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.     

茉莉酸甲酯对牛膝生长及主要药用成分积累的影响

不同浓度的外源茉莉酸甲酯(Me JA)对牛膝生长及其主要药用成分齐墩果酸和蜕皮甾酮均有不同的影响。该文采用不同浓度的Me JA分别浸种处理牛膝种子:0(对照)、0.1 mmol·L-1(T1)、0.15 mmol·L-1(T2)、0.2 mmol·L-1(T3)、0.25 mmol·L-1(T4),对照(CK)以同体积的蒸馏水浸泡。取浸种处理后生长培养60 d的牛膝植株,测定牛膝的株高、根长、地上及地下部分的生物量;取牛膝的叶及根,HPLC法测定其齐墩果酸和蜕皮甾酮的含量,研究Me JA对牛膝生长及主要药用成分齐墩果酸和蜕皮甾酮积累的影响。结果表明:0.15 mmol·L-1Me JA浸种处理,对牛膝生长及生物量的促进作用最佳,其株高、根长、地上部分鲜重及根鲜重分别比对照显著升高43.9%、38.7%、26.4%、64.0%(P0.05);0.15 mmol·L-1Me JA处理,对牛膝的根和叶中齐墩果酸的积累作用最佳,分别比对照组显著增加了114.3%和60%(P0.05);0.25 mmol·L-1Me JA处理,对牛膝根中蜕皮甾酮的积累最佳,比对照高出90.3%(P0.05),却不利于根和叶中齐墩果酸的积累,并可抑制叶中蜕皮甾酮的形成。说明0.15 mmol·L-1Me JA浸种处理对牛膝的生长及其根和叶中齐墩果酸的积累作用最佳,并能显著促进根中蜕皮甾酮的积累,有利于牛膝药材产量和品质的提高。     

Flavonoids ofBignoniaceae from the “cerrado” and their possible taxonomic significance

Flavones and glycosides of flavones and flavonols were obtained from leaves of five species ofBignoniaceae from the cerrado, a savanna ecosystem of Central and Southeast Brazil. A predominance of flavonol glycosides was observed in all samples investigated. Flavones were often found in species of tribeTecomeae and rarely inBignonieae. The species of the former yielded derivatives of 6-hydroxyluteolin. No 6-oxygenated compounds were found in species ofBignonieae. The results point to the flavonoid chemistry evolution ofBignoniaceae following a path of simplification. More complex chemical profiles characterize the more woodyTecomeae rather than the more advancedBignonieae.     

Characterization of rhizobia fromLeucaena

Seventy-six rhizobia were isolated from the nodules ofLeucaena plants of various genotypes growing in a wide range of soil types and climatic regions. The isolates were fast-growing and acid-producing. In establishing a serological grouping for the isolates, the intrinsic antibiotic resistance (IAR) patterns to low concentrations of eight antibiotics was helpful for selecting the strains for immunization purposes. Eight distinct somatic serogroups ofLeucaena rhizobia were identified by using strain-specific fluorescent antibodies. The results indicated that use of serological markers is a more specific technique than IAR pattern for strain identification. Strains from some different serogroups had the same IAR patterns. The immunofluorescence cross-reactions ofLeucaena rhizobia serogroups among themselves and with other species of fast- and slow-growing rhizobia were very low. Sero-grouping is ideal for use in further ecological studies in field inoculation trials.     

A new technique for monoconidial culture of the most aggressive isolate in a given population of Bipolaris sorokiniana, cause of foliar spot blotch in wheat and barley

We developed a new technique for monoconidial culture of the most aggressive isolate in a given population of Bipolaris sorokiniana, to facilitate the evaluation of spot blotch resistance in wheat and barley. Blotched portions of infected barley leaves were placed on a glass slide in a moist chamber for production of conidia by associated fungal hyphae. Conidia were collected separately and grown on water agar discs. Individual water agar discs having conidium growth were inoculated on barley leaves. The conidium producing the earliest symptom with the largest lesion was considered most aggressive. This lesion was incubated in a moist chamber and the conidial offspring were tested for pathogenicity. When a uniform infection was observed, a small piece of the lesion was cut using a sterilized scalpel, surface sterilized with NaOCl, and inoculated in the centre of Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar medium. The inoculated Petri dishes were incubated at 25 ± 1 °C to yield monoconidial cultures of the most aggressive isolate. Variability in symptom expression caused by the most aggressive isolate of a given population was much less than variability in symptom expression caused by all isolates collectively. The techniques will be useful for plant pathologists and breeders in screening for spot blotch resistance in wheat and barley.     

Studies of Frostfire myxomycetes including a description of a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diderma</Emphasis>

The moist chamber culture technique was used to investigate the assemblages of myxomycetes (plasmodial slime moulds or myxogastrids) associated with the microhabitats represented by the bark surface of living black spruce (Picea mariana) trees and forest floor leaf litter in the Caribou–Poker Creek Research Watershed located approximately 50 km north of the city of Fairbanks. This study was carried out in the context of a larger project (Frostfire) that involved an experimental burn of a major portion of this watershed. Our study sites consisted of examples of the two major forest types (black spruce and birch–alder–quaking aspen) found within the watershed. Black spruce trees were sampled at three study sites (two burned sites and one control site), whereas samples of litter were obtained from four study sites (two control and two burned). The acidic bark of black spruce was found to support few myxomycetes, and only five species were recorded from a total of 81 moist chamber cultures prepared with samples of bark. The number of species (16) recorded from the 156 moist chamber cultures prepared with litter was appreciably higher. In general, numbers of species and records for litter and bark were fairly comparable in burned sites versus control sites, with the litter microhabitat of the black spruce forest type the major exception. One of the myxomycetes recovered from litter is a species new to science and is described herein as Diderma boreale.     

