Molecular cytogenetic analysis of DNA from pericentric heterochromatin of chromosome 2L of malaria mosquito <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles beklemishevi</Emphasis> (culicidae,Diptera)

Using the method of microdissection of polytene chromosomes, followed by in situ hybridization, chromosomal localization of region-specific DNA probe from pericentic heterochromatin of chromosome 2L of Anopheles beklemishevi Stegnii et Kabanova was examined on polytene chromosomes of Anopheles atroparvus van Thiel, An. messeae Fall, and An. beklemishevi. DNA sequences homologous to the probe used were found in all species examined on chromosomes 2 and 3 in pericentric regions and in attachment regions. The exclusion were the attachment regions of chromosome XL in An. beklemishevi and An. messeae, and pericentric region of arm 2R in An. messeae. Pericentric α -heterochromatin of arm 2L in An. messeae and arm 3R in An. atroparvus also contained no sequences homologous to the DNA probe. The data obtained were compared with the earlier obtained data on localization of species-specific probe from the segment of chromosome 2R of An. atroparvus on chromosomes of An. artoparvus, An. messeae, and An. beklemishevi. The differences between the species in the sites of probes localization and fluorescence intensity revealed pointed to the existence of individual sequence associations in the regions of chromosomes attachment.     

Molecular and cytogenic analysis of pericentromeric heterochromatin in ovarian nurse cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster</Emphasis> subgroup species

Evolutionary rearrangements of pericentromeric heterochromatin among Drosophila melanogaster subgroup species have been investigated. A region-specific DNA library from Drosophila orena ovarian nurse cell chromocenter was obtained by the microdissection of polythene chromosomes. The probe has been localized on chromosomes of ovarian nurse cells of Drosophila melanogaster subgroup species using fluorescent hybridization in situ. Sequences homologous to the sequences of the DNA probe were detected in the chromocenter and pericentromeric regions of D. orena polythene chromosomes, in all pericentromeric regions of other species with several exceptions. There was no labeling on one of the arms of the D. simulans chromosome 2; however, these sequences were present on the telomere of D. erecta chromosome 3 and in regions adjacent to the brightly DAPI-stained heterochromatin blocks of D. yakuba, D. santomea and D. teissieri chromosomes 2 and 3. At the S₆ stage (secondary reticulate nucleus), labeled chromatin can be found mostly within a restricted territory in D. orena nucleus; no such chromatin can be detected throughout the rest of the nucleus. On the contrary, at this stage, in nuclei of other species, labeled DNA is spread diffusely.     

Polymorphism of <Emphasis Type="Italic">yellow</Emphasis> locus in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster</Emphasis> mutants from natural populations

We have studied the molecular characteristics of the yellow locus (y; 1–0.0), which determines the body color of phenotypically wild-type and mutant alleles isolated in different years from geographically distant populations of Drosophila melanogaster. According to the Southern blot, data restriction maps of the yellow locus of all examined strains differ from one another, as well as from Oregon stock. FISH analysis shows that, in the neighborhood of the yellow locus in the X chromosome, neither P nor hobo elements are found in y^1–775 stock, while only hobo is found in these region in y^1–859 and y^1–866 stocks, only the P element is found in y⁺sn⁸⁴⁹ stock, and both elements are found in y^1–719 stock. Thus, all yellow mutants studied are of independent origin. Locus yellow located on the end of X chromosome (region 1A5–8 on the cytologic map) carries significantly more transposon than retrotransposon induced mutations compared to the white locus (region 3C2). It is possible that, at the ends of Drosophila melanogaster chromosomes, transposons are more active than retrotransposons.     

