianum, Alatospora acuminata and Flagellospora curvula) were generally in agreement with those found by other workers in temperate areas. Impaction trap samples generally contained fewer species than foam samples but filiform spore types such as Flagellospora were more frequently found on traps than in foam suggesting that impaction is more selective towards the filiform spore type than is foam. Many species increased in frequency in autumn accompanying and following leaf fall, and the winter spora was dominated by Alatospora acuminata, Clavariopsis aquatica, Clavatospora stellata, Flagellospora curvula and Lemonniera aquatica. During the summer the spora was dominated by Tetracladium marchalianum.The role of foam and impaction in the balance of aquatic spore populations is discussed in relation to techniques available for their study.     

Airborne fungi in an Italian rice mill

Summary Studies employing volumetric spore trap (VSP) and gravity settling culture plates (GSC) were conducted in order to analyse the air spora of a rice mill at Pavia, Italy, from October-December 1988. Results revealed a variety of fungal spores belonging to different genera and including recognized rice pathogenic fungi. The most frequent genera by GSC method includedAcremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Helminthosporium, Mucor, Nigrospora, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Trichoderma, Trichothecium, and some unidentified fungi. Environmental assessment of fungal spores by VSP revealed that the most prevalent fungi were:Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Helminthosporium, Nigrospora, Pyricularia, Tilletia and hyaline, dark and coloured types of ascospores and basidiospores. Airborne fungal spore concentrations were particularly high (5,000–6,000 spores/m³) in the rooms of the rice mill where the initial stages of rough rice transformation take place, and dropped to 2,500 spores/m³ in the last room, where workers are. During a temporary interruption of the working processes, air spora concentration dropped below 1,000 spores/m³.Cladosporium, Epicoccum andNigrospora spores were predominant in all subdivisions of the indoor environments of the rice mill.     

Allergenic Implications of Airborne Leptosphaeria Ascospores

In order to investigate potential acroallergens of the Auckland region, a quantitative and qualitative study of the air spora was conducted at three different sites over the 12-month period, September 1979 to August 1980. Burkard volumetric spore traps were operated simultaneously at each of the three sites viz. Mt. Eden, Henderson and Waitakeres, located on a 20-km axis extending westward from Auckland City and encompassing residential, horticultural, agricultural, commercial and forested contexts. In the individual category of ascomycetous fungi, Leptosphaeria ascospores were recorded as an important component of air spora of the two non-forested sites. Ascospores concentration displayed a seasonal peak in late summer (February) and early autumn (March) and a diel periodicity with a distinct nocturnal maxima at all sites, confirming Leptosphaeria to be a component of the “rising air” or “damp-air spora”. The maximum concentration exceeded 4430 m^?3 of air around midnight (24/25 March, early autumn). A comparison of the results from the three sites showed that 61% of the total Leptosphaeria ascospores were trapped at Henderson (a satellite town in a rural setting) 29% at Mt. Eden (commercial/residential area) and 10% at Waitakeres (mainly forest site). Our data for Leptosphaeria ascospores combined with a high regional incidence of respiratory allergic diseases particularly bronchial asthma in late summer and autumn, indicate that a thorough investigation of the role of Leptosphaeria as a potential aeroallergen is warranted.     

Spore Deposition Velocities Measured Over a Barley Crop

Deposition velocities, v_g, to horizontal slides were measured over a barley crop for a range of air spora. Slides were either freely exposed, placed on a 60 cm² table or placed in a large beaker. Deposition velocities calculated from the spore catch on freely exposed slides were 2–3 times the sedimentation velocity for all spore classes. While exposure of slides in protected enclosure reduced turbulent deposition, the values of v_g were still almost twice the sedimentation velocity. Thus caution must be advised when interpreting such deposition measurements in terms of spore concentration.     

