Protein characters and relationship betweenPhaseolus vulgaris ssp.Aborigineus Burk. and related taxons of the genusPhaseolus

Both quantitative and qualitative immunochemical methods were used for studying the mutual relationships of several spocies and the subspecies of the genusPhaseolus: Ph. vulgaris L. ssp.vulgaris, Ph. vulgaris L. ssp.aborigineus Burk.,Ph. coccineus L.,Ph. acutifolius A. Gray,Ph. lunatus L. (American endemites) andPh. aureus L. (a typical Asian bean). Protein characters of cotyledons (i.e., ?storage” proteins) of the above species were compared with the aid of antisera prepared against seed (cotyledon) proteins ofPh. vulgaris L. ssp.vulgaris, cv. Veltruská Saxa, using

1. (a)
   the whole complex of cotyledon protein,     
   
   

An investigation of the protein characters of fourPhaseolus species with special reference to the question of their phylogenesis

Byla provedena kvantitativni a kvalitativní analysa bílkovinných znak? z děloh v semenech a z hypokotyl? — ko?ínk? (primárního ko?ene) naklí? enÝch semen těchto druh?:Phaseolus vulgaris L.,Phaseolus coccineus L.,Phaseolus lunatus L.,Phaseolus aureus ROXB. s těmito vÝsledky:

1. 1.
   Fazeolin témě? shodnÝ je v dělohách druh?Phaseolus vulgaris L aPhaseolus coccines L.; u druh?Phaseolus lunatus L. aPhaseolus aureus Roxb. chybí.     
   
   

Nodulation ability in different genotypes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus lunatus</Emphasis> by rhizobia from California agricultural soils

Phaseolus lunatus is the second economically most important species of the genus Phaseolus. It carries out N fixation through symbiosis with rhizobia. However, it is unclear whether P. lunatus can nodulate with native rhizobia from soils where this legume is not native or was not cultivated previously. Thus, this study assessed the ability of 14 geographically distant lima bean genotypes to nodulate with rhizobia from three California agricultural soils: without a history of legumes or P. lunatus cultivation, with a history of legumes as a cover crop, and with a history of P. lunatus cultivation. Nodulation only occurred on genotypes grown in the soil with a history of P. lunatus planting. The analysis of variance of nodulation traits showed that the genotype effect was highly significant in all the traits measured. Shoot biomass had a higher correlation with nodule size and nodule weight than with nodule number. In addition, shoot biomass and leaf N content were positively correlated with nodule coloration and with nodule position close to the main root of the plant. This study suggests that agricultural soils from California do not appear to have native rhizobia able to nodulate P. lunatus, which suggests the need to inoculate, at least initially, the seeds at planting in order to establish the population of rhizobia. Also, geographically distant lima bean genotypes have different responses to nodulating bacteria and it suggests that future studies to test these genotypes across different environments should be pursued.     

Polyphasic characterization of rhizobia microsymbionts of common bean [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> (L.)] isolated in Mato Grosso do Sul,a hotspot of Brazilian biodiversity

Common bean [Phaseolus vulgaris (Linnaeus)] is the key source of protein, carbohydrates and micronutrients for over 300 million people in the tropics. Like many legumes, P. vulgaris can fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with rhizobia, alleviating the need for the expensive and polluting N-fertilizers. The crop is known to nodulate with a wide range of rhizobia and, although Brazil is not a center of genetic origin/domestication of P. vulgaris, a variety of rhizobial species have been found as symbionts of the legume. Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) is one of the largest common bean producer states in Brazil, with reports of high yields and abundant natural nodulation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity of 73 indigenous rhizobia isolated from common bean grown in 22 municipalities of MS. Great morphophysiological and genetic diversity was found, as indicated by the six and 35 clusters formed, considering the similarity level of 75 and 70%, respectively, for the phenotypic and rep-PCR dendrograms. Eleven representative isolates were selected for detailed genetic characterization using 16S rRNA and three protein-coding housekeeping genes, glnII, gyrB and recA. We identified species originated from the centers of origin/domestication of the legume, R. etli and R. phaseoli, species probably indigenous of Brazil, R. leucaenae and others of the Rhizobium/Agrobacterium clade, in addition to putative new species. The results highlight the great rhizobial diversity of the region.     