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.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila bipectinata</Emphasis> species complex: phylogenetic relationship among different members based on chromosomal variations

Making interspecific hybridizations, where possible remains an unparalleled option for studying the intricacies of speciation. In the Drosophila bipectinata species complex comprising of four species, namely D. bipectinata, D. parabipectinata, D. malerkotliana and D. pseudoananassae, interspecific hybrids can be obtained in the laboratory, thus bequeathing an ideal opportunity for studying speciation and phylogeny. With the view of investigating the degree of divergence between each species pair, we planned to study the polytene chromosomes of the F ₁ hybrids, as it would mirror the level of compatibility between the genomes of the parental species. Two sets of crosses were made, one involving homozygous strains of all four species from India and the other including homozygous strains from different places across the globe. Polytene chromosomes of F ₁ larvae from both sets of crosses had similar configurations. In F ₁ larvae from crosses involving D. bipectinata, D. parabipectinata and D. malerkotliana, complex configurations (depicting overlapping inversions) could be detected in different arms. However, they were fairly synapsed, indicating that the differences are only at the level of gene arrangements. The polytene chromosomes of larvae obtained by crossing D. pseudoananassae with the other three species were very thin with gross asynapsis in all the arms, demonstrating that the genome of D. pseudoananassae is widely diverged from rest of the species. The overlapping inversions (reflected in complex configuration), are inferred in the light of earlier chromosomal studies performed in this complex.     

Cytogenetic evidences on the evolutionary relationships between the tetraploids of the section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizomatosae</Emphasis> and related diploid species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis</Emphasis>, Leguminosae)

Rhizomatosae is a taxonomic section of the South American genus Arachis, whose diagnostic character is the presence of rhizomes in all its species. This section is of particular evolutionary interest because it has three polyploid (A. pseudovillosa, A. nitida and A. glabrata, 2n?=?4x?=?40) and only one diploid (A. burkartii, 2n?=?2x?=?20) species. The phylogenetic relationships of these species as well as the polyploidy nature and the origin of the tetraploids are still controversial. The present study provides an exhaustive analysis of the karyotypes of all rhizomatous species and six closely related diploid species of the sections Erectoides and Procumbentes by cytogenetic mapping of DAPI/CMA heterochromatin bands and 5S and 18–26S rDNA loci. Chromosome banding showed variation in the DAPI heterochromatin distribution pattern, which, together with the number and distribution of rDNA loci, allowed the characterization of all species studied here. The bulk of chromosomal markers suggest that the three rhizomatous tetraploid species constitute a natural group and may have at least one common diploid ancestor. The cytogenetic data of the diploid species analyzed evidenced that the only rhizomatous diploid species—A. burkartii—has a karyotype pattern different from those of the rhizomatous tetraploids, showing that it is not likely the genome donor of the tetraploids and the non-monophyletic nature of the section Rhizomatosae. Thus, the tetraploid species should be excluded from the R genome, which should remain exclusively for A. burkartii. Instead, the karyotype features of these tetraploids are compatible with those of different species of the sections Erectoides and Procumbentes (E genome species), suggesting the hypothesis of multiple origins of these tetraploids. In addition, the polyploid nature and the group of diploid species closer to the tetraploids are discussed.     

Susceptibility of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diaphorina citri</Emphasis> (Hemiptera: Liviidae) and Its Parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamarixia radiata</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) to Entomopathogenic Fungi under Laboratory Conditions

Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama) is a global pest of citrus that transmits the bacteria associated with the disease, Huanglongbing. Entomopathogenic fungi and the parasitoid Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) are important biological control agents of this pest and likely to interact in D. citri populations. As a basis for interaction studies, we determined the susceptibility of nymphs and adults of D. citri and adults of the parasitoid T. radiata to six fungal isolates from the species Beauveria bassiana s.l. (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. (isolates B1 and B3), Metarhizium anisopliae s.s. (Metsch.) (Ma129 and Ma65) and Isaria fumosorosea Wize (I2 and Pae). We conducted experiments evaluating infection levels in all three insect groups following inoculation with a series of conidial concentrations (1 × 10⁴–1 × 10⁸ conidia mL^?1). Results showed that D. citri nymphs and T. radiata were more susceptible to fungal isolates than D. citri adults. Overall, B. bassiana and M. anisopliae isolates caused the greatest infection compared with I. fumosorosea isolates in all three groups of insects. Isolates B1 (B. bassiana) and Ma129 (M. anisopliae) infected a greater proportion of adults and nymphs of D. citri, respectively. Both isolates of B. bassiana caused greater infection in T. radiata compared with isolates of the other fungal species. We propose that isolates B1 and Ma129 are the strongest candidates for control of D. citri. Our results represent the first report of entomopathogenic fungi infecting T. radiata, and the basis for future studies to design a biological control programme that uses both agents more efficiently against D. citri populations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces xiangluensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from soil

