Freeliving nematodes from the Salton Sea

Thirteen species, or putative species, of freeliving nematodes are recorded from a variety of habitats in the hypersaline Salton Sea, the largest inland lake in California. This doubles the number of species of multicellular invertebrates known to occur in the lake. All species are referable to known marine genera, and are regarded as having a marine coastal origin. The range of taxa present is representative of the full taxonomic spread found in marine coastal habitats, suggesting that a wide range of marine nematode taxa are capable of adapting to the hypersaline conditions. The broad spectrum of feeding types present suggests that nematodes play a variety of ecological roles within the lake.     

Three new Pteridophytes from Mexico

Two new species of ferns and a hybrid horsetail are described from Mexico:Diplazium wendtii, Polypodium microgrammoides, andEquisetum × haukeanum.     

Five onygenalean fungi from Japan

Soils from various areas in Japan were screened for isolation of cleistothecial ascomycetes. From the recent collections, two new species of onygenalean fungi,Gymnascella japonica andGymnostellatospora frigida, are described and illustrated. Three interesting fungi,Aphanoascus saturnoideus, Arachnotheca glomerata andLeucothecium emdenii, are also described as the first records from Japan.     

New taxa ofRubiaceae-Rubieae from Iran

Asperula sect.Oppositifoliae is validated. 2 new species ofAsperula and 7 new species and 1 variety ofGalium from Iran are described, discussed in respect to their affinities and illustrated. 2 subspecies are raised to species rank.     

Five interesting ascomycetes from herbal drugs

Among strains isolated from herbal drugs in a mycological survey conducted in 1977–1980, five noteworthy species of pyrenomycetous ascomycetes are described and illustrated:Gelasinospora mirabilis var.gigaspora var. nov., isolated from Taraxaci Herba (Japanese name, Hokoei);Lophotrichus ampullus, isolated from Trichosanthis Radix (Japanese name, Karokon);L. bartlettii, isolated from Chamomillae Flos (Japanese name, Kamitsure);Sordaria conoidea, isolated from Plantaginis Semen (Japanese name, Shazenshi); andThielavia subthermophila, isolated from wood ofAbies webbiana, Plantaginis Semen and Plantaginis Herba (Japanese names, Shazenshi and Shazenso).     

Two new lecanid rotifers from India

While working on the material collected from Calcutta and its environs, the author came across two new lecanid rotifers which have been described in this paper as a new species and a new variety.     

Some interesting agarics from eastern Austria

Four very rare species ofAgaricales of dry grassland of the Galgenberg near Röschitz (Niederösterreich) are described and their taxonomy, affinities, ecology and distribution are discussed.Marasmiellus graminis (Murr.)Sing. & Hausknecht andCrinipellis subtomentosa (Peck.)Sing. var.mauretanica (Mre.)Sing. & Hausknecht are proposed as new combinations;Campanella inquilina Romagn. apudRedhead is a synonym ofC. caesia Romagn.     

Three new hyphomycetes onPandanus leaves from mauritius

Three new hyphomycetes colonizing dead leaves ofPandanus spp. in Mauritius are described, illustrated, and compared with related species. They areFuscophialis suttonii sp. nov.,Paraceratocladium triseptatum sp. nov., andSporidesmium paradecorosum sp. nov.     

The Polyarthra escape from response: Defense against interference from Daphnia

Direct observations show that almost all (97%) Polyarthra remata caught in the inhalant current of Daphnia pulex avoid inhalation by initiating escape responses. Microvideographic analysis shows that these responses are initiated, on average, 0.24 mm (about 2.5 body lengths) from the inhalant opening of the branchial chamber, when the Polyarthra are moving at a velocity of about 1.4 mm s^–1 (about 6 times their normal swimming speed — 0.24 mm s^–1). The stimulus for the escape response could be rapid acceleration or, more likely, shear. The average distance traveled during an escape response is at least 1.25 mm (about 12 body lengths).The Polyarthra escape response can provide a very effective defense against interference from Daphnia and may greatly increase the ability of Polyarthra spp. to coexist with Daphnia.     