Some components of the air spora in Jamaica and their possible medical application

A knowledge of the pollen and fungal spores which comprise the air spora is useful as a preliminary approach to the problem of respiratory allergy. Therefore, this study of the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the air spora was done. Fungal spores were found to be numerically dominant, comprising 97.73% whilst pollen comprised 0.40% of the total material observed. A small number of types made up the majority of the fungal air spora, namely, Cladosporium, the Sporobolomycetaceae group, Diatrype, Glomerella, hyaline and coloured basidiospores, and septate fusiform spores. Seasonal periodicity studies on twenty-five fungal types showed that a high number of spores were trapped for sixteen during wet months, four during cooler months, and that five showed no seasonal trends. Mean diurnal periodicity studies for the year on the same twenty-five spore types showed that all had a maximum number of spores trapped at some time during the day. Investigation of the effect of rainfall on the numbers of spores released showed that the amount and duration of rainfall, the time of day rain occurs, and the length of the dry period preceding rain were of varying importance to particular spore types.     

Les faunes des sites du Pléistocène supérieur du Caucase méridional : Grotte de Saka?hia, Grotte d’Ortvala et Grotte du Bronze (République de Géorgie)

The paleontological analysis of the fauna from three Late Pleistocene localities in Southern Caucasus (Saka?hia, Ortvala, and Bronze cave) confirmed the presence of Ursus spelaeus, Canis lupus, Equus ferus, Rhinocerotidae, Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus, Alces alces, Bison priscus, Capra caucasica, Ovis ammon and Sus scrofa. The study also permitted the identification of new taxa for these localities. There may be the presence of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) at Saka?hia, however it has not yet been confirmed. Moreover, remains of aurochs (Bos primigenius) were identified, in particular at Bronze cave where its abundance is exceptional. Indeed, Bos and Bison are generally very rare in Southern Caucasus. The analysis of the proportion of the different species in each locality revealed the two types of occupations of the caves, one dominated by hominids and the other by carnivores. At Saka?hia, where fauna is dominated by the presence of cave bear, the cave was seasonally occupied by Neanderthal groups. On the other hand, Bronze cave corresponds to a habitat of hunters, which occupied the site for longer periods.     

Multiple Pathogens Including Potential New Species in Tick Vectors in C?te d’Ivoire

BackgroundOur study aimed to assess the presence of different pathogens in ticks collected in two regions in Côte d’Ivoire.Conclusions/SignificanceFor the first time, we demonstrate the presence of different pathogens such as R. aeschlimannii, C. burnetii, Borrelia sp., A. centrale, A. marginale, and E. ruminantium in ticks in Côte d’Ivoire as well as potential new species of unknown pathogenicity.     

Regulation of a Novel Acidithiobacillus caldus Gene Cluster Involved in Metabolism of Reduced Inorganic Sulfur Compounds

Acidithiobacillus caldus has been proposed to play a role in the oxidation of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) produced in industrial biomining of sulfidic minerals. Here, we describe the regulation of a new cluster containing the gene encoding tetrathionate hydrolase (tetH), a key enzyme in the RISC metabolism of this bacterium. The cluster contains five cotranscribed genes, ISac1, rsrR, rsrS, tetH, and doxD, coding for a transposase, a two-component response regulator (RsrR and RsrS), tetrathionate hydrolase, and DoxD, respectively. As shown by quantitative PCR, rsrR, tetH, and doxD are upregulated to different degrees in the presence of tetrathionate. Western blot analysis also indicates upregulation of TetH in the presence of tetrathionate, thiosulfate, and pyrite. The tetH cluster is predicted to have two promoters, both of which are functional in Escherichia coli and one of which was mapped by primer extension. A pyrrolo-quinoline quinone binding domain in TetH was predicted by bioinformatic analysis, and the presence of an o-quinone moiety was experimentally verified, suggesting a mechanism for tetrathionate oxidation.     

