Karyotypic analysis of Cajanus,Atylosia, and Rhynchosia species

Summary Somatic chromosomes of two cultivais of Cajanus cajan, eight species of Atylosia (A. albicans, A. cajanifolia, A. lineata, A. platycarpa, A. scarabaeoides, A. serica, A. trinervia and A. volubilis), and of Rhynchosia rothii were analysed. All species had 2n=22. Eight of the 10 species studied had two pairs of satchromosomes while A. scarabaeoides and A. sericea had only one sat-chromosome pair. Based on relative chromosome length (L%), arm ratio (pa-value) and presence or absence of secondary constriction, a karyotype formula for each species was formulated. Based on these parameters the chromosome pairs could also be assigned to groups ranging from 8 to 10 in different species. Except for the asymmetrical karyotype of A. albicans, the other species had rather moderately symmetrical karyotypes.     

Fusarium nisikadoi, a new species from Japan

A new species ofFusarium, F. nisikadoi, isolated fromPhyllostachys nigra var.henonis (bamboo) andTriticum aestivum (wheat) in Japan, is described, illustrated and discussed. This species is differentiated from other known species of the genus by the following characteristics: whitish colony color, long zigzag-like chains of 0–3(-5)-septate clavate conidia, intermixed with pyriform conidia, produced mostly from monophialides and rarely from polyphialides in the aerial mycelium, very long and slender sporodochial conidia, and no chlamydospores. The long chains of septate conidia are known only in this species of the genusFusarium. The conidiophores on the aerial mycelium sometimes proliferate sympodially. The species is tentatively placed in the form-sectionLiseola.     

Carbohydrate patterns ofCandida,Cryptococcus andRhodotorula species

Within the genusCandida three distinct groups are recognized on the basis of carbohydrate patterns of intact whole cell hydrolyzates. In the first, ascomycetous, group mannose is dominant, while rhamnose, fucose and xylose are absent; this is indicative of an affinity with endomycetous families. Among the basidiomycetous representatives, two groups can be recognized. One group is usually characterized by the presence of xylose and has a low mannose content. The pattern is typical for Cryptococcales and Tremellales (e.g.,Cryptococcus, Trichosporon, Bullera andTremella). The other basidiomycetous group is characterized by the presence of fucose and/or rhamnose with significant amounts of mannose. This pattern is characteristic for Sporobolomycetaceae.     

Emericella omanensis,a new species from Oman soil

A new species ofEmericella isolated from forest soil in the Oman,E. omanensis, is described and illustrated. It differs from the other known species of the genus in having bivalvate ascospores with a tuberculate or verruculose convex wall. The new species is compared with the closely related speciesE. desertorum andE. echinulata.     

Rhynchospora pseudomacrostachya, a new Brazilian species of Cyperaceae

Rhynchospora pseudomacrostachya (Cyperaceae) is restricted to the southern Brazil states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Previously, material ofR. pseudomacrostachya had been thought to belong toR. corniculata var.macrostachya (Torr. ex A. Gray) Britton (R. macrostachya Torr. ex A. Gray) of North America. However,R. pseudomacrostachya can be distinguished from the North American taxon on the basis of achene and inflorescence characters.     

Veronica fridericae,a new species from eastern Turkey

Veronica fridericae spec. nova, described from the type locality in the S.E. Turkish province Van, is related toV. acrotheca andV. farinosa, both endemic to W. Iran. All 8 perennial species with pinnatifid leaves in S.W. Asia are presented in a key.     

Ladybird population dynamics in potato: comparison of native species with an invasive species, Harmonia axyridis

Following the detection of the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, in 2003 in potato crops in Belgium, a study was carried out between 2004 and 2006 on the phenology of this species compared to native species in potato. The results confirmed the success of H. axyridis, with high population levels in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, aphid populations were very low and no H. axyridis larvae were sampled in potato, but the indigenous species Coccinella septempunctata and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata were detected. A species by species comparison of the date of first larvae detection, the larvae population peak, and the difference between this peak and the aphid population peak was performed. Results showed a clear correlation between C. septempunctata and P. quatuordecimpunctata and potato aphids, with a delay of 3.5 and 6.5 days between the aphid and ladybird population peaks for the two native species. H. axyridis arrived 7–8 days after the two indigenous species and the larval peak population occurred 15.8 days after the aphid population peak. This meant that H. axyridis had to complete its larval development with very low aphid populations or even with no aphids at all. The reason for its late arrival and the possible food resources used by H. axyridis larvae are discussed.     