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-LA29^T, was isolated from soil collected from Xianglu Mountain and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Based on a polyphasic taxonomic approach comprising chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic, morphological and physiological characterisation, the isolate has been affiliated to the genus Streptomyces. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolate is closely related to Streptomyces vastus JCM4524^T (98.8% identity) and Streptomyces cinereus DSM43033^T (97.9%). However, multilocus sequence analysis based on five other house-keeping genes (atpD, gyrB, rpoB, recA and trpB) and low DNA–DNA relatedness values enabled the strain to be differentiated from these closely related species of the genus Streptomyces. Thus, strain NEAU-LA29^T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces xiangluensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-LA29^T (=?CGMCC 4.7466^T?=?DSM 105786^T).     

Evaluation of phylogenetic relationships in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mus</Emphasis> using <Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>-specific microsatellite DNA markers

The t-complex includes a complex system of genes localized in the proximal region of chromosome 17 of house mouse Mus musculus. The results of microsatellite analysis of laboratory stocks of house mice carrying t ¹², t ^w5, t ^w12, and t ^w73 haplotypes and wild mice from natural populations of Russia (Volgograd, Rostov, Saratov oblasts, and Kalmykia), Armenia, Bulgaria, Iran, and Mongolia performed by the PCR method with the use of eight pairs of D17Mit primers (16, 21, 23, 28, 32, 57, 63, 78) are presented. These pairs of primers amplify microsatellite DNA sequences on mouse chromosome 17 in the region from 7.6 to 18.8 cM that correspond to inversions (In (17) 3.4). Each pair of primers recognized three to six variants of nucleotide sequences ranging in size from 90–120 bp (D17Mit 16) to 300–330 bp (D17Mit 57). In most cases, two variants of nucleotide sequences were detected in each individual, i. e., most individuals were heterozygous for the microsatellite loci under study. The highest similarity of the spectra of microsatellite DNA fragments was revealed in laboratory stocks of house mice carrying the t ^w5 and t ^w73 haplotypes. The spectra of animals from the Rostov and Volgograd oblasts appeard to be most similar to them. The microsatellite spectra of individuals from Iran closely resemble the spectrum of an individual from Armenia. It was demonstrated that amplified microsatellite fragments localized in the region of the t-complex can be used to identify representatives of the Mus genus from wild populations.     

Acceleration of Senescence induced in Wheat by Light

CELLS from patients with G-trisomy or E-trisomy and XXY cells from patients with XY/XXY mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome are more susceptible to transformation in vitro by SV40 than are cells from normal individuals^1–3. We have used triploid (69XXY) human cells to determine whether the presence of extra chromosomes per se increases susceptibility to transformation.     

Comparative leaf micromorphology and anatomy of the dragon tree group of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dracaena</Emphasis> (Asparagaceae) and their taxonomic implications

Micromorphological features of the leaf epidermis and the inner structure of leaf tissues of eight arborescent taxa of the genus Dracaena were analysed using light and scanning electron microscopy. The plants are xeromorphic or mesomorphic. Their leaves are isobilateral and amphistomatic, and the stomata are anomocytic and tetracytic. The mesophyll in all the species is divided into an outer chlorenchyma and a central region with colourless water-storage cells, chlorophyll cells and vascular bundles. Water-storage cells have wall bands and reticulate thickenings on the walls. The article describes and illustrates several new quantitative and qualitative leaf characters of the dragon tree group. Our findings can be used to identify the dragon tree group leaves, while the shape of epidermal cells and stomata types may be useful in the identification and classification of fragments of fossil leaves. We conclude that D. ombet and D. schizantha are not two distinct species, but should be treated as subspecies of D. ombet. Leaf characters, especially stomata depth on adaxial epidermis, height of adaxial epidermal cells and the presence and thickness of hypodermal fibre bundles markedly differ between geographical groups: Macaronesian species (D. draco and D. tamaranae), the species found in East Africa and Arabian Peninsula (D. ombet subsp. ombet, D. ombet subsp. schizantha, D. serrulata and D. cinnabari) and Southeast Asian species (D. kaweesakii and D. jayniana).     