Toxoplasmosis in a Pet Peach-Faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis)

Toxoplasma gondii atypical type II genotype was diagnosed in a pet peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) based on histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and multilocus DNA typing. The bird presented with severe neurological signs, and hematology was suggestive of chronic granulomatous disease. Gross post-mortem examination revealed cerebral hemorrhage, splenomegaly, hepatitis, and thickening of the right ventricular free wall. Histologic sections of the most significant lesions in the brain revealed intralesional protozoan organisms associated with malacia, spongiform changes, and a mild histiocytic response, indicative of diffuse, non-suppurative encephalitis. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the causative organisms to be T. gondii. DNA isolated from the brain was used to confirm the presence of T. gondii DNA. Multilocus genotyping based on SAG1, altSAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico markers demonstrated the presence of ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #3 and B1 gene as atypical T. gondii type II. The atypical type II strain has been previously documented in Australian wildlife, indicating an environmental transmission route.     

Larval settlement preferences of Acropora palmata and Montastraea faveolata in response to diverse red algae

Settlement specificity can regulate recruitment but remains poorly understood for coral larvae. We studied larvae of the corals, Acropora palmata and Montastraea faveolata, to determine their rates of settlement and metamorphosis in the presence of ten species of red algae, including eight species of crustose coralline algae, one geniculated coralline and one encrusting peyssonnelid. Twenty to forty percent of larvae of A. palmata settled on coralline surfaces of Hydrolithon boergesenii, Lithoporella atlantica, Neogoniolithon affine, and Titanoderma prototypum, whereas none settled and metamorphosed on Neogoniolithon mamillare. Larvae of M. faveolata had 13–25 % settlement onto the surface of Amphiroa tribulus, H. boergesenii, N. affine, N. munitum, and T. prototypum, but had no settlement on the surface of N. mamillare, Porolithon pachydermum, and a noncoralline crust Peyssonnelia sp. Some of these algal species were common on Belizean reefs, but the species that induced the highest rates of larval settlement and metamorphosis tended to be rare and primarily found in low-light environments. The shallow coral, A. palmata, and the deeper coral, M. faveolata, both had increased larval settlement rates in the presence of only a few species of red algae found at deeper depths suggesting that patterns of coral distribution can only sometimes be related to the distribution of red algae species.     

Leaf anatomy as a contribution to the taxonomy of Salacioideae N.Hallé ex Thorne & Reveal (Celastraceae)

The current classification systems recognize Salacioideae as a monophyletic group within Celastraceae. Nonetheless, some divergences exist for genera: in some cases, most species of the subfamily have been included in only two genera; in others, these genera have been subdivided. This study characterizes the leaf anatomy of 31 species of the subfamily Salacioideae as a contribution to identifying them through features that may also help distinguish among genera. Cross-sections of the median region of the leaf blade and of the petiole and dissociated and macerated epidermis were analyzed. Taxonomically relevant anatomical characters include the type of crystals in the parenchymatous tissue (monocrystals in Cheiloclinium and druses in other genera); the presence of laticifers in Cheiloclinium and Tontelea only; the variable form of the petiole vascular system among studied species; the type of stomata (cyclocytic with two concentric circles of subsidiary cells in P. dulcis; anomocytic in T. attenuata, T. fluminensis, and T. leptophylla; laterocytic in C. anomalum and C. hippocrateoides; and ciclocytic in the other species); the sinuosity of the anticlinal walls of the epidermal cells (sinuous in Cheiloclinium and Peritassa, except P. laevigata, and in S. arborea, S. insignis, S. mosenii, S. nemerosa, and S. opacifolia, and straight in all other studied species); the presence of crystalliferous idioblasts in the epidermis of P. dulcis, P. flaviflora, and P. mexiae; and the presence, form, and disposition of sclereids in the leaf blade, which is a highly variable character among the studied species.     

Screening of anaerobic activities in sediments of an acidic environment: Tinto River