Biflavonoid differentiation in sixBartramia species (Bartramiaceae,Musci)

The occurrence of eight biflavones belonging to the biluteolin series, the apigenin-luteolin series and the 2,3-dihydro-biluteolin series, and one monomeric flavone with an acid group, was investigated in six taxa ofBartramia with emphasis on sect.Ithyphyllae. The variation of biflavone profiles contributes to the characterization of theBartramia species studied; substitution patterns signalize relevance also on the sectional level. Based upon the flavonoid composition,Bartramia afro-ithyphylla is suggested to be transferred from sect.Ithyphyllae to sect.Bartramia of the genusBartramia.     

Three new species ofMarasmius sectionSicci from eastern Honshu, Japan

Three new species belonging toMarasmius sectionSicci (Agaricales) are described and illustrated from eastern Honshu, Japan:Marasmius nocturnus sp. nov., forming a dark brown pileus and marginate lamellae, was found on leaf litter inPasania—Quercus forests;Marasmius occultatus sp. nov., producing brownish orange or light brown basidiomata and long, cylindrical-fusoid basidiospores, was found on dead fallen twigs ofAphananthe aspera andQuercus myrsinaefolia;Marasmius opulentus sp. nov., having a reddish orange pileus and a pubescent stipe, was found on leaf litter in laurel-leaved forest.     

Phylogeny, biogeography, and species boundaries within the Alexandrium minutum group

The geographic range and bloom frequency of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum and other members of the A. minutum group have been increasing over the past few decades. Some of these species are responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) outbreaks throughout the world. The origins of new toxic populations found in previously unaffected areas are typically not known due to a lack of reliable plankton records with sound species identifications and to the lack of a global genetic database. This paper provides the first comprehensive study of minutum-group morphology and phylogeny on a global scale, including 45 isolates from northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.Neither the morphospecies Alexandrium lusitanicum nor A. angustitabulatum was recoverable morphologically, due to large variation within and among all minutum-group clonal strains in characters previously used to distinguish these species: the length:width of the anterior sulcal plate, shape of the 1′ plate, connection between the 1′ plate and the apical pore complex, and the presence of a ventral pore. DNA sequence data from the D1 to D2 region of the LSU rDNA also fail to recognize these species. Therefore, we recommend that all isolates previously designated as A. lusitanicum or A. angustitabulatum be redesignated as A. minutum. A. tamutum, A. insuetum, and A. andersonii are clearly different from A. minutum on the basis of both genetic and morphological data.A. minutum strains from Europe and Australia are closely related to one another, which may indicate an introduction from Europe to Australia given the long history of PSP in Europe and its recent occurrence in Australia. A minutum from New Zealand and Taiwan form a separate phylogenetic group. Most strains of A. minutum fit into one of these two groups, although there are a few outlying strains that merit further study and may represent new species. The results of this paper have greatly improved our ability to track the spread of A. minutum species and to understand the evolutionary relationships within the A. minutum group by correcting inaccurate taxonomy and providing a global genetic database.     

The species concept in diatoms: Evidence for morphologically distinct,sympatric gamodemes in four epipelic species

Reproductive isolation is demonstrated between morphologically distinct, sympatric demes of four epipelic diatom species inhabiting a small pond. The six demes ofSellaphora pupula, four of them allogamous, one probably autogamous, and one apparently asexual, differ morphologically with respect to size, shape, stria density and pattern. In the pond,Caloneis silicula, Cymatopleura solea, andNeidium ampliatum each contain two allogamous demes, differing principally in size. There are intrinsic barriers to hybridization between the demes, which operate at the earliest stages of sexual reproduction. Such gamodemes are perhaps best treated taxonomically as separate species.Dedicated to Prof. DrLothar Geitler on the occasion of his 90th birthday. I gratefully acknowledge the debt I owe Prof.Geitler for the insights and inspiration I have gained from his papers. I account myself fortunate to have visited him briefly in 1983, at Lunz, and to have seen the rivers where his work on diatom species began in 1922.     

Marasmius brunneospermus, a new species ofMarasmius sectionGlobulares from central Honshu, Japan

A new species ofMarasmius sectionGlobulares, Marasmius brunneospermus sp. nov., found in the lowland forest of Kanagawa and Chiba, Japan, is described and illustrated. This species is characterized by a hygrophanous pileus with rugulose-reticulate disk, well-developed basal mycelium attached to an extensive mycelial mat in leaf litter, and conspicuous fusoid-ventricose pleurocystidia. In addition, its brown spore print mottled with white parts is unusual as an infrageneric character in the genusMarasmius.     