Two new aroids from Borneo

Bucephalandra gigantea Bogner, spec nova, is characterized by its large habit, the relatively small inflorescences and the very slender thecae.Hottarum kinabaluense Bogner, spec nova, is differentiated by its ellipsoid ovaries, the smooth petioles and the absence of staminodes.     

Five additional genera of conidial lichen-forming fungi from Europe

Three remarkable new genera of conidial lichen-forming fungi, with pycnidial or acervular conidiomata are described and illustrated.Hastifera tenuispora gen. et spec. nov. from the South-Tyrol, Italy, is characterized by very long and narrow hyaline conidia produced in pycnidial conidiomata immersed in thalline warts.Lichingoldia gyalectiformis gen. et spec. nov. from rocks subject to inundation by freshwater in Norway has long sigmoidly curved conidia which appear to be adapted to dispersal in water.Woessia fusarioides gen. et spec. nov. from aQuercus stump in the Burgenland, Austria, has a finely granular thallus and disc-like conidiomata producing falcate conidia; this species is also of interest in that it hasChlorella as the photobiont. The recently described hyphomyceteCheiromycina flabelliformis B. Sutton is reported from Austria for the first time, and is also lichenized. Recent collections ofNigropuncta rugulosa D. Hawksw. from Austria and Italy also show that this species is lichenized rather than parasymbiotic. In all five cases the fungal hyphae of the conidiogenous structures are continuous with those in intimate contact with cells of the algal partners and the biological relationship appears to be mutualistic giving rise to stable crustose lichen thalli.     

Glutamate agonists from marine algae

The occurrence of three glutamate agonists — glutamic acid, D-homocysteic acid and kainic acid — in a spontaneous mutant of Palmaria palmata is reported. Glutamic acid and D-homocysteic acid, but not kainic acid, were found in the wild-type plant. The closely related glutamate agonist, domoic acid, was found in the red alga Chondria baileyana and in the diatom Nitzschia pungens forma multiseries. In the diatom, domoic acid can build up to high levels in excess of 3% (dry wt.), making N. pungens a potential commercial source of this neuroactive amino acid. Information is also presented on the distribution, chemistry and biological activity of neuroactive amino acids from algae, and a possible biogenic relationship among kainoid metabolites is discussed. author for correspondence     

Agars from Chilean Gelidiaceae

Cystocarpic, tetrasporic and vegetative thalli of Gelidium chilense were extracted with water at 95 °C. The contents of 3,6-anhydro-galactose and sulfate group of the hydrocolloids correspond to those of an agar-type polysaccharide. The percentages of 6-O-methyl-galactose and of pyruvic acid ranged between 5.7–6.2% and 0.42–0.54%, respectively. The gel melting and gelation temperatures of Gelidium chilense, G. rex and G. lingulatum agars were determined. A correlation between 6-O-methylgalactose content and gelation temperatures was not observed. It was found by anion-exchange chromatography that 19.8% of tetrasporic and 4.9% of vegetative G. chilense agars are unsulfated polymers. Structural studies on the neutral fraction from tetrasporic G. chilense agar by partial hydrolysis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy have shown that it is mainly composed of agarose. Methylation analysis, oxidative hydrolysis and partial hydrolysis, followed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, have shown that the neutral fraction of the agar from tetrasporic Gelidium rex is agarose. The results obtained in this work are compared with previously reported data on studies of agars from Chilean Gelidium species.     

