Chemotaxonomic features of iridoids occurring inVerbenoxylum reitzii (Verbenaceae)

The familyVerbenaceae sensu stricto is chemically characterized by the accumulation of 10-hydroxy or 8-methyl-8-hydroxy derivatives of 4-carboxylated iridoids compounds. The former were supposed to be characteristic of some genera of tribeLantaneae, once were never found in another tribe. This paper reports the occurrence of theviridoside (10-hydroxy-iridoid) in leaves ofVerbenoxylum reitzii (tribeCitharexyleae) and its taxonomic implication.     

A phenetic study ofFritillaria (Liliaceae) in Greece

40 population samples of 17 GreekFritillaria species were examined morphologically using 22 attributes carefully selected, with a high discriminating ability. Principal component analysis with a nearest neighbour directed network and cluster analysis were used to evaluate the phenetic similarities among the species. The evidence presented here suggests: (1) A close relationship betweenF. erhartii andF. obliqua and their possible origin fromF. bithynica. (2) A strong alliance betweenF. rixii, F. euboeica, F. carica, andF. drenovskii (groupF. sibthorpiana). (3) A link between theF. epirotica andF. graeca group and some affinities betweenF. pontica, F. gussichiae, andF. graeca. Finally it is proposed thatF. tuntasia be reduced to subspecific status asF. obliqua subsp.tuntasia. This study forms a part of a doctoral dissertation thesis submitted to the Department of Biology of the University of Thessaloniki.     

Allozyme variability and phylogenetic relationships in the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) and related species

Gene frequencies at 13 isozyme loci were determined in three South American taxa of cultivated potatoes [the diploid group (gp.) Stenotomum, the diploid subgroups (subgp.) Goniocalyx, and the tetraploid gp. Andigena ofS. tuberosum], in the diploid weed speciesS. sparsipilum, and in most of the main cultivars now raised in the Northern Hemisphere (the tetraploid gp. Tuberosum ofS. tuberosum). High levels of genetic variability (mean number of alleles per locus, percentage of polymorphic loci, and mean heterozygosity) were detected, being higher in tetraploid potatoes. An equilibrium among the evolutionary factors which increase genetic variability and artificial selection for maximum yield would explain the high uniformity of heterozygosity values we observed in both Andigena (0.36 ± 0.02) and Tuberosum (0.38 ± 0.01) cultivars.—The low value of genetic distance (D = 0.044) between Stenotomum and Goniocalyx does not support the status of species forS. goniocalyx.—In most isozyme loci, the electromorphs of gp. Andigena were a combination of those found in both gp. Stenotomum andS. sparsipilum, suggesting an amphidiploid origin of gp. Andigena from that two diploid taxa. The presence in Andigena of unique electromorphs, which were lacking in both gp. Stenotomum andS. sparsipilum, suggests that other diploid species could be also implied in the origin of tetraploid Andean potatoes. Furthermore, since Andigena were more related to Stenotomum (D = 0.052) than toS. sparsipilum (D = 0.241), the autopolyploidization of Stenotomum individuals and the subsequent hybridization with gp. Andigena may also have occurred. Thus, our study suggests a multiple origin (amphidiploidy, autoploidy, and hybridization at tetraploid level) of gp. Andigena.—Most of the electromorphs of gp. Tuberosum were also found in gp. Andigena; both the direct derivation of that group from the Andean tetraploid potatoes and the repeated introgression provided by breeding programmes could explain this result. However, the allele c of Pgm-B, present in 30 out of 76 Tuberosum cultivars from Northern Hemisphere as well as in 3 Chilean Tuberosum cultivars, lacks in the 258 Andigena genotypes sampled, suggesting that Chilean germplasm could have taken part in the origin of at least the 39% of the potato cultivars from Europe and North America analyzed here.—The distanceWagner procedure provides an estimate of a 30% of heterogeneity in the evolutionary divergence shown by different groups of cultivated potatoes. Diploid groups show a higher (22.5%) evolutionary rate than tetraploids, which can be attributed to both tetrasomic inheritance and facultative autofecundation that exists in Andigena and Tuberosum groups. Thus, artificial selection acting since 10000 years has not resulted in a higher rate of molecular evolution at the isozyme level in the tetraploids.     

