Cytological study on the genus Syncalathium （Asteraceae-Lactuceae）, an endemic taxon to alpine scree of the Sino-Himalayas

Cytological characters of four species in Syncalathium （Asteraceae： Lactuceae）, a small genus with six identified species endemic to alpine scree of the Sino-Himalayan region, are surveyed in this report. Three species （Syncalathiumpilosum, Syncalathium chrysocephalum, and Syncalathium disciforme） are examined for the first time. Combined with our previous counts, five species have been cytologically investigated from the genus and the results indicated that all species are diploid with the basic somatic chromosome number of x=8. The karyotype asymmetry of Syncalathium souliei is 2A, distinct from the other four species of 1A, and the remaining species are divided into two subgroups with different karyotypes, consistent with their morphological features. The significance of the cytological evolution of Syncalathium is briefly discussed.     

Distribution of gamasid mites on small mammals in Yunnan Province, China

An investigation of gamasid mites on the body surface of small mammals was carried out in Yunnan Province of China from 1990 to 2004. The small mammal hosts were captured from 25 counties which represent five geographical subregions, namely Middle Subregion of Hengduan Mountains, Southern Subregion of Hengduan Mountains, Eastern Plateau Subregion of Yunnan, Western Plateau Subregion of Yunnan and Southern Moun- tainous Subregion of Yunnan. The captured 10 803 small mammal hosts belong to nine families, 29 genera and 52 species in four orders （Rodentia, Insectivora, Scandentia and Lagomorpha）. A total of 68 571 gamasid mites were collected from the body surface of the captured small mammal hosts and all the gamasid mites were identified to 10 families, 33 genera and 112 species. This paper lists all the mite species, together with their taxonomic position （genera and families） and their corresponding hosts. Much more mite species were found in the Middle Subregion of Hengduan Mountains than in other geographical subregions. The total individuals of mites and small mammals in the Middle Subregion of Hengduan Mountains are also the most plentiful in the five geographical subregions. Three dominant mite species and three dominant small mammal hosts were determined as the dominant species in the investigated areas of Yunnan Province. The dominant hosts are Rattus flavipectus （which accounts for 34.85% of the total individuals）, Apodemus chevrieri （13.43%） and Rattus norvegicus （10.40%） while the dominant gamasid mite species are Laelaps nuttalli （Hirst, 1915） （27.84%）, Laelaps echidninus （Berlese, 1887） （18.38%） and Laelaps guizhouensis （Gu et Wang, 1981） （14.79%）. The results showed the high species diversity of gamasid mites in Yunnan Province and the uneven distribution feature in different subregions.     

Sequence Divergence of Microsatellites and Phylogeny Analysis in Tetraploid Cotton Species and Their Putative Diploid Ancestors

To determine the level of microsatellite sequence differences and to use the information to construct a phylogenetic relationship for cultivated tetraploid cotton （Gossypium spp.） species and their putative diploid ancestors, 10 genome-derived microsatellite primer pairs were used to amplify eight species, including two tetraploid and six diploid species, in Gossypium. A total of 92 unique amplicons were resolved using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Each amplicon was cloned, sequenced, and analyzed using standard phylogenetic software. Allelic diversities were caused mostly by changes in the number of simple sequence repeat （SSR） motif repeats and only a small proportion resulted from interruption of the SSR motif within the locus for the same genome. The frequency of base substitutions was 0.5%-1.0% in different genomes, with only few indels found. Based on the combined 10 SSR flanking sequence data, the homology of A-genome diploid species averaged 98.9%, even though most of the amplicons were of the same size, and the sequence homology between G. gossypioides （Ulbr.） Standl. and three other D-genome species （G. raimondii Ulbr., G. davidsonii Kell., and G. thurberi Tod.） was 98.5%, 98.6%, and 98.5%, respectively. Phylogenetic trees of the two allotetraploid species and their putative diploid progenitors showed that homoelogous sequences from the A- and D-subgenome were still present in the polyploid subgenomes and they evolved independently. Meanwhile, homoelogous sequence interaction that duplicated loci in the polyploid subgenomes became phylogenetic sisters was also found in the evolutionary history of tetraploid cotton species. The results of the present study suggest that evaluation of SSR variation at the sequence level can be effective in exploring the evolutionary relationships among Gossypuim species.     

