Chaconia hennenii, a new holomorph species for Uredo maclurae and Uredo celtidis (Uredinales)

Chaconia hennenii is proposed as a new holomorph species for Uredo maclurae (= Physopella maclurae) on Maclura tinctoria (Moraceae) after the discovery of teliospores. Uredo celtidis described on Celtis (Ulmaceae) is synonymous with U. maclurae and belongs to the same holomorph species, as revealed by morphologically indistinguishable urediniospores and newly discovered teliospores. The host genus of U. celtidis is not Celtis, but most probably Maclura, too. Chaconia hennenii is unique among known Chaconia species by the apical wall thickening of the teliospores.     

First catalogue of the rust fungi of French Guiana, northern South America

An annotated list of the rust fungi (Uredinales or Pucciniales) of French Guiana is presented. It enumerates 68 species of which 57 are new reports for the department and 3, Aecidium plukenetiae, Puccinia kourouensis and P. parianicola, are new to science. Dicheirinia guianensis and Hapalophragmium angylocalycis are excluded from the French Guianan mycobiota. New host plants are reported for Batistopsora crucis-filii, B. pistila, Cerotelium ficicola, C. sabiceae, Crossopsora piperis, Desmella aneimiae, Endophyllum guttatum, Kweilingia divina, Puccinia lateritia, Uredo anthurii and Uromyces anguriae. Previously undescribed characters are presented for Achrotelium lucumae, Chaconia ingae, Cerotelium sabiceae, Prospodium amapaensis, Sphenospora smilacina and Uromyces wulffiae-stenoglossae. Chaconia ingae showed haustorial complexes comprising both intracellular hyphae and D-haustoria. In Cerotelium sabiceae, the haustorial mother cells retained the nuclei while D-haustoria were enucleate. The occurrence of these haustorial types in tropical rust fungi is discussed. Internal basidium formation is described for the first time in Sphenospora: teliospores of S. smilacina produced external or internal basidia. The species richness and composition of the French Guianan rust mycobiota are discussed in a neotropical context.     

Polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives from Clusia burle-marxii and their chemotaxonomic significance

Six polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives (1–6) with the central bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-2,4,9-trione core were isolated from Clusia burle-marxii trunks. Despite their highly conserved structural characteristics, this is the very first time that these polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives are isolated from a single plant species, highlighting the biochemical plasticity of Clusia burle-marxii to produce such unique class of bioactive compounds. Compounds 1, 2, and 6 are reported for the first time in Clusia burle-marxii, whereas compounds 3, 4 and 5 are reported for the first time in the Clusiaceae family. Their structures were established by careful analysis of spectroscopic data, including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and 2D-NMR (COSY, NOESY, HSQC, HMBC). These polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives have the potential to be used as chemosystematics biomarkers for the family Clusiaceae. Their putative biosynthesis pathway is also discussed.     

MUSOPSIS N. GEN.: A BANANA-LIKE LEAF GENUS FROM THE EARLY TERTIARY OF EASTERN NORTH GREENLAND

A fossil flora from the Late Paleocene-Early Eocene Thyra Ø Formation of eastern North Greenland (paleolatitude 77° N) has yielded monocotyledon leaf impressions with characters seen only in the closely related modem species in the families of Heliconiaceae, Musaceae, and Strelitziaceae. The combination of large costae widths and parallel, nonanastomosing, lateral veins that depart at right angles from the costae in the fossil material are features present only in leaves of extant species from these families. Three basic venation patterns also are recognized in the modem species of these families, but except for the genera Strelitzia and Phenakospermum, none of these patterns are present exclusively in any one family. Musopsis n. gen. is created for the fossil material from Greenland, but it is considered a form genus due to the lack of gross morphological features that can be used for separating leaves of the modem genera in Heliconiaceae, Musaceae, and Strelitiziaceae. It is the first known Arctic occurrence of fossil leaf material resembling this modem group of taxa.     