Biosynthesis of di-rhamnolipids and variations of congeners composition in genetically-engineered <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Objectives

To engineer Escherichia coli for the heterologous production of di-rhamnolipids, which are important biosurfactants but mainly produced by opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Results

The codon-optimized rhlAB and rhlC genes originating from P. aeruginosa and Burkholderia pseudomallei were combinatorially expressed in E. coli to produce di-rhamnolipids with varied congeners compositions. Genes involved in endogenous upstream pathways (rhamnose and fatty acids synthesis) were co-overexpressed with rhlAB–rhlC, resulting in variations of rhamnolipids production and congeners compositions. Under the shake-flask condition, co-overexpression of rfbD with rhlAB–rhlC increased rhamnolipids production (0.64 ± 0.02 g l^?1) than that in strain only expressing rhlAB–rhlC (0.446 ± 0.009 g l^?1), which was mainly composed of di-rhamnolipids congeners Rha–Rha–C₁₀–C₁₀.

Conclusion

Biosynthesis of di-rhamnolipids and variations of congeners composition in genetically engineered E. coli strains were achieved via combiniations of mono-/di-rhamnolipids synthesis modules and endogenous upstream modules.

     

Measurement of individual cell strength of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botryococcus braunii</Emphasis> in cell culture

Botryococcus braunii is a microalga considered for biofuel production and may require physical disruption of cells/colonies for efficient hydrocarbon extraction. In this study, the strength of individual cells of B. braunii was measured using a nanoindenter. From the load and cell size, the pressure for bursting the cell was calculated to be 56.9 MPa. This value is 2.3–10 times those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Chlorella vulgaris found in another research, because B. braunii has two types of cell walls with different thicknesses. The energy required to disrupt 1 g of dry B. braunii cells, estimated by load-displacement curves, is 3.19 J g^?1 which is 0.19–1.2 times higher than those of S. cerevisiae and C. vulgaris. When using a high-pressure homogenizer for disrupting B. braunii cells, the cell disruption degree increased with the treatment pressure at above 30 MPa, and 70% of cells were disrupted at 80 MPa.     

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 .     

Gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">angora</Emphasis> as a modifier of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">hairless</Emphasis> gene in mouse

The interaction between mouse angora-Y (Fgf5 ^go-Y) and hairless (hr) genes have been studied. Homozygous mutant gene Fgf5 ^go-Y increases length of all hair types, while homozygotes for the h gene lose hair completely starting on day 14 after birth. We obtained mice with genotypes +/+ hr/hr F₂, +/Fgf5 ^go-Y hr/hr and Fgf5 ^go-Y/Fgf5 ^go-Y hr/hr. Both +/Fgf5 ^go-Y hr/hr and +/+ hr/hr mice began to loose hair from their heads on day 14. This further extended on the whole body. On day 21 the mice were completely deprived of hair. Therefore a single dose of gene Fgf5 ^go-Y does not modify alopecia in mice homozygous for hr. However in double homozygotes Fgf5 ^go-Y/Fgf5 ^go-Y hr/hr alopecia started 4 days later, namely on day 18. It usually finished 10–12 days after detection of first bald patches. On days 28–30 double homozygotes lose coat completely. Hair loss in double homozygous mice was 1.5-fold slower than in +/+ hr/hr mice. This resulted from a significant extension of anagen phase induced by a mutant homozygous gene Fgf5 ^go-Y in morphogenesis of the hair follicle. The hr gene was expressed at the transmission phase from anagen to catagen. Our data shows that the angora gene is a modifier of the hairless gene and this results in a strong repression of alopecia progression in double homozygous mice compared to +/+ hr/hr animals.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Diplazium</Emphasis> hybrids involving <Emphasis Type="Italic">D. plantaginifolium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Italic">ternatum</Emphasis> from Mexico and Central America