Two new species ofMycena from eastern Honshu, Japan

Two new species ofMycena are described and illustrated from eastern Honshu, Japan:Mycena brevicapillata sp. nov. (sectionHiemales), forming tall and slender basidiomata covered overall with long, fusiform or sublageniform dermatocysts, was found on a dead branch ofHydrangea involucrata; Mycena chrysanthemiformis sp. nov. (sectionFragilipedes), forming small, white basidiomata with a campanulate, shallowly sulcate-striate, occasionally subumbonate pileus and adnate-decurrent lamellae, was found on living bark or a dead fallen twig ofAphananthe aspera, Cryptomeria japonica, andZelkova serrata.     

New genera, species, and improved phylogeny of Glissomonadida (Cercozoa)

Glissomonadida is an important cercozoan order of predominantly biflagellate gliding bacterivores found largely in soil and freshwater. Their vast diversity is largely undescribed. We studied 23 mostly newly isolated strains by light microscopy and sequenced their 18S rDNA genes; nine represent new species. For two misidentified ATCC 'Heteromita triangularis' strains, we establish novel gliding genera and species: the sandonid Mollimonas lacrima, the only glissomonad forming anterior and posterior pseudopodia, and Dujardina stenomorpha, a strongly flattened member of the new family Dujardinidae. A new strain from Oxfordshire grassland soil is the first reliably identified isolate of the virtually uniflagellate, smooth-gliding glissomonad genus, AllantionSandon, 1924. Phylogenetic analysis and cytological features reveal Allantion to be a member of Allapsidae. Sandona limna and Bodomorpha prolixa from Lake Baikal and Sandona hexamutans from volcanic Costa Rican soil are described as new species. Fifteen glissomonad strains were from grassland beside Lake Baikal. We describe two as new species of Sandona (S. heptamutans and S. octamutans); the others included strains of Sandona and Allapsa species that have already been described; and three were new species of Sandona and Allapsa but these died before being described. We discuss the ecological and evolutionary significance of these new strains.     

Mycelial amylase activities of thermophilic species ofRhizomucor,Humicola andPapulaspora

Amylase activities in mycelia ofRhizomucor pusillus, Humicola grisea var.thermoidea, Humicola lanuginosa andPapulaspora thermophilia do not correspond directly with previously-measured extracellular values, and appear to decline within the time period corresponding to reduction in mycelial dry weight. The results are compared with previously-reported data on extracellular amylase.     

A new species ofPestalosphaeria, the teleomorph ofPestalotiopsis neglecta

Three specimens of a newPestalosphaeria species were obtained from a twig ofQuercus myrsinaefolia from Kumamoto Pref., and from leaves ofRhododendron hybridum andRicinus communis from Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Pref. The collected materials were kept moist for 1 to 2 mo after collection. Monoascospore isolates from each specimen produced identical colonies with black slimy masses of conidia on them. Morphological characteristics of the conidia accorded well with those ofPestalotiopsis neglecta not only hitherto recorded but also formed on the same specimen. Hence,Pestalosphaeria gubae sp. nov. is proposed for the new species, as the teleomorph ofPestalotiopsis neglecta.     

Two new species ofMarasmius from eastern Honshu, Japan

Two new species belonging toMarasmius (Agaricales) are described and illustrated from eastern Honshu, Japan:Marasmius capitatus sp. nov. (sectionEpiphylli), forming capitate cystidia and small basidiomata with a membranous, white pileus and a minutely pubescent, filiform stipe without basal mycelium, was found on dead fallen leaves ofCryptomeria japonica; Marasmius nivicola sp. nov. (sectionGlobulares), having entirely white, collybioid basidiomata with a furfuraceous to pruinose stipe and distinctly intervenose lamellae, was found on leaf litter of broad-leaved forest.     

Emericella appendiculata, a new species from Chinese soil

Emericella appendiculata, a new species isolated from soil of the Pamire Plateau, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by grayish green non-ostiolate ascomata surrounded by a thick layer of hülle cells, membranaceous peridium, prototunicate asci, violet-brown, lenticular ascospores which are ornamented by two stellate equatorial crests, capitate convex surfaces, and long filiform appendages, and anAspergillus anamorph with biseriate conidiogenous cells.     

Two new species ofMarasmiellus from eastern Honshu, Japan

Two new species ofMarasmiellus are described from eastern Honshu, Japan:Marasmiellus atrostipitatus sp. nov. (sectionRameales subsectionOpacini) is characterized by a white pileus and a blackish stipe covered with white pruinose to flocculos scales.Marasmiellus brunneocarpus sp. nov. (sectionTricolores) has small brownish basidiomata. Both species occur on dead leaves and twigs inQuercus-Eurya forests.