The ant genus Carebara Westwood (Hymenoptera,Formicidae): synonymisation of Pheidologeton Mayr under Carebara,establishment and revision of the C. polita species group

In this paper the genus Pheidologeton Mayr, 1862 is synonymized under Carebara Westwood, 1840 and the Carebara polita group is established and revised. This species group currently includes six species from the Afrotropical region (C. madibai, C. nicotianae, C. perpusilla, C. polita, C. silvestrii, and C. villiersi) and two species from the Neotropical region (C. brevipilosa and C. urichi). The polita group clearly links Carebara and Pheidologeton, and, due to a lack of autapomorphic characters for the latter, a separation of the two genera is no longer justified. As a result Carebara is presented as a monophyletic and better defined genus that can be separated from other genera with more confidence. We present an overview of the distribution and biology of Carebara as well as images from the various genera currently in synonymy under Carebara, and discuss the characters they share. The polymorphism present in Afrotropical and Malagasy Carebara is discussed and one new species from Africa, C. madibai sp. n., is described. The subspecies Carebara perpusilla arnoldiana syn. n., Carebara perpusilla concedens syn. n., and Carebara perpusilla spinosa syn. n. are new synonyms of Carebara perpusilla. Oligomyrmex politus nicotianae is re-elevated to species level and transferred into Carebara, C. nicotianae comb. n., stat. rev.; C. punctata is a new synonym of C. silvestrii comb. n. and C. pygmaea albipes comb. n., syn n., C. pygmaea bugnioni comb. n., syn. n., and C. simularensis syn. n. are new synonyms of C. pygmaea comb. n.. The following names are transferred from Pheidologeton to Carebara as new combinations (with the species epithets adjusted to female endings where necessary): aberrans, affinis, affinis javana, affinis minor, affinis spinosior, affinis sumatrensis, ceylonensis, dentiviris, diversa, diversa draco, diversa ficta, diversa laotina, diversa macgregori, diversa philippina, diversa standfussi, diversa taprobanae, diversa tenuirugosa, diversa williamsi, hammoniae, hostilis, kunensis, latinoda, maccus, mayri, melanocephala, melasolena, nana, nanningensis, obscura, petulens, pullata, pungens, pygmaea, rubra, rugiceps, rugosa, schossnicensis, silena, silvestrii, solitaria, transversalis, trechideros, varia, vespilla, volsellata, yanoi, and zengchengensis. Three new combinations are creating secondary junior homonyms and are here replaced with new names: C. mayri (Santschi, 1928) = C. gustavmayri nom. n., C. rugosa (Karavaiev, 1935) = C. rugoflabella nom. n., and C. silvestrii (Wheeler, 1929b) = C. luzonensis nom. n. Two new combinations are creating secondary junior homonyms among species already in Carebara: C. taprobanae (Forel, 1911a) = C. sinhala nom. n., and C. nana Santschi, 1919 = C. pumilia nom. n.     

Chemical constituents isolated from Clusia criuva subsp. Criuva and their chemophenetics significance

Clusia criuva belongs to the Clusiaceae family and it is endemic to the rupestrian fields in Chapada Diamantina National Park (Brazil). Phytochemical investigation of C. criuva trunks led to the isolation of five triterpenoids [winchic acid (1), betulinic acid (2), lupeol (3), friedelin (4), and friedelinol (5)], four steroids [lanosterol (6), stigmasterol (7), β-sitosterol (8), and sitostenone (9)], seven polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives [propolone A (10), propolone B (11), propolone C (12), propolone D (13), sampsonione B (14), hyperisampsin E (15), and hyperisampsin F (16)], four xanthones [neriifolone C (17), 6-deoxyisojacareubin (18), osajaxanthone F (19), and brasilixanthone B (20)], two biphenyls [aucuparina (21) and 2,2-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-7-phenylchromene (22)], and two tocotrienol derivatives [2Z- and 2E-δ-tocotrienoloic acids (23 and 24)]. Compounds 1, 11, 12, 15, and 16 were isolated for the first time in the Clusiaceae family, compounds 17, 19 and 21 were isolated for the first time in the genus Clusia, whereas 2–10, 13, 14, 18, 20, 22–24 were isolated for the first time in Clusia criuva. Compounds 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 15 showed potent in vitro cytotoxic activity against GL-15 glioblastoma-derived human cell line. Chemophenetics significance of these compounds is described herein.     