The Tinto River (Huelva, Spain) is a natural acidic rock drainage environment produced by the bio-oxidation of metallic sulfides from the Iberian Pyritic Belt. A geomicrobiological model of the different microbial cycles operating in the sediments was recently developed through molecular biological methods, suggesting the presence of iron reducers, methanogens, nitrate reducers and hydrogen producers. In this study, we used a combination of molecular biological methods and targeted enrichment incubations to validate this model and prove the existence of those potential anaerobic activities in the acidic sediments of Tinto River. Methanogenic, sulfate-reducing, denitrifying and hydrogen-producing enrichments were all positive at pH between 5 and 7. Methanogenic enrichments revealed the presence of methanogenic archaea belonging to the genera Methanosarcina and Methanobrevibacter. Enrichments for sulfate-reducing microorganisms were dominated by Desulfotomaculum spp. Denitrifying enrichments showed a broad diversity of bacteria belonging to the genera Paenibacillus, Bacillus, Sedimentibacter, Lysinibacillus, Delftia, Alcaligenes, Clostridium and Desulfitobacterium. Hydrogen-producing enrichments were dominated by Clostridium spp. These enrichments confirm the presence of anaerobic activities in the acidic sediments of the Tinto River that are normally assumed to take place exclusively at neutral pH.     

Four new species of the mite genus Bakerdania (Heterostigmata, Pygmephoridae) from Russia

Four new mite species (Bakerdania palustris, B. taymyrica, B. mycophila, and B. littoralis) from different regions of Russia are described. Bakerdania palustris sp. n. is most similar to B. janetscheki Mahunka, 1970, differing in the presence of adjoining bases of setae ps ₂ and ps ₃ (in B. janetscheki, ps ₃ is separated from ps ₂) and also by shorter smooth setae 2b (in B. janetscheki, setae 2b are serrate and distinctly longer). Bakerdania taymyrica sp. n. is most similar to B. heisseli Mahunka, 1970, differing in the presence of the brush-like setae 1a (that are trichoid and serrate in B. heisseli); shorter setae tc′ on the tibiotarsus I, that are almost half as long as setae pl′ (in B. heisseli, tc′ is much longer, nearly as long as pl′). Bakerdania mycophila sp. n. is most similar to B. racki (Mahunka, 1967), differing in the presence of significantly longer ventral setae and the separate solenidion ω₁ (in B. racki, the latter is fused with the tibiotarsus). Bakerdania littoralis sp. n. is most similar to B. racki, differing from the latter in the shape of setae 1a, 2a, 3a, 3b, 4a that are basally thickened; in the shape of setae ps ₁ (trichoid in B. racki); and in the presence of the non-furcated setae 1b (in B. racki, these setae are bifurcate).     

New tardigrade records for the Baltic states with a description of Minibiotus formosus sp. n. (Eutardigrada,Macrobiotidae)

In sixteen moss, lichen and mixed (moss/lichen) samples, collected from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, 291 specimens, 48 simplexes, including one exuvium with 6 eggs, and 8 free-laid eggs of eutardigrades were found. In total, 17 species, together with one new to science, were identified (all are new records for the Baltic states): Astatumen bartosi, Diphascon (Adropion) prorsirostre, D. (Diphascon) bullatum, D. (D.) pingue pingue, D. (D.) recamieri, D. (D.) rugosum, Hypsibius convergens, H. dujardini, H. cf. scabropygus, Isohypsibius ronsisvallei, I. sattleri, Macrobiotus harmsworthi harmsworthi, M. hufelandi hufelandi, Milnesium asiaticum, Milnesium tardigradum tardigradum, Minibiotus formosus sp. n. and Paramacrobiotus richtersi. The new species is most similar to Minibiotus gumersindoi, but differs from it mainly by the presence of two types of cuticular pores, the absence of a triangular or pentagonal arrangement of pores above a single large pore on legs, the presence of granulation on all legs and a different macroplacoid length sequence. In this paper we also provide photographs and morphometrics of H. cf. scabropygus.     

Molecular characterization of Vibrio cholerae outbreak strains with altered El Tor biotype from southern India

Forty-four Vibrio cholerae isolates collected over a 7-month period in Chennai, India in 2004 were characterized for gene traits, antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic fingerprints. All 44 isolates were identified as O1 El Tor Ogawa, positive for various toxigenic and pathogenic genes viz. ace, ctxB, hlyA, ompU, ompW, rfbO1, rtx, tcpA, toxR and zot. Nucleotide sequencing revealed the presence of cholera toxin B of classical biotype in all the El Tor isolates, suggesting infection of isolates by classical CTXΦ. Antibiogram analysis showed a broad-spectrum antibiotic resistance that was also confirmed by the presence of resistant genes in the genomes. All isolates contained a class 1 integron and an SXT constin. However, isolates were sensitive to chloramphenicol and tested negative for the chloramphenicol resistant gene suggesting a deletion in SXT constin. Fingerprinting analysis of isolates by ERIC- and Box PCR revealed similar DNA patterns indicating the clonal dissemination of a single predominant V. cholerae O1 strain throughout the 2004 outbreak in Chennai.     

