Hybrid origin of some ornamentals of Allium subgenus Melanocrommyum verified with GISH and RAPD

 Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) methods have been used to verify the hybridogenic origin and to identify the parental species of some ornamental cultivars in the subgenus Melanocrommyum of the genus Allium. The cultivars had been selected from seed obtained after uncontrolled pollination in breeders’ fields. The combination of GISH analysis with RAPD markers is very suitable for testing the hybridogenic origin of plants and to ascertain the parental species of the hybrids in such cases. As suspected, A. macleanii and A. cristophii are the parental species of ‘Globemaster’. The parental species of cultivar ‘Globus’ are A. karataviense and A. stipitatum, and not A. cristophii and A. giganteum as has been assumed on morphological grounds. Cultivars ‘Lucy Ball’ and ‘Gladiator’ are of hybrid origin, though only one of the parental species, A. hollandicum, could be confirmed. The cultivars ‘Purple Sensation’, ‘Mount Everest’, ‘White Giant’, ‘Michael H. Hoog’ and ‘Mars’ are not hybrids since neither GISH nor RAPD suggest the presence of a second genome. ‘Purple Sensation’ belongs to A. hollandicum, ‘Mount Everest’, ‘White Giant’ and ‘Mars’ to A. stipitatum,‘Michael H. Hoog’ to A. rosenorum. Received: 3 July 1997 / Accepted: 9 October 1997     

Species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neohaliotrema</Emphasis> Yamaguti, 1965 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) from the pomacentrid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abudefduf vaigensis</Emphasis> (Quoy &; Gaimard) off Pulau Langkawi,Malaysia, with a revised diagnosis of the genus and a key to its species

Four new and one unidentified species of Neohaliotrema Yamaguti, 1965 were obtained from the gills of the Indo-Pacific sergeant Abudefduf vaigensis (Quoy & Gaimard) off Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia. The five species, N. malayense n. sp., N. bombini n. sp., N. andamanense n. sp., N. parvum n. sp. and an unidentified Neohaliotrema sp. (similar to N. macracanthum Zhukov, 1976), are described and distinguished based mainly on features of the haptor. Species of this genus are divisible into two groups, the ‘maomao group’, with two pairs of morphometrically modified ‘marginal’ hooks and a fenestrated haptor, and the ‘gracile group’, with morphologically similar marginal hooks and an entire haptor. With the exception of N. bombini n. sp., the species described fit within the ‘maomao group’. It is suggested that the more complex Neohaliotrema species of the ‘maomao group’ have modified hooks 1 and 2 on a haptoral ‘isthmus’ between two large apertures, i.e. ‘windows’, whereas the less complex species lacking these features are those of the ‘gracile group’. Neohaliotrema spp. have only a single pair of pigmented eye-spots. A fenestrated haptor is unique to the Neohaliotrema spp. of the ‘maomao group’. The generic diagnosis of Neohaliotrema is amended to include new data and a key to its known species is presented.     

Taxonomy and host-specificity of Gyrodactylus aideni n. sp. and G. pleuronecti (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum) in Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick, Canada

Wild and cultured winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum) from Passamaquoddy Bay were surveyed for species of Gyrodactylus Nordmann, 1832. Two species were found: G. pleuronecti Cone, 1981 and G. aideni n. sp, both members of Malmberg’s ‘groenlandicus group’. Although the hard parts in the haptor are very similar in the two species, hamuli of G. aideni are consistently shorter than those of G. pleuronecti. The two species differed by 35 base pairs in the ITS 1, 5.8 and ITS 2 region. A BLAST search identified a variety of species of Gyrodactylus from marine fishes in the Atlantic Ocean as closest matches, indicating the ‘groenlandicus group’ is part of a major marine lineage within Gyrodactylus (sensu lato) that has successfully radiated among coastal percid, pleuronectid, cottid and anarhichadid fishes. Exposure experiments suggested that winter flounder is the primary host of both species of parasites and that three other pleuronectid species in the bay may potentially serve only as occasional transport hosts.     