Notes on the ecology of rolled-leaf hispines (Chrysomelidae,Cassidinae) at La Gamba (Costa Rica)

A total of 301 adult hispine beetles of the genera Cephaloleia and Chelobasis were found in rolled leaves of plants of 17 species of Zingiberales (families Costaceae, Heliconiaceae, Maranthaceae, Musaceae, and Zingiberaceae) during a field study at La Gamba, Golfito region, Costa Rica. Of these beetles, Cephaloleia belti was recorded from 12 potential host plant species, C. distincta from 7, C. dilaticollis from 5, C., Chelobasis bicolor, C. championi, and C. histrionica from 3, Chelobasis perplexa and C. instabilis from 2, whereas C. trivittata from only one. Of the plant species, Heliconia latispatha had 7 beetle species in its leaf rolls, Calathea lutea had 5, H. imbricata and H. rostrata had 4, H. stricta and Musa paradisiaca had 3, H. wagneriana had 2, while on H. vaginalis, H. danielsiana, H. densiflora, H. longiflora, Calathea crotalifera, C. platystachya, Goeppertia lasiophylla, Alpinia purpurata, Costus pulverulentus and Costus barbatus, H. densiflora, H. vaginalis, and H. danielsana only hispines of one species were found.Cephaloleia belti occurred together with beetles of six other hispine species, whereas Cephaloleia trivittata never shared a leaf roll with another hispine species. The remaining beetle species aggregated with one to four other hispines. Adults of C. belti and C. championi were frequently seen, occasionally also with C. dilaticollis, C. histrionica, and Chelobasis perplexa, to co-occur with the carabid Calophaena ligata in the same leaf roll without any sign of interspecific aggression.A comparison of host choices and the phylogeny of the hispines and of their host plants revealed no signs that beetles used species level phylogenetic relationships within the Zingiberales to select food plants. Obviously, within this plant order, rolled-leaf hispines choose their plant hosts in a nearly opportunistic manner. Seemingly, they use differences among plants at higher taxonomic levels but within the Zingiberales, the availability of young – rolled – leaves might be the actual decisive factor.     

Clusia blattophila sp. nov. (Clusiaceae) from an inselberg in French Guiana

Clusia blattophila (Clusiaceae) is described as a new species. It is distinguished from related species in C. sect. Oedematopus by e.g. the relatively large and reflexed petals and from other Clusia spp. by having fewer (6–16) stamens and only four petals. Unique traits are the almost sessile inflorescence and the presence of a secretory pit at the floral apex in staminate flowers. The species grows epilithically and is known only from the Nouragues inselberg, a massive granite outcrop in eastern French Guiana. The name refers to its cockroach pollinators.     

Molecular characterization and morphology of Cochlodinium strangulatum,the type species of Cochlodinium,and Margalefidinium gen. nov. for C. polykrikoides and allied species (Gymnodiniales,Dinophyceae)

Photosynthetic species of the dinoflagellate genus Cochlodinium such as C. polykrikoides, one of the most harmful bloom-forming dinoflagellates, have been extensively investigated. Little is known about the heterotrophic forms of Cochlodinium, such as its type species, Cochlodinium strangulatum. This is an uncommon, large (∼200 μm long), solitary, and phagotrophic species, with numerous refractile bodies, a central nucleus enclosed in a distinct perinuclear capsule, and a cell surface with fine longitudinal striae and a circular apical groove. The morphology of C. polykrikoides and allied species is different from the generic type. It is a bloom-forming species with single, two or four-celled chains, small cell size (25–40 μm long) with elongated chloroplasts arranged longitudinally and in parallel, anterior nucleus, eye-spot in the anterior dorsal side, and a cell surface smooth with U-shaped apical groove. Phylogenetic analysis based on LSU rDNA sequences revealed that C. strangulatum and C. polykrikoides/C. fulvescens formed two distally related, independent lineages. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, the diagnosis of Cochlodinium is emended and C. miniatum is proposed as synonym of C. strangulatum. The new genus Margalefidinium gen. nov., and new combinations for C. catenatum, C. citron, C. flavum, C. fulvescens and C. polykrikoides are proposed.     

Systematics of the Neotropical genus Catharylla Zeller (Lepidoptera,Pyralidae s. l., Crambinae)