Karyo-taxonomic study of the genus<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudolysimachion</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Scrophulariaceae</Emphasis>) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Flow cytometry was used to determine ploidy levels in the Czech and Slovak taxa of the genusPseudolysimachion (W.D.J. Koch)Opiz (=Veronica auct. p.p.,Scrophulariaceae). In total, 123 populations from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine (one locality), Austria (one locality) and Hungary (one locality) were analyzed. InP. maritimum (L.)Á. Löve etD. Löve andP. spicatum (L.)Opiz, two cytotypes were found: diploid (2n=2x=34) and tetraploid (2n=4x=68). In both species the tetraploid cytotype predominated (P. maritimum: 41 tetraploid populations out of 45;P. spicatum: 57 tetraploid populations out of 58). The two cytotypes ofP. maritimum have no taxonomic significance because ploidy level is not obviously correlated with morphology, distribution pattern or ecology. Tetraploid populations ofP. spicatum belong to two morphologically different subspecies, subsp.spicatum and subsp.fischeri Trávní?ek. The diploid cytotype (one population only) should be provisionally classified as a third subspecies ofP. spicatum, which is morphologically similar to the Asian subsp.porphyrianum (Pavlov)Trávní?ek. Only diploid plants (2n=2x=34) ofP. orchideum (Crantz)Wraber were found; all 13 populations that were analyzed belong toP. orchideum s.str. One diploid population sample ofP. spurium subsp.foliosum (Waldst. etKit.)Holub (2n=2x=34) and one tetraploid sample ofP. incanum subsp.pallens (Host)Trávní?ek (2n=4x=68) were also analyzed. In addition, three tetraploid populations of hybrid origin were investigated:P. maritimum ×P. spicatum subsp.spicatum (one population) andP. maritimum ×P. spurium subsp.foliosum (two populations). While hybrid plants ofP. maritimum ×P. spicatum arose from tetraploid parental species, plants ofP. maritimum ×P. spurium probably resulted from a cross between tetraploidP. maritimum and diploidP. spurium. The putative origin and evolutionary importance of polyploids in thePseudolysimachion are discussed.     

Chromosome number variability in central european members of the<Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca ovina</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">F. pallens</Emphasis> groups (sect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca</Emphasis>)

Chromosome numbers for 98 plants ofF. pallens, 19 ofF. psammophila, F. belensis andF. vaginata, and 44 ofF. ovina (originating from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia and Latvia) are given. In addition to theF. ovina andF. pallens groups, chromosome counts for the following taxa are also reported:F. alpestris (2n=14) reported for the first time in this work,F. amethystina subsp.amethystina (2n=28),F. brevipila (2n=42),F. cinerea (2n=28),F. rupicola subsp.rupicola (2n=42) andF. versicolor subsp.versicolor (2n=14).InF. pallens, two ploidy levels (2n=2x=14+0-1B, 2n=4x=28+0-1B) as well as two natural triploid plants (2n=21+0-1B), were found. In addition to the fourF. pallens types that have been distinguished in Austria, one new tetraploid type (F. pallens “scabrifolia”) from the Czech Republic and Germany is reported and its taxonomy is discussed. The distributions of the Oberösterreich-Niederösterreich and Pannonisches-HügellandF. pallens types outside of Austria are documented.Only the diploid chromosome number (2n=14) was found inF. psammophila andF. vaginata. Chromosome numbers forF. psammophila subsp.muellerstollii andF. belensis (both 2n=14) were determined here for the first time. Two ploidy levels, 2n=14+0-5B corresponding toF. ovina subsp.ovina and 2n=28 corresponding toF. ovina subsp.guestphalica andF. cf.duernsteinensis were confirmed inF. ovina. Differences in chromosome structure (simple and multiple secondary constrictions) betweenF. pallens as opposed toF. psammophila andF. vaginata are discussed. A complete survey of published chromosome counts for Central European species from theF. ovina andF. pallens groups is included.     

Insights into the genetic relationships among plants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta</Emphasis> using SNP markers

Key message

Using a much higher number of SNP markers and larger sample sizes than all the previous studies, we characterized the genetic relationships among wild and cultivated plants of section Beta.