Monogeneans of the grouper Epinephelus tauvina (Perciformes, Serranidae) off Moorea, French Polynesia, with a description of Pseudorhabdosynochus pai n. sp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae)

Specimens of the greasy grouper Epinephelus tauvina (Forssk?l), caught off Moorea, French Polynesia, harboured four species of gill monogeneans. The diplectanid Pseudorhabdosynochus pai n. sp. is characterised by an extremely big male quadriloculate organ (inner length 77 μm, cone length 15, tube length 47), the largest of all members of the genus, and a sclerotised vagina with a very complex structure, including three secondary chambers instead of one as in most species. Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. is a species of the ‘cupatus group’; this species is not formally described but various measurements are provided. The ancyrocephalid Haliotrema sp. and the capsalid Benedenia sp. were rare; they are both mentioned but not described. The diplectanid fauna of E. tauvina corresponds to the pattern already found in a clade of grouper species, the members of which often harbour both a species of the ‘cupatus group’ and another species of Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958.

---

Résumé  Des spécimens du mérou Epinephelus tauvina (Forssk?l) pêchés à Moorea, Polynésie Fran?aise, hébergeaient quatre espèces de monogènes sur les branchies. Le Diplectanidae Pseudorhabdosynochus pai n. sp. est caractérisé par un organe tétraloculé male de très grande taille (longueur interne 77 μm, longueur du c?ne 15, longueur du tube 47), le plus grand de toutes les espèces du genre, et un vagin sclérifié à structure très complexe, comprenant trois chambres secondaires, au lieu d’une comme c’est le cas chez la plupart des autres espèces. Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. est une espèce du ‘groupe cupatus’ qui n’est pas formellement décrite, mais des mesures sont indiquées. Un Ancyrocephalidae, Haliotrema sp., et un Capsalidae, Benedenia sp., étaient rares, et sont mentionnés mais non décrits. La faune des Diplectanidae de E. tauvina correspond au patron déjà trouvé dans un clade d’espèces de mérous, dont les membres hébergent souvent à la fois une espèce du ‘groupe cupatus’ et une autre espèce de Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958.

     

In vitro assay of native Iranian almond species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus</Emphasis> L. spp.) for drought tolerance

Eight native Iranian almond species from three sections, ‘Euamygdalus’ (Prunus communis; Prunus eleagnifolia and Prunus orientalis); ‘Lycioides’ (Prunus lycioides and Prunus reuteri) and ‘Spartioides’ (Prunus arabica, Prunus glauca and Prunus scoparia) were in vitro screened for drought tolerance using sorbitol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as an osmoticum. Different levels of water stress were induced using five concentrations of either sorbitol or polyethylene glycol in Woody Plant Medium (WPM). Water potential of various media ranged from −0.80 to −2.05 MPa and water stress in culture medium adversely affected plantlet growth. Wild species from ‘Spartioides’ were less affected than ‘Lycioides’ and ‘Euamygdalus’. At the same level of water potential, sorbitol had lower adverse effects than PEG; the latter being severe. Prunus × sorbitol and Prunus × PEG interactions were significant. At 0.2 M sorbitol and 0.003 M PEG, ‘Spartioides’ produced significantly more roots with higher total root length and root volume, as well as root-dry weight than those of ‘Lycioides’ and ‘Euamygdalus.’ It is concluded that in vitro screening of native Iranian almond species under specific and limited water-stress conditions may provide a system for effectively differentiating the wild species of almond for their expected root mass production under field conditions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Steinernema boemarei</Emphasis> n. sp. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from southern France

A new entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema boemarei n. sp., is described from southern France. Morphological, molecular (28S and ITS rDNA sequence data) and cross-hybridisation studies were used for diagnostics and identification purposes. Both molecular and morphological data indicate that the new species belongs to the ‘glaseri-group’ of Steinernema spp. Key morphological diagnostic traits for S. boemarei n. sp. include the presence of prominent deirids (cervical papillae) on adult males, the morphology of the spicules and gubernaculum, and the arrangement of the 23 genital papillae of the first generation males. Additionally, morphometric traits of the third-stage infective juvenile, including total body length (mean 1,103 μm), tail length (mean 86 μm), location of the excretory pore (mean 91 μm), and D% (mean 63), E% (mean 106) and H% (mean 41) values are definitive. In addition to these morphological characters, analysis of both 28S and ITS rDNA sequences depict this Steinernema species as a distinct and unique entity.     