Here we evaluate the origins and relationships of Mexican and Central American Diplazium hybrids derived from crosses involving either D. plantaginifolium or D. ternatum. Based on study of live plants and herbarium specimens, we distinguish D. ×verapax from the similar D. riedelianum and present evidence that the former is a sterile hybrid derived from a cross between D. plantaginifolium and D. werckleanum. We also describe new hybrids, D. ×torresianum and D. ×subternatum from Mexico and northern Central America. Both involve D. ternatum as one parent. Diplazium. cristatum is the other putative parent of D. ×torresianum, and D. plantaginifolium is the second parent of D. ×subternatum. We also designate lectotypes for D. cordovense and D. dissimile.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bactrocera dorsalis</Emphasis> species complex: comparative cytogenetic analysis in support of Sterile Insect Technique applications

Background

The Bactrocera dorsalis species complex currently harbors approximately 90 different members. The species complex has undergone many revisions in the past decades, and there is still an ongoing debate about the species limits. The availability of a variety of tools and approaches, such as molecular-genomic and cytogenetic analyses, are expected to shed light on the rather complicated issues of species complexes and incipient speciation. The clarification of genetic relationships among the different members of this complex is a prerequisite for the rational application of sterile insect technique (SIT) approaches for population control.

Results

Colonies established in the Insect Pest Control Laboratory (IPCL) (Seibersdorf, Vienna), representing five of the main economic important members of the Bactrocera dorsalis complex were cytologically characterized. The taxa under study were B. dorsalis s.s., B. philippinensis, B. papayae, B. invadens and B. carambolae. Mitotic and polytene chromosome analyses did not reveal any chromosomal characteristics that could be used to distinguish between the investigated members of the B. dorsalis complex. Therefore, their polytene chromosomes can be regarded as homosequential with the reference maps of B. dorsalis s.s.. In situ hybridization of six genes further supported the proposed homosequentiallity of the chromosomes of these specific members of the complex.

Conclusions

The present analysis supports that the polytene chromosomes of the five taxa under study are homosequential. Therefore, the use of the available polytene chromosome maps for B. dorsalis s.s. as reference maps for all these five biological entities is proposed. Present data provide important insight in the genetic relationships among the different members of the B. dorsalis complex, and, along with other studies in the field, can facilitate SIT applications targeting this complex. Moreover, the availability of 'universal' reference polytene chromosome maps for members of the complex, along with the documented application of in situ hybridization, can facilitate ongoing and future genome projects in this complex.

     

Production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-10,<Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-12-conjugated linoleic acid using permeabilized whole-cell biocatalyst of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yarrowia lipolytica</Emphasis>

Objective

To improve the production of trans-10,cis-12-conjugated linoleic acid (t10,c12-CLA) from linoleic acid in recombinant Yarrowia lipolytica.

Results

Cells of the yeast were permeabilized by freeze/thawing. The optimal conditions for t10,c12-CLA production by the permeabilized cells were at 28 °C, pH 7, 200 rpm with 1.5 g sodium acetate l^?1, 100 g wet cells l^?1, and 25 g LA l^?1. Under these conditions, the permeabilized cells produced 15.6 g t10,c12-CLA l^?1 after 40 h, with a conversion yield of 62 %. The permeabilized cells could be used repeatedly for three cycles, with the t10,c12-CLA extracellular production remaining above 10 g l^?1.

Conclusion

Synthesis of t10,c12-CLA was achieved using a novel method, and the production reported in this work is the highest value reported to date.