The Neotropical genus Catharylla Zeller, 1863 (type species: Crambus tenellus Zeller, 1839) is redescribed. Catharylla contiguella Zeller, 1872, C. interrupta Zeller, 1866 and Myelois sericina Zeller, 1881, included by Munroe (1995) in Catharylla, are moved to Argyria Hübner. Catharylla paulella Schaus, 1922 and C. tenellus (Zeller, 1839) are redescribed. Six new species are described by Léger and Landry: C. bijuga, C. chelicerata, C. coronata, C. gigantea, C. mayrabonillae and C. serrabonita. The phylogenetic relationships were investigated using morphological as well as molecular data (COI, wingless, EF-1α genes). The median and subterminal transverse lines of the forewing as well as the short anterior and posterior apophyses of the female genitalia are characteristic of the genus. The monophyly of Catharylla was recovered in all phylogenetic analyses of the molecular and the combined datasets, with three morphological apomorphies highlighted. Phylogenetic analyses of the morphology of the two sexes recovered three separate species groups within Catharylla: the chelicerata, the mayrabonillae, and the tenellus species groups. The possible position of Micrelephas Schaus, 1922 as sister to Catharylla, based on both morphological and molecular data, and the status of tribe Argyriini are discussed. The biogeographical data indicate that the chelicerata species group is restricted to the Guyanas and the Amazonian regions whereas the tenellus group is restricted to the Atlantic Forest in the South-Eastern part of Brazil. The mayrabonillae group is widespread from Costa Rica to South Bolivia with an allopatric distribution of the two species. COI barcode sequences indicate relatively strong divergence within C. bijuga, C. mayrabonillae, C. serrabonita and C. tenellus.     

Synthesis of xanthone derivatives based on α-mangostin and their biological evaluation for anti-cancer agents

A xanthone-derived natural product, α-mangostin is isolated from various parts of the mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L. (Clusiaceae), a well-known tropical fruit. Novel xanthone derivatives based on α-mangostin were synthesized and evaluated as anti-cancer agents by cytotoxicity activity screening using 5 human cancer cell lines. Some of these analogs had potent to moderate inhibitory activities. The structure–activity relationship studies revealed that phenol groups on C3 and C6 are critical to anti-proliferative activity and C4 modification is capable to improve both anti-cancer activity and drug-like properties. Our findings provide new possibilities for further explorations to improve potency.     

Gastropod mollusks from the Hauterivian of Ulyanovsk (Volga Region): 2. Genera Khetella Beisel, 1977 and Cretadmete gen. nov.

The diagnosis of the genus Khetella Beisel, 1977 is emended, and a new genus, Cretadmete, is described. Two new species belonging to these genera, K. trautscholdi and C. neglecta, are established from the Upper Hauterivian of Ulyanovsk (Volga Region).     

Notes on calycophyllous Rubiaceae. Part I. Morphological comparisons of the genera Chimarrhis,Bathysa, and Calycophyllum,with new combinations and a new species,Chimarrhis gentryana

A comparison of some genera of the Condaminecae (Rubiaceae) with a few taxa of closely related tribes (Rondeletieae, Calycophylleae, and Cinchoneae) revealed that some species ofChimarrhis (Condamineeae s. 1.),Bathysa (Rondeletieae), andCalycophyllum (Calycophylleae) are often misassigned to genera. The taxonomic significance of calycophylls is discussed; the generic boundaries ofChimarrhis, Bathysa, andCalycophyllum are reevaluated; and their similarities and differences are discussed. As a result, a new calycophyllous species ofChimarrhis from the Amazon,C. gentryana, is described, two of its species are transferred toBathysa (B. Bathysoides, B. perijaënsis), and one species ofBathysa (B. difformis) is reduced to synonymy underChimarrhis (C. turbinata).     

Coralslurrinella hongkonensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel bacterium in the family Psychromonadaceae, isolated from the coral Platygyra carnosus

A novel bacterial strain, JLT2006^T, was isolated from the scleractinian coral Platygyra carnosus, located in Hong Kong, China. Cells of this strain were Gram-negative, rod-shaped or oval-shaped and motile by the means of polar flagella. They formed faint-yellow, round colonies on marine agar medium. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the strain JLT2006^T belonged to the class Gammaproteobacteria and was most closely related to Alteromonas-like bacteria of the genera Psychromonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Moritella, Shewanella and Ferrimonas, with less than 93 % sequence similarity. The predominant fatty acids were identified as C18:1ω7c/C18:1ω6c (23.0 %), C16:1ω7c/C16:1ω6c (18.2 %) and C16:0 (16.4 %). The quinone was menaquinone-7 (100 %). The polar lipids were determined to be phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipid, glycolipid and lipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 40.3 mol%. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence as well as the physiological and biochemical features that separate the strain JLT2006^T from other recognized bacteria, a novel species of a new genus with the name Coralslurrinella hongkonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JLT2006^T (=JCM 18796^T = CGMCC 1.10992^T).     