Neoascarophis macrouri n. sp. (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from the stomach of Macrourus berglax (Macrouridae) in the eastern Greenland Sea

A new species of parasitic nematode, Neoascarophis macrouri n. sp. (Cystidicolidae), is described from the stomach and stomach wall of the marine deep-water fish Macrourus berglax (onion-eye grenadier) in the eastern Greenland Sea (North Atlantic Ocean). The new species, studied using both light and scanning electron microscopy, is characterised mainly by the location of the vulva near the posterior end of the body (a short distance anterior to the anus), non-filamented eggs, the structure of the mouth, a short vestibule and the length of the spicules (567–615 and 144–156 μm). Metabronema insulanum Solov’eva, 1991 is transferred to Neoascarophis as N. insulana (Solov’eva, 1991) n. comb.     

Taxa, individuals, clusters and a few other things

The recognition of species proceeds by two fairly distinct phases: (1) the sorting of individuals into groups or basic taxa (‘discovery’) (2) the checking of those taxa as candidates for species-hood (‘justification’). The target here is a rational reconstruction of phase 1, beginning with a discussion of key terms. The transmission of ‘meaning’ is regarded as bimodal: definition states the intension of the term, and diagnosis provides a disjunction of criteria for recognition of its extension. The two are connected by a spectrum, with purely theoretical definition at one pole and purely ‘operational’ diagnosis at the other, with the more operational elements explained by the more theoretical. The current plethora of species concepts provides a good example. Accepting the Ghiselin–Hull thesis, that a species is an individual, a basic taxon is therefore also an individual with organisms as its parts. In a generalised synchronic individual its parts are conceptually integrated by an integrating principle (IP), which consists of a relation applying within a plan or rule. Fully developed, such an IP ensures the maximisation of the information content of the individual. A diachronic individual is then the set of its component synchronic parts, and its IP is provided by near-identity in an appropriate space-time (not necessarily physical). The integration of parts of an individual is illuminated by Gasking's concept of a proper group (in this case a chain-group), whose members are related by the relation serially fitting together with, the IP completed by an appropriate plan or rule. Gasking also applied the term cluster to a proper group persisting over a substantial period of time, individuated by any member acting as focus. A basic taxon is therefore a cluster of individuals, integrated by the relation significantly taxonomically similar and the rule in character-space-time. The nature of those concepts is discussed and defended. A species will inherit certain of the attributes of the preceding basic taxon (taxa). In at least the synchronic version its parts (individuals) will resemble each other significantly, providing the intuitive applicability of ‘members of’ and ‘instances of’ a species. Also, the notion that a species’ name is given by pure ostension, via a name-bearer (holotype) is empirically incoherent: the name cannot be applied in practice without an appropriate set of diagnostic traits.     

Responses of lignicolous-agaric fruit-bodies to light and gravity: A study to overview the fruit-body development in hymenomycetes

Our previous study revealed that, when exposed to light from below, fruit-bodies of humus-borne agarics grow straight downward both in the ‘Coprinus Type’ and ’Non-Coprinus Type’ species and that, in the latter, gills tilt by gravitropism, caps swell and wave, and stipes twist. The present study revealed that fruit-bodies of some lignicolous agarics also grew straight downward. Among themFlammulina velutipes andHypsizygus marmoreus fruit-bodies showed almost the same behaviour as the ‘Non-Coprinus Type’, butPleurotus ostreatus (assumedPolyporus Type) fruit-bodies did not show the gill tilting and cap waving. Rather, it redifferentiated to produce new gills or new fruit-bodies, possibly by gravimorphogenesis, or formed spiral stipes. Based on these results, graviresponses in hymenomycetes are overviewed.     

Cyclops heberti n.sp. and Cyclops singularis n.sp., two new species within the genus Cyclops (‘strenuus-subgroup’) (Crust. Copepoda) from ephemeral ponds in southern Germany

Some of the species within the genus Cyclops O. F. Müller, 1785 can only be determined exactly by combining different methods and techniques. Based on the comprehensive analysis of morphometrical data, some populations in periodical ponds near Lake Constance were examined for their pattern of chromatin diminution and were compared by enzyme electrophoresis. These studies provided evidence of two new species. Together with C. furcifer Claus, 1857 and C. vicinus Uljanin, 1875 one of the ponds (‘Litzelsee’) was inhabited by four Cyclops species. In addition to morphological differences and distinct electrophoretic characteristics, C. furcifer and the new species differ in the timing of their chromatin diminution: C. singularis in the fourth, C. heberti in the fifth, and C. furcifer in the sixth cleavage. The qualitative course of chromatin diminution is rather similar in all three species. The same combination of three Cyclops species (without C. vicinus) was also found in an older sample (1990) from another ephemeral pond near Lake Constance. A close genetical relationship between the three species seems probable.     