Intergeneric relationships ofLolium,Festuca, andVulpia (Poaceae) and their phylogeny

Morphological and seed protein analyses of 26 species of the generaLolium, Festuca andVulpia confirmed their close systematic affinities. Six inflorescence characters readily differentiatedFestuca fromLolium. Protein similarities betweenFestuca of sect.Bovinae and cross-pollinated species ofLolium, coupled with cytogenetic and crossability data, substantiate that they should be united into one genus.Vulpia had phenetic similarities with sect.Scariosae, Montanae andOvinae ofFestuca. Lolium, Festuca, andVulpia are most likely derived from a common ancestral form which was close toFestuca pratensis andLolium perenne.     

The taxonomy of Vaccinium section Myrtillus (Ericaceae)

Phenetic analyses of 218 OTUs belonging toVaccinium sectionMyrtillus and scored for 13 characters generated five robust clusters.Vaccinium parvifolium is the most distinct cluster, followed by the “myrtillus-scoparium” complex, thenV. membranaceum, V. caespitosum, and the “ovalifolium-deliciosum” complex. Biosystematic studies suggest that the five clusters comprise seven taxa that possess many of the properties that define biological species. Indeed, the recognition of the seven taxa as species is supported by cytological, phenological, biogeographical and ecological as well as chemical data. A detailed taxonomic treatment for all these taxa is presented.     

Species relationships inFestuca (sect.Ovinae,Poaceae)

Morphological and seed protein studies of selected species ofFestuca were performed to elucidate the relationships between species of sect.Ovinae and their affinity with other fescues.Festuca rubra andF. heterophylla (extravaginale group) had higher phenetic affinity with taxa of sect.Scariosae, Montanae andBovinae than with members of their own section. 5 species of the intravaginale group (F. ovina, F. capillata, F. valesiaca, F. sulcata, F. trachyphylla) were fairly uniform and well defined by protein and morphological data. This supports current systematic thinking and does not agree withHackel's (1882) classification of this group.     

Biochemical variation to determine phylogenetic relationships betweenHordeum chilense and other American species of the genusHordeum (Poaceae)

Slab gel electrophoresis techniques have been applied to the study of isozyme and kernel protein patterns in 20 accessions ofHordeum chilense and related species in order to elucidate their phylogenetic relationships. On the basis of our results we can conclude that: (1) Conventional classification based on morphological characters does not totally agree with biochemical data. (2) Sectt.Anisolepis andCritesion seem to be clearly differentiated. (3) The accessions classified asH. compressum present biochemical phenotypes quite different from the rest of the species. (4)H. stenostachys, H. muticum andH. chilense constitute a group of variable species with many biochemical similarities and close phylogenetic relationships. (5) The evolutionary pattern of these American species seems to follow a model of reticulate evolution.     

Genetic diversity in and phylogenetic relationships of the Brazilian endemic cotton,Gossypium mustelinum (Malvaceae)

Gossypium mustelinum, one of five tetraploid species in the cotton genus, is geographically restricted to a few states in NE Brazil. Allozyme analysis was used to assess levels and patterns of genetic diversity inG. mustelinum and its relationship to the other tetraploid species. Genetic variation was low, with only 6 of 50 loci examined being polymorphic, a mean of 1.14 alleles per locus and a mean panmictic heterozygosity of 0.08. These estimates are low relative to other tetraploid cotton species, but are typical of island endemics. Interpopulational genetic identities were uniformly high, lending support to the concept of there being only one wild species of Brazilian cotton. The limited allelic diversity observed was correlated with geographical distribution, although variability is so limited in the species that geographically marginal populations are electrophoretically ordinary. Phylogenetic and phenetic analyses demonstrate thatG. mustelinum is isolated among polyploid cotton species, occupying one of the three basal clades resulting from an early radiation of polyploid taxa subsequent to polyploid formation. We suggest thatG. mustelinum represents a paleoendemic that presently exists as a series of widely scattered, relictual populations. Despite several centuries of sympatric cultivation ofG. barbadense andG. hirsutum, there was little evidence of interspecific introgression of alleles from cultivated cottons intoG. mustelinum.     