Mortality in the initial ontogeny of Paralabrax maculatofasciatus (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Serranidae) caused by Chattonella spp. (Raphidophyceae)

Fish are particularly sensitive to metabolites produced by Raphidophyte species and these have caused intensive fish kills in several countries. However, the effects on embryos of marine fish are unknown but could probably provoke an important impact on new stock recruitment and hence on fisheries. We evaluated the toxic effects of Chattonella spp. strains from the Gulf of California on three development stages of spotted sand bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus): embryo in segmentation stage (ES), embryo (EM), and eleutheroembryo (EL). Embryos (ES) were exposed to different cell concentrations of Chattonella subsalsa, Chattonella marina, Prorocentrum micans, and f/2 medium as control. Also, one set of embryos was tested with cell-free media for C. subsalsa cultures. Incubation lasted until embryos reached apterolarva phase. The ES was the most sensitive stage reaching 98% mortality with C. subsalsa, followed by cell-free media of C. subsalsa cultures, with mortalities close to 90%, whereas EM and EL phases presented mortalities below 60%. This work demonstrates that larval stages of P. maculatofasciatus are highly sensitive to short time exposure to all Chattonella spp. strains tested, that direct physical contact with cells is not required to cause mortality, and that the toxic effect is more pronounced when embryos hatch.     

Phylogenetic Analysis and Polyphasic Characterization of Clavibacter michiganensis Strains Isolated from Tomato Seeds Reveal that Nonpathogenic Strains Are Distinct from C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis

The genus Clavibacter comprises one species and five subspecies of plant-pathogenic bacteria, four of which are classified as quarantine organisms due to the high economic threat they pose. Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis is one of the most important pathogens of tomato, but the recommended diagnostic tools are not satisfactory due to false-negative and/or -positive results. To provide a robust analysis of the genetic relatedness among a worldwide collection of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains, relatives (strains from the four other C. michiganensis subspecies), and nonpathogenic Clavibacter-like strains isolated from tomato, we performed multilocus sequence-based analysis and typing (MLSA and MLST) based on six housekeeping genes (atpD, dnaK, gyrB, ppK, recA, and rpoB). We compared this “framework” with phenotypic and genotypic characteristics such as pathogenicity on tomato, reaction to two antisera by immunofluorescence and to five PCR identification tests, and the presence of four genes encoding the main C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis pathogenicity determinants. We showed that C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis is monophyletic and is distinct from its closest taxonomic neighbors. The nonpathogenic Clavibacter-like strains were identified as C. michiganensis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. These strains, while cross-reacting with C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis identification tools, are phylogenetically distinct from the pathogenic strains but belong to the C. michiganensis clade. C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis clonal complexes linked strains from highly diverse geographical origins and also strains isolated over long periods of time in the same location. This illustrates the importance of seed transmission in the worldwide dispersion of this pathogen and its survival and adaptation abilities in a new environment once introduced.     

DNA barcoding survey of Trichoderma diversity in soil and litter of the Colombian lowland Amazonian rainforest reveals Trichoderma strigosellum sp. nov. and other species

The diversity of Trichoderma (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) colonizing leaf litter as well as the rhizosphere of Garcinia macrophylla (Clusiaceae) was investigated in primary and secondary rain forests in Colombian Amazonia. DNA barcoding of 107 strains based on the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1 and 2) of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and the partial sequence of the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1) gene revealed that the diversity of Trichoderma was dominated (71 %) by three common cosmopolitan species, namely Trichoderma harzianum sensu lato (41 %), Trichoderma spirale (17 %) and Trichoderma koningiopsis (13 %). Four ITS 1 and 2 phylotypes (13 strains) could not be identified with certainty. Multigene phylogenetic analysis and phenotype profiling of four strains with an ITS1 and 2 phylotype similar to Trichoderma strigosum revealed a new sister species of the latter that is described here as Trichoderma strigosellum sp. nov. Sequence similarity searches revealed that this species also occurs in soils of Malaysia and Cameroon, suggesting a pantropical distribution.     

New taxa and combinations in the subsectionHeterophylla (Witas.) Fed. of the genusCampanula L

Two new species,Campanula gentilis andC. gelida, are described and two new combinations,C. moravica (Spitzner) comb. nova andC. moravica subsp.xylorrhiza (O. Schwarz) comb. nova, are proposed.