Abstract

We analyzed the genetic variation of Beta section Beta, which includes wild taxa (Beta macrocarpa, B. patula, B. vulgaris subsp. adanensis and B. vulgaris subsp. maritima) and cultivars (fodder beet, sugar beet, garden beet, leaf beet, and swiss chards), using 9724 single nucleotide polymorphism markers. The analyses conducted at the individual level without a priori groups confirmed the strong differentiation of B. macrocarpa and B. vulgaris subsp. adanensis from the other taxa. B. vulgaris subsp. maritima showed a complex genetic structure partly following a geographical pattern, which confounded the differences between this taxon and the cultivated varieties. Cultivated varieties were structured into three main groups: garden beets, fodder and sugar beets, and leaf beets and swiss chards. The genetic structure described here will be helpful to correctly estimate linkage disequilibrium and to test for statistical associations between genetic markers and environmental variables.

     

Evolutionary relationships in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Secale</Emphasis> revealed by DArTseq DNA polymorphism

Till this day, there is not much known about the phylogeny of the Secale genus; therefore, in our research, we tried to shed some lights on the issue of rye (Secale genus) taxonomy. The genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships were evaluated using 13,842 DArTseq? polymorphic markers. The model-based clustering (STRUCTURE software) separated our 84 samples into three main clusters: perennial cluster, annual cluster, and S. sylvestre cluster. The same result was obtained using Neighbour Joining tree and self-organizing maps. Secale sylvestre, S. strictum, and S. cereale are the three main species of the Secale genus. Three samples of rye are in basal positions in phylogenetic trees. These accessions share ancient morphological characters and are probably the ancestors of different lineages within Secale. Annual Secale taxa, with the exception of S. sylvestre, create one mutual taxon. We have found out that the semi-perennial taxa of S. cereale var. multicaule and S. strictum subsp. ciliatoglume are genetically closest to the annual species of S. cereale. Phylogenetic signals for semi-perennial and annual taxa are also present in S. strictum subsp. africanum. SNP-based analysis revealed that evolution of annual S. cereale has already begun in S. strictum subsp. africanum. The results showed that S. vavilovii cannot be considered as a separate species but a subspecies of S. cereale Secale cereale subsp. dighoricum is a hybrid. It is still not clear whether we can consider S. strictum subsp. strictum and S. strictum subsp. kuprijanovii as two separate species.     

A review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thinodromus lunatus</Emphasis> species-group (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae)

The Thinodromus lunatus species group is revised. The following new species are described: Thinodromus (s. str.) cattiensis sp. n. from Vietnam, Thinodromus (s. str.) forsteri sp. n. from southern Thailand, Thinodromus (s. str.) himalayensis sp. n. from Nepal and northern India, Thinodromus (s. str.) inconspicuus sp. n. from southern China, Thailand, and Vietnam, and Thinodromus (s. str.) spotus sp. n. from southern China. The following new synonymy is established: Thinodromus (s. str.) deceptor (Sharp, 1889) = Thinodromus (s. str.) gravelyi (Bernhauer, 1926), syn. n.; = Thinodromus (s. str.) reitterianus (Bernhauer, 1938), syn. n. Lectotypes are designated for Trogophloeus lunatus Motschulsky, 1857, Trogophloeus pustulatus Bernhauer, 1904, Trogophloeus socius Bernhauer, 1904, Trogophloeus sumatrensis Bernhauer, 1915, Trogophloeus lewisi Cameron, 1919, Trogophloeus gravelyi Bernhauer, 1926, Trogophloeus reitterianus Bernhauer, 1938, and Trogophloeus unipustulatus Cameron, 1941. A key is presented to all the species of the Thinodromus lunatus group.     

Isolation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campylobacter</Emphasis> spp. from Three Species of Antarctic Penguins in Different Geographic Locations

The presence of Campylobacter species was studied in three Antarctic penguin species, Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua). A total of 390 penguins were captured in 12 different rookeries along the Antarctic Peninsula with differences in the amount of human visitation: six colonies were highly visited [Stranger Point, King George Island (P. papua and P. adeliae); Hannah Point, Livingston Island (P. papua and P. antarctica); Deception Island (P. antarctica); and Paradise Bay, Antarctic Peninsula (P. papua)], and six colonies were rarely visited [Devil’s Point, Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island (P. papua); Cierva Cove, Antarctic Peninsula (P. papua); Rongé Island (P. papua and P. antarctica); Yalour Island (P. adeliae); and Avian Island (P. adeliae)]. A total of 23 strains were isolated from penguins from nine different rookeries. Campylobacter lari subsp. lari was isolated from eight samples (seven from P. papua and one from P. adeliae); C. lari subsp. concheus from 13 (ten from P. adeliae and three from P. antarctica) and C. volucris from two samples (both from P. papua). We did not find any significant differences in the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. between the populations in highly and rarely visited areas. This is the first report of C. lari subsp. concheus and C. volucris isolation from penguins in the Antarctic region.     