The role of nodal roots in prostrate clonal herbs: ‘phalanx’ versus ‘guerrilla’

The influence of nodal rooting on branching was studied in three evolutionarily and morphologically diverse species of prostrate clonal herbs: Tradescantia fluminensis (a monocotyledonous extreme ‘phalanx’ species), Calystegia silvatica (a dicotyledonous extreme ‘guerrilla’ species) and Trifolium repens (a dicotyledonous intermediate species). In all three, branch development from axillary buds is regulated by a positive signal produced by roots together with inhibitory influences from both pre-existing branches and shoot apical buds (apical dominance). Responses to nodal roots are cumulative and increased root activity leads to more vigorous bud outgrowth. In the absence of nodal roots, a single basal root system is unable to maintain continued extension growth of the shoot. We suggest that as individual nodal roots and stem internodes are both short-lived in these nodally-rooting clonal species, the plants’ investment in them is minimal. Thus, in contrast to perennial species lacking nodal roots, individual root systems in prostrate clonal herbs are small and stems have little secondary thickening and development of long-distance transport tissues. Hence the decline in extension growth of the shoot in the absence of nodal roots could be linked to the weak development of long-distance transport tissues in their relatively thin horizontal stems and to resource sharing between primary stems and lateral branches (as suggested by the greater retardation of primary stem growth in the more profusely branched ‘phalanx’ species (Trifolium and Tradescantia) than in the weakly branched ‘guerrilla’ species, Calystegia). These findings are consistent with the view that the long-term persistence of genotypes of nodally-rooting prostrate species is dependent upon them encountering the moist conditions required to facilitate the continual development of new young nodal root systems.     

Environmental mediation of intraguild predation between the freshwater invader Gammarus pulex and the native G. duebeni celticus

Invasive species and environmental change often occur simultaneously across a habitat and therefore our understanding of their relative roles in the decline of native species is often poor. Here, the environmental mediation of a critical interspecific interaction, intraguild predation (IGP), was examined between invasive (Gammarus pulex) and native (G. d. celticus) freshwater amphipods. In the laboratory, IGP asymmetries (males preying on congeneric females) were examined in river water sourced from zones where: (1) the invader has completely displaced the native; (2) the two species currently co-exist, and (3) the native currently persists uninvaded. The invader was always a more effective IG predator, but this asymmetry was significantly weaker moving from ‘invader-only water’ through ‘co-existence water’ to ‘native-only water’. The constituent of the water that drives this mediation of IGP was not identified. However, balancing the rigour of laboratory experiments with field derived ‘environment’ has advanced understanding of known patterns in a native species decline, and its co-existence and persistence in the face of an invader.     

Bacteria of muds colonized bySpartina townsendii and their possible role in Spartina die-back

Summary A study of the bacterial microflora of muds colonized bySpartina townsendii agg. in healthy and ‘die-back’ sites in the Lymington estuary was made. No important qualitative differences were found between the microfloras of the two types of site. Fewer species, however, were present in the die-back sites. It is suggested that under anaerobic conditions, such as occur in a ‘die-back’ site, the bacteria will utilise such oxygen as is present, and will then engage in anaerobic metabolic processes, producing reduced ions which will reduce the oxidation-reduction potential still further. The occurrence of abundant sulphate reducers in the ‘die-back’ sites may be particularly significant in this respect. No evidence was obtained of any more direct relationship between bacterial flora and the development of ‘die-back’.     