Phylogenetics of some Enchytraeidae (Annelida: Oligochaeta): A preliminary investigation of relationships to the Haplotaxidae

In phylogenetic considerations of the Oligochaeta and the family Enchytraeidae, Propappus has been considered the ancestral or even the archetypal enchytraeid genus. Three nominal species are presently included in Propappus Michaelsen, 1905, P. volki Michaelsen, 1916, P. arhyncotus Sokolskaja, 1972, and the type species of the genus, P. glandulosus Michaelsen, 1905. Examination of type material of P. glandulosus and P. volki, as well as other material of the latter, showed that these species have a single pair of testes in segment XI and a single pair of ovaries in segment XIII. According to current classifications of the Oligochaeta, these species of Propappus cannot be retained in the Enchytraeidae. A phylogenetic analysis including two species of Propappus and 29 species of Haplotaxidae suggest a sister group relationship between Propappus and some Enchytraeidae and Haplotaxidae.     

Phenetic studies in Nuphar Sm. (Nymphaeaceae):variation in sect. Nuphar

Previous taxonomic assessments of the hydrophytic genus Nuphar Sm. (Nymphaeaceae) have inadequately considered the range of morphological variation existing in the genus. A comprehensive statistical analysis of morphological features among the recognized taxa of Nuphar is presented here, first using 10 fruit characters to delimit the separation of two infrageneric groups of taxa, and secondly using 31 characters to quantify the morphological variation found within sect. Nuphar. Results from combined phenetic analyses provided empirical support for recognition of two infrageneric groups of species in the genus (largely by fruit, stigmatic disk margin, neck, and stigmatic disk size) and for separation of taxa within sect. Nuphar (by leaf size, and fruit disk and neck size). Statistical analyses demonstrate that extensive variation in ranges of character states exists among sect. Nuphar taxa. However, a suite of qualitative and quantitative characters can be used to recognize five species and three subspecies within this predominantly Old World assemblage.     

Phenetic,biogeographical, and evolutionary study ofOrnithogalum subg.Heliocharmos (Hyacinthaceae) in the western Mediterranean basin

A macromorphological study is made on taxa of the genusOrnithogalum subg.Heliocharmos in North Africa, Spain, and France. The results obtained are consistent with data from cytogenetics, reproductive biology and strategies of reproduction. They allow the retention of two species:O. algeriense andO. umbellatum. A biogeographical and phylogenetic interpretation of the subgenus is proposed for the western Mediterranean. Theoretical views on phenetics are discussed.     

Molecular phylogenetic relationships inAveneae (Poaceae) species and other grasses as inferred from ITS1 and ITS2 rDNA sequences

A phylogenetic analysis was conducted on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA in 23 species ofAveneae (Poaceae subfam.Pooideaae). These sequences ofHelictotrichon spp.,Arrhenatherum elatius, Avena spp.,Trisetum spp.,Koeleria spp.,Holcus lanatus, Alopecurus vaginatus together with published ITS sequences of furtherAveneae, Poeae, Triticeae, andBromeae were analysed by the neighbor-joining distance method to assess the molecular phylogenetic relationship in perennial and annualAveneae. The results suggest unexpectedly close affinities of the agronomically important genusAvena to comparatively small-flowered taxa ofAveneae. GenusArrhenatherum and small-flowered subgenera ofHelictotrichon are close extant relatives. The large genusHelictotrichon is para- if not polyphyletic, only its subgenera are monophyletic.Trisetum is clearly separated fromHelictotrichon and forms together withKoeleria and perhaps others a monophyletic lineage which is characterised by a conspicuous 9-bp deletion in ITS1. The impact of the ITS data on the delineation of some genera and subtribes ofAveneae and on the recognition of their biogeographical and ecological patterns is outlined.     

The embryology and relationships ofPenaeaceae (Myrtales)

Two species ofPenaeaceae (Penaea mucronata andSaltera sarcocolla), a unique South African family ofMyrtales, were investigated embryologically.Penaeaceae clearly agrees with otherMyrtales in its basic embryological characteristics, and further is characterized by its highly specialized features: ephemeral endothecium, 16-nucleatePenaea-type embryo sac, and unique ovular form. A wider range of affinities of families includingPenaeaceae, Oliniaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae, Alzateaceae, andCrypteroniaceae sensu stricto, as well as a possible common divergence from an ancestral line leading toLythraceae and/orMelastomataceae, are discussed on embryological and other grounds.     