Exploring bacterial diversity from contaminated soil samples from river Yamuna

The Yamuna is the source of key water supply in the national capital region of India. Due to its immense importance, the pollution of Yamuna has become an imperative issue of study. Various initiatives have been taken by the Indian Government to decontaminate this river, but so far no possible outcome has been obtained. Therefore bioremediation may seem to be a promising approach. To assess the bioremediation potential of the microbes at river Yamuna, study of microbial diversity was carried out. Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Thermomicrobium, Azoarcus, Nitrosomonas and Shigella were the dominant genera present at the contaminated river coastal zone. The presence of Escherichia and Shigella indicated the sewage contamination in the river. On the other hand, the presence of Pseudomonas and Bacillus indicated the existence of indigenous bacterial communities capable of de-polluting the river, thus providing a promising approach to decontaminate Yamuna by natural means.     

Molecular Detection and Identification of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Ticks Collected from the West Bank,Palestinian Territories

Background

Tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae. Although Spotted Fever is prevalent in the Middle East, no reports for the presence of tick-borne pathogens are available or any studies on the epidemiology of this disease in the West Bank. We aimed to identify the circulating hard tick vectors and genetically characterize SFG Rickettsia species in ixodid ticks from the West Bank-Palestinian territories.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A total of 1,123 ixodid ticks belonging to eight species (Haemaphysalis parva, Haemaphysalis adleri, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma aegyptium and Hyalomma impeltatum) were collected from goats, sheep, camels, dogs, a wolf, a horse and a tortoise in different localities throughout the West Bank during the period of January-April, 2014. A total of 867 ticks were screened for the presence of rickettsiae by PCR targeting a partial sequence of the ompA gene followed by sequence analysis. Two additional genes, 17 kDa and 16SrRNA were also targeted for further characterization of the detected Rickettsia species. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 148 out of the 867 (17%) tested ticks. The infection rates in Rh. turanicus, Rh. sanguineus, H. adleri, H. parva, H. dromedarii, and H. impeltatum ticks were 41.7, 11.6, 16.7, 16.2, 11.8 and 20%, respectively. None of the ticks, belonging to the species Rh. bursa and H. aegyptium, were infected. Four SFG rickettsiae were identified: Rickettsia massiliae, Rickettsia africae, Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae and Candidatus Rickettsia goldwasserii.

Significance

The results of this study demonstrate the geographic distribution of SFG rickettsiae and clearly indicate the presence of at least four of them in collected ticks. Palestinian clinicians should be aware of emerging tick-borne diseases in the West Bank, particularly infections due to R. massiliae and R. africae.     

Secondary Sporangium Formation in Phytophthora Palmivora (Butl.) Butl

Very few sporangia of Phytophthora palmivora germinated directlyand produced secondary sporangia in distilled water and in solutionsof amino acids and carbohydrates at 30 °C. Although 1.0per cent (w / v) peptone and yeast-extract stimulated a highpercentage of germination by formation of germ tubes, less than1.0 per cent of the germinated sporangia produced secondarysporangia. Secondary sporangium formation was induced by transferringgerminated primary sporangia from a nutrient medium of sufficientlyhigh concentration to either distilled water or dilute solutionsof organic and inorganic compounds immediately after emergenceof the germ tubes. The percentage of germinated sporangia formingsecondary sporangia was influenced by both the nature and concentrationof the medium into which they were transferred. The secondarysporangia were significantly smaller than the primary sporangia. Phytophthora palmivora, germination, sporangium, Theobroma cacao L., cocoa