First molecular genetic evidence for automictic parthenogenesis in cockroaches

Parthenogenesis is an asexual mode of reproduction that plays an important role in the evolution of sex, sociality, and reproduction strategies in insects. Some species of cockroach exhibit thelytoky, a type of parthenogenesis in which female offspring are produced without fertilization. However, the cytological and genetic mecha? nisms of parthenogenesis in cockroaches are not well understood. Here we provide the first molecular genetic evidence that cockroaches can reproduce through automixis. Using the American cockroach Periplaneta aniericana, we performed microsatellite analysis to investigate the genetic relationship between parthenogenetically produced nymphs and the parent virgin females, and found that all parthenogenetic offspring were homozygous for autosomal microsatellite markers, whereas the female parents were heterozygous. In addition, flow cytometry analysis revealed that the parthenogenetic offspring were diploid. Taken together, our results demonstrate that P. americana exhibits automixis-type thelytoky, in which diploidy is restored by gamete duplication or terminal fusion. These findings highlight the unique reproduction strategies of cockroaches, which are more varied than was previously recognized.     

Distant hybridization leads to different ploidy fishes

Distant hybridization makes it possible to transfer the genome of one species to another, which results in changes in phenotypes and genotypes of the progenies. This study shows that distant hybridization or the combination of this method with gynogenesis or androgenesis lead to different ploidy fishes with genetic variation, including fertile tetraploid hybrids, sterile triploid hybrids, fertile diploid hybrids, fertile diploid gynogenetic fish, and their derived progenies. The formations of the different ploidy fishes depend on the genetic relationship between the parents. In this study, several types of distant hybridization, including red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var.) (2n=100, abbreviated as RCC) (♀)×common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) (2n=100, abbreviated as CC) (♂), and RCC (2n=100) (♀)×blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) (2n=48, abbreviated as BSB) (♂) are described. In the distant hybridization of RCC (♀)×CC (♂), bisexual fertile F3–F18 allotetraploid hybrids (4n=200, abbreviated as 4nAT) were formed. The diploid hybrid eggs and diploid sperm generated by the females and males of 4nAT developed into diploid gynogenetic hybrids and diploid androgenetic hybrids, respectively, by gynogenesis and androgenesis, without treatment for doubling the chromosome. Improved tetraploid hybrids and improved diploid fishes with genetic variation were derived from the gynogenetic hybrid line. The improved diploid fishes included the high-body RCC and high-body goldfish. The formation of the tetraploid hybrids was related to the occurrence of unreduced gametes generated from the diploid hybrids, which involved in premeiotic endoreduplication, endomitosis, or fusion of germ cells. The sterile triploid hybrids (3n=150) were produced on a large scale by crossing the males of tetraploid hybrids with females of diploid fish (2n=100). In another distant hybridization of RCC (♀)×BSB (♂), different ploidy fishes were obtained, including diploid bisexual fertile natural gynogenetic fish (2n=100), sterile triploid hybrids (3n=124), and bisexual fertile tetraploid hybrids (4n=148). Furthermore, two kinds of pentaploid hybrids (5n=172 and 5n=198) were formed. The biological characteristics and the mechanisms of formation of the different ploidy fish were compared and discussed at the cellular and molecular level. The results indicated distant hybridization or the combination of this method with gynogenesis or androgenesis affects the formation of different ploidy fish with genetic variation.     

六种鸟核型的比较研究

本文报道了|HENG|形目和雀形目6种鸟的核型, 并与已报道的近缘种类进行了比较。结果表明,除个别情况外,种间及属间核型差异不大,这些差异主要是由臂间倒位导致着丝点位置的改变而形成的,从而支持了鸟类核型在进化过程中有较强的保守性这一观点。 Abstract:The karyotypes of 6 species in Charadriiformes and Passeriformes birds were studied they were compared with ralative species that were reported before.The results showed that there were no differences of karyotypes among species and genera,except some special species.The differences were mainly due to the change of centrometric position which was caused by the pericertric in version.Therefore,the results again prove the hypothesis that bird karyotype is exceedingly conservative in the course of evolution.     

NEW SPECIES OF EUMOLPIDAE (COLEOPTERA) FROM THE HENGDUAN MOUNTAINS, YUNNAN(Ⅰ)

In this paper three species of Eumolpidae are described as new. All the type specimens were collected by the Comprehensive Scientific Expedition to the Hengduan Mountains, Academia Sinica, 1981;and deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica.     