Steroid Compounds from the Far Eastern Starfish Diplopteraster multipes

Sodium salt of (20R)-3,4-dihydroxycholest-5-ene-21-yl sulfate and disodium salts of (20R)-4-hydroxycholest-5-ene-3,21-diyl disulfate, (20R)-24-methylcholest-5,24(28)-diene-3,21-diyl disulfate, (20R)-24-methyl-5-cholest-24(28)-ene-3,21-diyl disulfate, (20R)-cholest-5-ene-3,21-diyl disulfate, (20R)-5-cholestane-3,21-diyl disulfate, and (20R)-3-hydroxycholest-5-ene-2,21-diyl disulfate were isolated from the far eastern starfish Diplopteraster multipes and characterized. These compounds differ structurally from sulfated polyhydroxysteroids in other starfish species. At the same time, they are typical secondary metabolites of Ophiuroidea and have some structural features characteristic of the ophiuroid-isolated steroids, namely the 3-hydroxy (or 3-sulfoxy) and 21-sulfoxy groups. These data support the opinion of some taxonomists that starfishes and ophiuroids are phylogeneteically related classes and are closer to each other than to other classes of the Echinodermata phylum.     

A molecular phylogeny of Hebeloma species from Europe

In order to widen the scope of existing phylogenies of the ectomycorrhizal agaric genus Hebeloma a total of 53 new rDNA ITS sequences from that genus was generated, augmented by sequences retrieved from GenBank, and analysed using Bayesian, strict consensus and neighbour joining methods. The lignicolous Hebelomina neerlandica, Gymnopilus penetrans, and two species of Galerina served as outgroup taxa. Anamika indica, as well as representatives of the genera Hymenogaster and Naucoria, were included to test the monophyly of Hebeloma, which is confirmed by the results. Hebeloma, Naucoria, Hymenogaster and Anamika indica cluster in a strongly supported monophyletic hebelomatoid clade. All trees largely reflect the current infrageneric classification within Hebeloma, and divide the genus into mostly well-supported monophyletic groups surrounding H. crustuliniforme, H. velutipes, H. sacchariolens, H. sinapizans, and H. radicosum, with H. sarcophyllum being shown at an independent position; however this is not well supported. The section Indusiata divides with strong support into three groups, the position of the pleurocystidiate Hebeloma cistophilum suggests the possible existence of a third subsection within sect. Indusiata. Subsection Sacchariolentia is raised to the rank of section.     

High-throughput DNA extraction from forest trees

It is difficult to extract pure high-quality DNA from trees, which may not be amenable to advances in extraction methods suitable for other plants. A new commercial high-throughput DNA extraction system, using a silica binding matrix for purification and a multisample mixer mill for tissue disruption, was evaluated for its suitability withEucalyptus spp.,Pinus spp., andAraucaria cunninghamii (hoop pine). DNA suitable for a range of molecular biology applications was successfully extracted from all genera. The method was highly reliable when tested in more than 500 preparations and could be adapted to different tree species with relatively minor modifications.     

Brachyurins, Serine Collagenolytic Enzymes from Crabs

The properties of brachyurins, proteolytic enzymes belonging to a new subfamily of chymotrypsin-like proteases, are considered. These enzymes, found in various species of crustacean, exhibit mixed substrate specificity and a marked collagenolytic activity. The enzymatic and physicochemical properties of brachyurins I and their primary and spatial structures are discussed in detail. A separate chapter is devoted to the preparations of collagenases from the hepatopancreas of king crab: their action on the damaged skin and use in medicine.     

Nif plasmid from Lignobacter

Lignobacter strain K17 is able to degrade aromatic compounds and to fix atmospheric nitrogen. It was proved that capacity for nitrogen fixation by Lignobacter was plasmid mediated. Plasmid pUCS100 (17.5 Mdal) carrying nif genes was transferred from Lignobacter to Escherichia coli SK1592 and Salmonella typhimurium. The transposon Tn9 was translocated to pUCS100 to facilitate selection of Nif⁺ bacteria. E. coli SK1592 harboring the new plasmid (pUCS101) reduced acetylene under anaerobic conditions. Plasmids pUCS100 and pUCS101 were not stably maintained in E. coli and S. typhimurium.Abbreviations Mdal megadalton - CsCl-EtBr caesium chloride ethidium bromide - m.o.i. multiplicity of infection