     

Mutant tRNA<Superscript>His</Superscript> Ineffective in Repression and Lacking Two Pseudouridine Modifications

TRANSFER RNA has been implicated in the regulation of a number of amino-acid biosynthetic operons^1–4. Histidyl-tRNA^His has been shown to be involved in regulation of the histidine operon by analysis of six genes (hisO, hisR, hisS, hisT, hisU, hisW), mutation of which causes derepression of the enzymes of the histidine biosynthetic pathway in Salmonella typhimurium^5–7. A class of derepressed mutants (hisR) has only about 55% as much tRNA^His as the wild type⁴ and in the one example sequenced, contains tRNA^HIS with a structure identical to that of the wild type⁸. Studies of mutants of the gene for histidyl-tRNA synthetase (hisS) indicated that the derepressed phenotype was associated with defects in the charging of tRNA^HISin vitro². The amounts of charged and uncharged tRNA^His present in vivo during physiological derepression of the wild type and in the six classes of regulatory mutants, have been determined⁹. This work has shown that repression of the histidine operon is correlated directly with the concentration of charged histidyl-tRNA^Hisin vivo and not with the ratio of charged to uncharged or the absolute amount of uncharged tRNA^His. The derepression observed in mutants, of hisS (the gene for histidyl-tRNA synthetase), hisR (the presumed structural gene for the single species of tRNA^His) and hisU and hisW (genes presumably involved in tRNA modification) may be explained by the lower cellular concentration of charged tRNA^His which these mutants contain.     

Review of Indo-Pacific dwarf lionfishes (Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendrochirus brachypterus</Emphasis> complex,with description of a new species from the western Indian Ocean

A taxonomic review of the Dendrochirus brachypterus complex resulted in the recognition of five species, including Dendrochirus barberi (Steindachner 1900), Dendrochirus bellus (Jordan and Hubbs 1925), Dendrochirus brachypterus (Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1829), Dendrochirus hemprichi sp. nov. and Dendrochirus tuamotuensis Matsunuma and Motomura 2013. The complex is defined as having usually 9 dorsal-fin soft rays, usually 5 anal-fin soft rays, 17–20 (rarely 20) pectoral-fin rays, no ocellated spots on the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin and usually 2 (sometimes none) barbels on the snout tip. Dendrochirus barberi, known from the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll, is characterized by usually 18 pectoral-fin rays, a relatively high number of scale rows in the longitudinal series (modally 51 vs. 39–49 in other species) and mottled markings on the pectoral fin in large specimens. Dendrochirus bellus, restricted to the northwestern Pacific Ocean from the South China Sea north to southern Japan, is characterized by usually 17 pectoral-fin rays, a relatively low number of scale rows in the longitudinal series (modally 38 vs. 44–51 in other species), and the absence of skin flaps on the orbit surface and uppermost preopercular spine base. Dendrochirus tuamotuensis, recorded only from the Tuamotu Archipelago, is characterized by 19 pectoral-fin rays, the posterior margin of the pectoral fin strongly notched, and a relatively shallow and narrow head and body. Dendrochirus hemprichi sp. nov. is distributed in the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea. Although previously confused with a closely related congener (D. brachypterus, known from the northern and eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific), D. hemprichi can be distinguished from the former by having fewer scale rows between the last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line, and between the sixth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line [4–7 (5) in D. hemprichi vs. 5–7 (6) in D. brachypterus, in both cases], a slightly greater interorbital width at the mid-orbit [5.5–10.7 (mean 7.8) % SL vs. 4.5–8.9 (6.8) % of SL] and at preocular spine base [4.4–9.1 (6.6) % SL vs. 3.5–7.8 (5.7) % of SL], and slightly shorter posteriormost (usually 13th) dorsal-fin spine length [11.8–19.9 (15.3) % SL vs. 13.3–21.3 (17.2) % of SL]. Moreover, D. hemprichi tends to have relatively more spinous points on the head spines and ridges, compared with D. brachypterus. Notwithstanding the morphological similarity between the two species, an obvious genetic difference was observed between D. hemprichi and D. brachypterus. Dendrochirus chloreus Jenkins 1903 and Dendrochirus hudsoni Jordan and Evermann 1903 were synonymized under Pterois barberi, as in some previous studies. Scorpaena koenigii Bloch 1789 was regarded as conspecific with D. brachypterus, which it predated. However, the former name should be suppressed under Reversal of Precedence.