Genome evolution trend of common carp （Cyprinus carpio L.） as revealed by the analysis of microsatellite loci in a gynogentic family

Genome evolution arises from two main ways of duplication and reduction. Fish specific genome duplication （FSGD） may have occurred before the radiation of the teleosts. Common carp （Cyprinus carpio L.） has been considered to be a tetraploid species, because of its chromosome numbers （2n=100） and its high DNA content. Using 69 microsatellite primer pairs, the variations were studied to better understand the genome evolution （genome duplication and diploidization） of common carp from a gynogenetic family. About 48% of primer pairs were estimated to amplify duplicates based on the number of PCR amplification per individual. Segregation patterns in the family suggested a partially duplicated genome structure and disomic inheritance. This indicates that the common carp is tetraploid and polyploidy occurred by allotetraploidy. Two primer pairs （HLJ021 and HLJ332） were estimated to amplify reduction based on the number of PCR amplification per individual. One allele in HLJ002 locus and HLJ332 locus was clearly lost in the gynogenetic family and the same as in six wild populations. Segregation patterns in the family suggested a partially diplodization genome structure. A hypothesis transition （dynamic） and equilibrium （static） were proposed to explain the common carp genome evolution between genome duplication and diploidization.     

Facultative social parasitism in the allodapine bee Macrogalea berentyensis

Previous research on social parasitism has largely ignored allodapine social parasites, which is surprising given the huge potential of these bees to provide a better understanding of social parasitism. Macrogalea berentyensis, a species that was previously suggested to be a social parasite, was collected in nests of M. ellioti, and also in nests consisting of only M. berentyensis. These f＇mdings, along with morphological and phylogenetic evidence, show that this species is a facultative social parasite. In the independently living M. berentyensis nests, brood were present that had been reared to an advanced stage, suggesting that： （i） these parasites may be effective at foraging and caring for their brood; or （ii） these nests may be colonies where all the hosts had died, and these parasites had yet to disperse. Macrogalea berentyensis is the closest relative of the facultative social parasite, M. antanosy, and both these species represent the most recent evolutionary origin of social parasitism within the allodapines. Further behavioral research on both these parasitic species would therefore have important implications for the understanding of the evolution of social parasitism.     

Karyotype and cytogeography of the genus Heracleum (Apiaceae) in the Hengduan Mountains

Abstract In the present study, the karyotypes of 34 populations belonging to 11 species and one variety of Heracleum from the Hengduan Mountains in China were examined. Chromosome numbers and the karyotypes of three species (H. souliei, H. kingdoni, and H. wenchuanense) are reported for the first time, as are the karyotypes of H. moellendorffii and H. henryi (tetraploid). Populations of H. candicans, H. franchetii, and H. kingdoni in the Hengduan Mountains were found to consist of a mixture of diploid and tetraploid plants. Except for four species of Heracleum, namely H. candicans, H. franchetii, H. henryi, and H. kingdoni, which have both diploid and tetraploid karyotypes, all other species of Heracleum are were found to be diploid. All karyotypes were found to belong to the 2A type of Stebbins, with the exception of H. candicans var. obtusifolium, which belongs to 2B, and H. hemsleyanum and H. franchetii (Mt. Dujuan, Daocheng, Sichuan, China), which belong to 1A. There was only a slight difference in the karyotype asymmetry index, which suggests a close kinship for species of Heracleum and that the entire phylogenetic development of Heracleum is relatively primitive. Species that exhibited advanced morphological features were also more advanced in karyotype structure, with the order of karyotype evolution being 1A→2A→2B. This phenomenon indicates that the species distributed in the Hengduan Mountains have not diverged completely and that the Hengduan Mountains are a relatively young and active area for the evolution of Heracleum. Polyploidization in Heracleum may be an important evolutionary mechanisms for some species, generating diversity. The biological attributes, distribution range, and the geological history of the genus have all played a part in accelerating the evolution through polyploidization or aneuploidization. It is known that as the distribution latitude of Heracleum decreases from north to south, the chromosome number, ploidy level, and asymmetry structure appear to increase. In the Hengduan Mountains, these tendencies are also evident. Finally, based on all the available cytogeographic data, we speculate that the more advanced tetraplont or aneuploid species of Heracleum in India may be derived from early diplont species that were distributed in the Caucasus region and Hengduan Mountains. The dispersal of Heracleum was from Eurasia to India, because this correlates with the emergence of the Himalayan Mountains through tectonic movement. Thus, the Hengduan Mountains are not only a center of diversity for Heracleum, but also a center of active speciation in modern times.     