Phylogenetic relationships among cultivated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zanthoxylum</Emphasis> species in China based on cpDNA markers

We here present a molecular phylogenetic analysis of cultivated Zanthoxylum species which have a long history of cultivation both for economic and for chemical values in China. Three cpDNA markers, including matK, rbcL, and trnL-F, were sequenced, with the goals of untangling phylogenetic relationships and inferring biogeographic origin and patterns of distribution among Zanthoxylum species. Based on three cpDNA markers, 19 haplotypes with 64 polymorphic sites in Zanthoxylum provenances were identified in our study. A low genetic differentiation (G _ST ?=?0.271, N _ST ?=?0.373) was observed within Zanthoxylum provenances. Based on phylogenetic tree and haplotype network, all 19 haplotypes were grouped into six clusters. Our results also supported the hypothesis that the so-called “Green Huajiao” belongs to the species Zanthoxylum armatum rather than Zanthoxylum schinifolium. The results also revealed that haplotypes of two cultivated species, Zanthoxylum bungeanum and Z. armatum, most probably diverged during the Late Miocene. Ancestral area reconstruction indicated that cultivated Zanthoxylum species experienced multiple long-distance dispersal events and several vicariance events and the ancestors of Zanthoxylum first colonized Yunnan and Guizhou provinces (D). Accordingly, the current disjunct distribution of Z. bungeanum and Z. armatum may represent long-distance dispersal of ancestors popularly named “Dahongpao” and “Qinghuajiao,” respectively. It is concluded that cpDNA markers may provide a new conceptual and practical opportunity to evaluate genetic diversity and to identify local cultivars of Zanthoxylum, making it a valuable source to include into potential breeding programs.     

What is the type species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phanerochaete</Emphasis> (Polyporales,Basidiomycota)?

Phanerochaete velutina and the closely related species P. alnea, P. alnea subsp. lubrica, and P. rhodella are identified as distinct species based on morphological criteria and molecular analyses. Besides differences in macroscopic and microscopic basidiocarp features, the taxa differ in distribution and ITS sequence. Phanerochaete alnea is widely distributed in Eurasia and North America, whereas P. alnea subsp. lubrica is limited to the Pacific Coast of North America. Phanerochaete velutina is known from Eurasia and Alaska, and P. rhodella is found in North America only. Nomenclatural problems with the name Phanerochaete P. Karst. are discussed, and type specimens for Thelephora alnea Fr., the generic type of Phanerochaete, and Peniophora karstenii Massee are selected. Phanerochaete alnea, P. alnea subsp. lubrica, and P. velutina are described and illustrated. In addition, the synonymy of Phanerochaete robusta and P. aurantiobadia is confirmed.     

Lima bean nodulates efficiently with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bradyrhizobium</Emphasis> strains isolated from diverse legume species

Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is an important legume species that establishes symbiosis with rhizobia, mainly of the Bradyrhizobium genus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of rhizobia of the genus Bradyrhizobium in symbiosis with lima bean, in both Leonard jars and in pots with a Latossolo Amarelo distrófico (Oxisol). In the experiment in Leonard jars, 17 strains isolated from nodules of the three legume subfamilies, Papilionoideae (Vigna unguiculata, Pterocarpus sp., Macroptilium atropurpureum, Swartzia sp., and Glycine max), Mimosoideae (Inga sp.), and Caesalpinioideae (Campsiandra surinamensis) and two uninoculated controls, one with a low concentration (5.25 mg L^?1) and another with a high concentration (52.5 mg L^?1) of mineral nitrogen (N) were evaluated. The six strains that exhibited the highest efficiency in Leonard jars, isolated from nodules of Vigna unguiculata (UFLA 03–144, UFLA 03–84, and UFLA 03–150), Campsiandra surinamensis (INPA 104A), Inga sp. (INPA 54B), and Swartzia sp. (INPA 86A), were compared to two uninoculated controls, one without and another with 300 mg N dm^?3 (NH₄NO₃) applied to pots with samples of an Oxisol in the presence and absence of liming. In this experiment, liming did not affect nodulation and plant growth; the INPA 54B and INPA 86A strains stood out in terms of shoot dry matter production and provided increases of approximately 48% in shoot N accumulation compared to the native rhizobia populations. Our study is the first to indicate Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from the three legume subfamilies are able to promote lima bean growth via biological nitrogen fixation in soil conditions.     