Use of the multi-allelic self-incompatibility gene in apple to assess homozygocity in shoots obtained through haploid induction

 To obtain homozygous genotypes of apple, we have induced haploid development of either the female or the male gametes by parthenogenesis in situ and anther culture, respectively. Of the shoots obtained, which were mainly of a non-haploid nature, some could be derived from fertilised egg cells or from sporophytic anther tissue. In order to select the shoots having a true haploid origin, and thus homozygotes, we decided to use the single multi-allelic self-incompatibility gene as a molecular marker to discriminate homozygous from heterozygous individuals. The rationale behind this approach was that diploid apple cultivars contain 2 different alleles of the S-gene and therefore the haploid induced shoots obtained from them should have only one of the alleles of the single parent. The parental cultivars used were ‘Idared’ (parthenogenesis in situ) and ‘Braeburn’ (androgenesis), and their S-genotypes were known, except for 1 of the ‘Braeburn’S-alleles. To stimulate parthenogenetic development ‘Idared’ styles were pollinated with irradiated ‘Baskatong’ pollen, the S-alleles of the latter (2n) cultivar were also unknown. The cloning and sequence analysis of these 3 unidentified S-alleles, 1 from ‘Braeburn’ and 2 from ‘Baskatong’ is described, and we show that they correspond to the S ₂₄ -, S ₂₆ - and S ₂₇ -alleles. We have optimised a method for analysis of the S-alleles of ‘Idared/Baskatong’- or ‘Braeburn’-derived in vitro plant tissues and have shown that this approach can be applied for the screening of the in vitro shoots for their haploid origin. Received: 18 August 1997 / Accepted: 10 September 1997     

Effects of NaCl stress on proline and cation accumulation in salt sensitive and tolerant turfgrasses

Summary Concentrations of proline, sodium and potassium in shoot tissues of five turfgrass species were measured following exposure to 170 mM NaCl salinity stress. Salt tolerant ‘Fults’ alkaligrass and ‘Dawson’ red fescue restricted the accumulation of Na-ions to significatnly low levels compared to the salt sensitive Kentucky bluegrasses (‘Adelphi’ and ‘Ram I’) and ‘Jamestown’ red fescue. Accumulation of proline began in all species within 24 h of initiation of salt stress but at a more rapid rate and higher overall concentration for ‘Fults’ alkaligrass. Proline levels were variable and too low in relation to sodium accumulations to have any significant osmoregulatory role in salt tolerance among all cultivars tested with the possible exception of alkaligrass.     

Micropropagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis vinifera</Emphasis> L. cv. ‘Malagouzia’ and ‘Xinomavro’

The effects of six basal media on in vitro shoot proliferation of the greek grapevines Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Malagouzia’ and ‘Xinomavro’ were investigated. Galzy and Zlenco proved to be the most effective for ‘Malagouzia’ and ‘Xinomavro’, respectively. If only BA was present in the medium, shoot development was poor and the plantlets were chlorotic. When the medium was supplemented with BA and NAA, growth was enhanced. The best ratio (in μM) of growth regulators was 0.5/0.3 for ‘Malagouzia’, and 0.1/0.03 for ‘Xinomavro’, which resulted in the highest number of microshoots per explant and greatest proliferation rate. The development of ‘Malagouzia’ and ‘Xinomavro’ explants at 21±2 and 26±2°C was also investigated, revealing the higher temperature to be more effective. Regarding rooting, 0.5 μM IBA improved root formation at 26°C for ‘Malagouzia’ and 0.5 μM IBA at 21°C for ‘Xinomavro’. Moreover, 0.5 μM IBA resulted in a higher rooting percentage (>95%) and proved to be more beneficial for the overall morphological appearance of the plantlets of ‘Malagouzia’. After acclimatization, survival of microshoots cultivated in media with IBA was higher than those in NAA.     

Three new species, Lamellodiscus tubulicornis n. sp., L. magnicornis n. sp. and L. parvicornis n. sp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from Gymnocranius spp. (Lethrinidae: Monotaxinae) off New Caledonia, with the proposal of the new morphological group ‘tubulicornis’ within Lamellodiscus Johnston & Tiegs, 1922