中国独活属的核型研究

本文首次报道了我国独活属10种(含1变种)的核型,其中8种的染色体数目亦为首次报道。研究表明它们的染色体数目均为2n＝2x＝22,为二倍体,其核型为中部着丝点和亚中部着丝点染色体组成,仅具1A和2A两种类型。有4种具随体染色体,在部分H．vicinum植株中发现有1条B染色体,在H．millefolium var．longilobum中同时存在2n＝22和2n＝24的非整倍体．不同种的染色体形态不同,为分类研究提供了细胞学依据。 本文在核型分析基础上讨论了该属分类群的划分、种间亲缘关系及演化,并结合我国毗邻地区该属细胞学资料和地理分布规律,提出我国西南部的横断山区是独活属的频度中心和多样性中心。     

Cytological study of Tibetia (Fabaceae) in the Hengduan Mountains region,China

The Hengduan Mountains comprise one of the world's most important hot spots of biodiversity. Tibetia (Ali) H.P. Tsui (Fabaceae), which has four or five species in two sections, is one of the genera endemic to the region. This paper describes for the first time the karyotype of three of those species. The chromosome counts of all three are 2 n = 16. The karyotypes of the species examined contain chromosomes of variable karyotypic symmetry with centromeres at median and submedian positions that correlate with the morphological characteristics of the species. Karyotypic variation at the diploid level appears to be the predominant feature of chromosome evolution in the genus and may provide a clue to the study of evolutionary patterns of plants in this region.     

Cytological study of Tibetia (Fabaceae) in the Hengduan Mountains region, China

The Hengduan Mountains comprise one of the world's most important hot spots of biodiversity. Tibetia (Ali) H.P. Tsui (Fabaceae), which has four or five species in two sections, is one of the genera endemic to the region. This paper describes for the first time the karyotype of three of those species. The chromosome counts of all three are 2n = 16. The karyotypes of the species examined contain chromosomes of variable karyotypic symmetry with centromeres at median and submedian positions that correlate with the morphological characteristics of the species. Karyotypic variation at the diploid level appears to be the predominant feature of chromosome evolution in the genus and may provide a clue to the study of evolutionary patterns of plants in this region. Received: June 12, 2001 / Accepted: September 12, 2001     

Low incidence of polyploids and high uniformity of karyotypes displayed by Delphinium (Ranunculaceae) in the Hengduan Mountains region of south‐west China

The chromosome numbers and morphology in 92 populations belonging to 49 species and three varieties in the genus Delphinium L. (Ranunculaceae), mostly from the Hengduan Mountains region of south‐west China, were studied. Forty seven species and three varieties were diploid, with 2n = 16, one species was tetraploid, with 2n = 32, and one species had diploid and tetraploid cytotypes. Three species had B chromosomes, representing the first time the occurrence of B chromosomes has been reported in the genus. The karyotypes of all the diploid species were quite uniform, commonly bimodal, and usually consisted of one pair of large median‐centromeric (m), one pair of large submedian‐centromeric (sm), five pairs of medium‐sized subterminal‐centromeric (st), and one pair of smaller sm (rarely st) chromosomes. The low incidence of polyploids in Delphinium from the Hengduan Mountains region indicates that polyploidy has played a minor role in the speciation of this highly diversified genus in the region. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 172–188.     

横断山区六种八居群鼠尾草属植物的核型分析

鼠尾草属(Salvia)是唇形科(Lamiaceae)最大的属,属下多种为民间常用草药,亦有供观赏的种类。为探究横断山区物种在细胞学水平的进化方式,讨论形态分类学与分子系统学之间的分类关系,该研究通过广泛收集染色体文献资料,采用植物常规压片法对采集自横断山地区6种8居群鼠尾草属植物进行核型分析,并构建了中国地区分布的鼠尾草属植物叶绿体系统发育树。统计结果表明:(1)全世界范围内报道了约23%的鼠尾草属植物染色体数据,其中分布在中国地区的鼠尾草属植物染色体报道率为32.10%,分布在横断山地区的鼠尾草属植物报道率为40.54%,(2)鼠尾草属植物染色体基数以x=8和x=11为主,分布在中国地区的鼠尾草属植物染色体基数均为x=8。实验结果表明:(1)西藏鼠尾草(S. wardii)核型数据为首次报道。(2)雪山鼠尾草(S. evansiana)首次在云南德钦地区发现二倍体居群。将细胞学数据结合叶绿体进化树开展染色体进化关联分析,论证多倍化可能不是鼠尾草属物种适应高海拔环境的主要机制,表明多倍体不是该属物种形成的主要进化途径而是以二倍体水平为主,推测染色体组的加倍可能是物种在形态学与分子系统学上分类关系不一致的原因之一。该研究丰富了横断山区鼠尾草属植物的染色体核型数据,结合区域分子系统树探讨染色体特征的进化关系,为今后深入研究该属物种的核型进化做出了探索,为开展祖先物种染色体基数推演分析补充了基础数据。     