Vetch aphid, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Megoura crassicauda</Emphasis> (Hemiptera: Aphididae), parasitism does not reduce the bean production of narrow-leaved vetch, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia sativa</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">nigra</Emphasis> (Fabaceae)

Megoura crassicauda Mordvilko (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a dominant aphid species found on Vicia sativa subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (Fabaceae) in the spring. Worker ants of Formica japonica, the dominant ant species attracted to the extrafloral nectaries of V. s. nigra, often attack ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata), which are aphid enemies. However, the workers of F. japonica do not attack or exclude M. crassicauda, the non-myrmecophilous aphid. It appears that the “bodyguard” retained by the plant guards the plant’s herbivore by attacking the herbivores’ enemies, rather than guarding the plant itself. The relationship between V. s. nigra and M. crassicauda was observed in the field to examine and evaluate the cost of parasitism. Parasitism by M. crassicauda delayed flower bud formation markedly in V. s. nigra but did not kill the plants. V. s. nigra plants that were parasitized showed a net bean production similar to that of the non-parasitized controls. The parasitism rate of M. crassicauda increased when extrafloral nectaries were used by F. japonica. These results may indicate that M. crassicauda provides V. s. nigra with benefits by preventing other serious disadvantages.     

Diploid hybrids between allotetraploid wild potato species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum acaule</Emphasis> Bitt., <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. stoloniferum</Emphasis> Schltdl. and dihaploids of <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. tuberosum</Emphasis> L.

The possibility to obtain diploid hybrids by pollination of allotetraploid wild potato species Solanum acaule and S. stoloniferum plants with fertile pollen of S. tuberosum dihaploids was demonstrated for the first time. Dihaploid hybrids have arisen with comparatively high frequency (from 12.5 to 33.3%). They were characterized by high regularity of meiosis and high fertility. They easily crossed with S. tuberosum dihaploids, forming viable progeny. This seems prospective for effective introgression of valuable genetic gene pool of wild allotetraploid potato species in breeding material of S. tuberosum on the diploid level.     

Development and characterization of chloroplast microsatellite markers for <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Pinus massoniana</Emphasis> and their application in <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Pinus</Emphasis> (Pinaceae) species

Pinus massoniana is one of the important afforestation and pioneer tree species, which is widely distribute in southern China. Chloroplast simple sequence repeat markers (cpSSRs) have been widely used in studies of tree genetics, phylogenetic and breeding. We sequenced the whole chloroplast genome sequences of P. massoniana using PCR and Sanger sequencing. A total of 71 cpSSRs were identified, among which mononucleotide repeats were predominant (70.42%). Seventeen primer pairs were developed and amplification tests were conducted with 15 P. massoniana individuals. Also, cross-species amplification tests were conducted among 15 individuals per Pinus species, including P. elliottii, P. bungeana, P. armandii, P. caribaea, P. tabulaeformis, P. taiwanensis and P. yunnanensis which revealed polymorphic information content ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 and average of haploid diversity (h) ranging from 0.29 to 0.63. In addition, the polymorphic cpSSRs were useful in distinguishing the sampled pine species, and could be powerful tool in phylogenetic studies.     

Species relationships inPhaseolus: Electrophoretic analysis of seed storage proteins

Relationships among storage proteins in seeds from cultivars and primitive accessions of the four economically most important species ofPhaseolus — P. vulgaris, P. coccineus, P. acutifolius andP. lunatus — were studied. Analysis of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of storage seed proteins revealed common characteristics in the major groups of polypeptides forP. vulgaris, P. coccineus andP. acutifolius, while clear differences existed between thesePhaseolus species and P.lunatus.