Species boundaries,phylogenetic relationships,and ecological differentiation inAnthriscus (Apiaceae)

Species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships of 17 taxa ofAnthriscus (Apiaceae), with special emphasis on the critical sect.Cacosciadium, were explored using morphological data with principal component analysis, phenetics, and phylogenetics. The analyses did not provide satisfactory resolution of taxa from sect.Cacosciadium and only four species were retained. The total number of species was reduced to nine. Sect.Cacosciadium is distinguished by only two synapomorphies while sects.Anthriscus andCaroides are better supported. Present geographic and ecological variation suggests that the radiation ofAnthriscus occurred through divergence of peripheral isolated populations adapting to different habitats: high montane meadows and screes, shady climax forests, and seasonally dry habitats at lower altitudes. The adaptive significance of particular morphological traits is discussed.     

ADH and phylogenetic relationships ofDrosophila lebanonensis (Scaptodrosophila)

Summary Increasing data onDrosophila alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) sequences have made it possible to calculate the rate of amino acid replacement per year, which is 1.7×10^–9. This value makes this protein suitable for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships within the genus for those species for which no molecular data are available such asScaptodrosophila. The amino acid sequence ofDrosophila lebanonensis is compared to all of the already knownDrosophila ADHs, stressing the unique characteristic features of this protein such as the conservation of an initiating methionine at the N-terminus, the unique replacement of a glycine by an alanine at a very conserved position in the NAD domain of all dehydrogenases, the lack of a slowmigrating peptide, and the total conservation of the maximally hydrophilic peptide. The functional significance of these features is discussed.Although the percent amino acid identity of the ADH molecule inDrosophila decreases as the number of sequences compared increases, the conservation of residue type in terms of size and hydrophobocity for the ADH molecule is shown to be very high throughout the genusDrosophila. The distance matrix and parsimony methods used to establish the phylogenetic relationships ofD. lebanonensis show that the three subgenera,Scaptodrosophila, Drosophila, andSophophora separated at approximately the same time.     

A phenetic comparison of someFumaria spp. (Fumariaceae)

The taxonomy of the genusFumaria has not been considered in detail sincePugsley's work in 1919 ff., and few modern methods have been applied to it. In a phenetic study, 33 populations of 11Fumaria spp. were grown in uniform conditions, and seven morphological characters measured. After re-expression and transformation the data were analysed by cluster analysis and principal components analysis. Alternative analyses did not indicate contradictory taxonomic conclusions. Artificial crosses gave some evidence on interfertility, and suggestedF. occidentalis to be an allopolyploid ofF. bastardii ×F. capreolata. Pugsley's subsectional classification is supported within sect.Parviflora, but not within sect.Grandiflora. His two sections are seen to be meaningful, but not discrete.     

Numerical and chemical classification ofStreptosporangium and some related actinomycetes

One hundred and seventeen streptosporangia from soil were compared with marker strains of the familyStreptosporangiaceae for many phenotypic properties. The data were examined using the Jaccard, pattern and simple matching coefficients with clustering achieved using average, complete and single linkage algorithms. Particular confidence was placed in the product of the pattern, average linkage analysis given the sharp definition of aggregate groups and clusters and a combination of low test error and high cophenetic correlation values. The test strains were assigned to five aggregate groups that were equated with the generaStreptosporangium (group A),Microbispora (group B),Planobispora andPlanomonospora (Group C),Kutzneria (neéStreptosporangium viridogriseum (group D), andMicrotetraspora (group E). The streptosporangia, both isolates and marker strains, were assigned to 5 major, 7 minor and 18 single membered clusters. Representative streptosporangia examined for chemical markers were characterised by the presence ofmeso-diaminopimelic acid in whole-organism hydrolysates, complex mixtures of straight- and branched chain fatty acids, di- and tetrahydrogenated menaquinones as predominant isoprenologues, and complex polar lipid patterns containing diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides and uncharacterised components. The chemical and numerical data support the taxonomic integrity of the validly described species ofStreptosporangium and suggest that the genus is markedly underspeciated.