Chromosome counts and karyotypes in Chaetoseris and Stenoseris (Asteraceae-Cichorieae) from the Hengduan Mountains of SW China

Chaetoseris and Stenoseris are two morphologically close genera from the tribe Cichorieae of the sunflower family and they are endemic in alpine eastern Himalayas to the Hengduan Mountains of SW China.Mitotic chromosome numbers and karyotypes are reported for 12 populations representing eight species of Chaetoseris and two species of Stenoseris from the Hengduan Mountains region.Eight species are new and the other two provide confirmation of previous reference.All Chaetoseris and Stenoseris taxa are diploidy with 2n ＝ 16 and their basic number is tentatively suggested as x ＝ 8.Karyotypes of Chaetoseris and Stenoseris are similar to each other with 2A and 2B for the former and 2A for the latter.Cytological data of chromosomal numbers and karyotypes support a close relationship of the two genera.Currently no polyploids are found for these two genera and it seems that polyploidization has played a minor role in their evolutionary speciation in the Hengduan Mountains region.     

葱属根茎组8种21居群植物的核型研究

对葱属根茎组Allium sect.Rhiziridium的8种21个地方居群的核型进行研究,以期为解决该组的种间亲缘关系和物种进化机制提供依据。贺兰韭A.eduardii和阿拉善韭A．flavovirens2个种的核型以及辉韭A．strictum的六倍体核型均属首次报道。研究结果表明：贺兰韭A.eduardii、阿拉善韭A.tlavovirens、北韭A.lineare、蒙古韭A.mongolicum和滩地韭A．oreoprasum的各居群均为二倍体,核型类型为Stebbins的2A型;韭A．tuberosum和野韭A.ramosum的各个居群均为四倍体,核型类型为2A型：辉韭A．Jtrictum的4个居群均为六倍体,核型类型为2B型。通过研究可以得出如下推论：（1）该组植物中存在着大量的多倍体或多倍体系列,染色体数目变化与物种进化具有密切相关性,多倍化可能是根茎组植物核型进化的重要机制之一;（2）随体染色体多为st或t染色体,均位于短臂末端;（3）可以认为辉韭是以增加倍性来克服该物种扩大新的生存空间所带来的困难;（4）现今栽培的韭可能是由野生的二倍体韭和四倍体韭经过长期人工驯化而来的,现今栽培的三倍体韭可能是二倍体韭和四倍体韭杂交而来,并且以无性繁殖方式保存三倍体类群的存在。     

Cytological studies on the genus Holcoglossum (Orchidaceae)

The karyotypes of ten species of Holcoglossum (Orchidaceae), a highly endangered and diversified genus from China, were investigated to study the infrageneric relationships, biogeography, and speciation patterns in the Hengduan Mountains. The karyotype formulae of the studied species are as follows: 2 n  = 38 = 20m + 18sm in H. subulifolium , 2 n  = 38 = 22m + 16sm in H. amesianum , 2 n  = 38 = 26m + 12sm (6 SAT) in H. lingulatum , 2 n  = 38 = 26m + 12sm in H. wangii , 2 n  = 38 = 10m + 28sm in H. kimballianum , 2 n  = 38 = 14m + 22sm + 2st in H. flavescens , 2 n  = 38 = 24m + 12sm + 2st in H. rupestre , 2 n  = 38 = 14m + 20sm + 4st in H. sinicum , 2 n  = 38 = 16m + 14sm + 8st in H. weixiense , and 2 n  = 76 in H. tsii . The karyotypes of two tropical species, H. amesianum and H. subulifolium , are the most primitive in the genus, whereas those of four temperate alpine species, H. sinicum , H. rupestre , H. weixiense , and H. flavescens , are more advanced. H. tsii is a tetraploid and H. rupestr e may be one of its ancestors. The low frequency of polyploidy in Holcoglossum in the Hengduan Mountains region supports the conclusion that chromosome stasis during rapid speciation is common there.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 283–288.     

横断山区两种菊科植物的核型研究

对横断山区两种菊科植物圆齿狗娃花和细叶亚菊进行了染色体数目报道和核型研究,其中圆齿狗娃花为首次报道,2n=18=2x=18m(2SAT);而细叶亚菊的为新的染色体数目,2n=72=8x=56m+16sm,与之前报道的36不同。研究结果发现菊科植物这两个属在横断山及其它地区同时存在二倍体与多倍体。