Three new species of Lamellodiscus are described from four (including two undescribed) species of Gymnocranius off New Caledonia, South Pacific. All three species have a similar body anatomy and morphology of the haptoral hard parts and are distinguished on the basis of the male copulatory organ (MCO). Lamellodiscus tubulicornis n. sp. (type-host: G. grandoculis; other host: Gymnocranius sp. B) has an MCO with a tube and horn; L. magnicornis n. sp. (type-host: G. grandoculis; other hosts: G. euanus, Gymnocranius sp. A and Gymnocranius sp. B) has an MCO with a long horn and a membrane; L. parvicornis n. sp. (type-host: G. euanus; other hosts: G. grandoculis and Gymnocranius sp. B) has an MCO with a small horn and a membrane. Lamellodiscus epsilon Yamaguti, 1968 is redescribed based on the type-specimens (from Monotaxis grandoculis off Hawaii). Lamellodiscus sp. is recorded from Gnathodentex aureolineatus off New Caledonia. All these five species have lamellodiscs that exhibit a unique characteristic: the second lamella forms an almost closed circle, in contrast to all other described species of Lamellodiscus in which the second lamella has the form of one or two crescents. Lamellodiscus spp. are usually classified in two groups, the ‘ignoratus’ and ‘elegans’ groups, according to the structure of the lamellodisc; we propose a new ‘tubulicornis’ group for these five species. In addition to their lamellodisc structure, species of the tubulicornis group are also characterised by their egg (elongate in contrast to tetrahedral in the two other groups) and their hosts (monotaxine lethrinids as opposed to mainly sparids). The generic diagnosis of Lamellodiscus given by Amine & Euzet (2005) is amended to include species with elongate eggs.     

Aliens or natives: who are the ‘thugs’ in British woods?

The invasion of native habitats by exotic, or alien, plant species has received considerable attention recently from policy, research, and practical conservation management perspectives. However, a new hypothesis for species dynamics in Britain suggests that a small number of aggressive native plant species (termed ‘thugs’) may have an equal, or greater, impact on native species and habitats than exotic species. Here, we examine this hypothesis using multivariate techniques with field-layer cover data collected during a country-wide survey of British woodlands. Multivariate analysis of these data identified a north-south gradient on the first axis, and that 20 of the 25 National Vegetation Classification woodland types were sampled within the study. The most abundant field-layer species included three of the proposed native ‘thugs’, i.e. Rubus fruticosus, Pteridium aquilinum and Hedera helix in addition to the native woodland indicator species Mercurialis perennis. Variation partitioning was used to compare the relative importance of native field-layer ‘thug’ species with invading alien shrub and tree species relative to other environmental drivers. The variation in the field-layer data-set explained by the three native ‘thug’ species was significant, but they explained a relatively small proportion of the variation relative to other environmental variables (climate, soil, management factors etc.). They did, however, explain almost four times as much variation as the three alien species that were significantly correlated with field-layer species composition (Acer pseudoplatanus, Impatiens glandulifera, Rhododendron ponticum). The results of this analysis suggest that the field-layer of British woodlands is impacted as much by native ‘thug’ species, as it is from ‘aliens’. Concern about the impact of these native ‘thug’ species has been reported previously, but their impact has not previously been compared to the impact of invading aliens. It is hoped that this analysis will do two things, first to act as a sound baseline for assessing any changing balance that should occur in the future, and second, to prompt both ecologists and conservationists to develop woodland management policies based on sound science.     

Infraspecific variability ofJuniperus L. (Cupressaceae) based on monoterpenoid compositions

The compositions of leaf monoterpenoids from 11 species in the Juniperus section (Juniperus chinensis var. chinensis,J. virginiana, J. communis var. montana,J. rigida, J. chinensis var. globosa,J. chinensis var. sargentii,J. chinensis ‘Kaizuka Variegata’,J. squamata ‘Wilsonii’,J. x media ‘Shimpake’,J. x media ‘Plamosa Aurea’, andJ. squamata ‘Aloderi’) were comparatively analyzed by GC-MS. Of the 24 compounds identified, α-pinene, myrcene, limonene, terpinolene, and bornyl acetate were common to all, but particular combinations differed remarkably among taxa. The simplest composition (eight compounds) was found in.J, chinensis var. chinensis; the most complex (19 compounds), inJ. x media ‘Shimpake’. Cluster analysis generated four distinctive clades within the Juniperus section. The minimum spanning network revealed thatJ. squamata ‘Wilsonii’ andJ. x media ‘Shimpake’ were most similar in their chemical makeup.