Retention of phytoalexin regulation in legume callus cultures

Legume callus cultures were examined to assess whether regulation of phytoalexin biosynthetic pathways is retained in cultured tissues. Callus tissue cultures ofCanavalia ensiformis (jackbean),Medicago sativa (alfalfa), and nine species ofTrifolium (clover) were established (six clover species for the first time) and maintained on modified Gamborg's B5 medium. Phytoalexins educed in cultures incubated for 48 h with an abiotic elicitor (3.15 mM HgCl₂) were detected by their antifungal activity and were purified by column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Following crystallization, phytoalexins were identified by ultraviolet and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. None of the treated cultures yielded the same complement of phytoalexins reported for fungal-inoculated leaves of the corresponding plants. Callus from all species exceptT. pratense yielded medicarpin, the only phytoalexin reported in treated leaves of all the corresponding plants. A second phytoalexin, maackiain, was found in treatedT. pratense andT. medium calli; maackiain has been reported in fungal-inoculated leaves of those plant species as well asT. hybridum. The phytoalexins sativan and vestitol were not found in treated callus tissues even though they were reported to be present in fungal-inoculated leaves of the same species. These results suggest that (a) the pathway for medicarpin biosynthesis is of central importance for this group of legumes, (b) some phytoalexin anabolic pathways contain metabolic blocks in cells of cultured tissue, and (c) the mechanism for regulating phytoalexin accumulation in tissues is not lost in culture. Contribution no 8113 of the US Regional Pasture Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, University Park, PA, USA     

Analysis of esterase zymograms ofFusarium sambucinum and related species

Esterase zymograms were obtained following polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis of protein extractsFusarium sambucinum and related species originating from different geographic locations and different matrices. The sites of esterase activity were recorded, and the R_fs were calculated. The data were used for the construction of phenograms by cluster analysis and nonlinear mapping by computerized classification techniques. The fifteen isolates ofF. sambucinum, the eight isolates ofF. torulosum and the six isolates ofF. spec. nov. each had identical profiles, and are therefore electrophoretically distinct species. The isolates ofF. sarcochroum, one ofF. sambucinum sensu lato (BBA 64280) and fifteen isolates ofF. sambucinum were electrophoretically indistinguishable from each other. We assume they are synonymous. The isolate ofF. bactridioides, one ofF. sambucinum sensu lato (BBA 64993) and eight isolates ofF. torulosum had uniform EST patterns, therefore the two species are electrophoretically identical. We assume they are also synonymous. The remaining three isolates ofF. sambucinum sensu lato are somewhat closely related toF. sambucinum isolates on the basis of our investigations.     

Electrophoretic protein patterns of three species ofPhytophthora associated with black pod disease of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)

When electrophoretic profiles of native proteins from vegetative mycelia ofPhytophthora palmivora, Phytophthora capsici and Phytophthora citrophthora causing black pod disease of cocoa in India were compared on a single Polyacrylamide gel, the isolates of same species were readily distinguished both qualitatively by visual similarity in banding patterns and quantitatively by calculating similarity coefficients. Similarity coefficients were generally much higher between isolates within a species than between isolates of different species. The dendrograms obtained after unweighted pair grouping with arithmetic averaging cluster analysis, revealed that all the isolates ofPhytophthora capsici were highly homogenous and formed a single cluster. The isolates ofPhytophthora citrophthora were resolved into two electrophoretic types which were clustered into two distinct sub groups.Phytophthora palmivora formed a separate group. Thus, the results reveal that polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis can be used successfully in distinguishing species and sub groups within a species ofPhytophthora encountered on cocoa. CPCRl contribution No. 914.     

Ubiquinone and urease distribution inTaphrina andSymbiotaphrina

Identifications of ubiquinone isoprenologues are presented for isolates identified with six species ofTaphrina and for isolates of the two species ofSymbiotaphrina. All had Q-10 as the major ubiquinone system. The inclusion ofT. populina andS. buchneri, the respective type species, establishes this as the value for these genera. Both species ofSymbiotaphrina were urease positive even though, according to the literature, they are unable to utilize urea as a sole nitrogen source. The urease results for theTaphrina isolates were mixed.     

马尾松与芒萁鲜叶及凋落物水溶性有机物的溶解特征和光谱学特征

为探讨福建省三明市马尾松人工林淋溶液中水溶性有机物(DOM)的溶解特征和光谱学特征,以马尾松(Pinus massoniana)和芒萁(Dicranopteris dichotoma)鲜叶、未分解层(L层)和半分解层(F层)凋落物为研究对象进行室内淋溶,对淋溶液中的水溶性有机碳(DOC)、水溶性有机氮(DON)与水溶性有机磷(DOP)含量和紫外光谱(SUVA)、荧光光谱指标和红外光谱(FTIR)等特征进行研究。结果表明,在24 h内,随着淋溶时间的延长,DOM含量呈现有波动的上升趋势;芒萁除鲜叶的DOC含量显著高于马尾松外(P0.01),其余DOM含量均小于马尾松。两植物F层DOM的SUVA值和腐殖化指标(HIX)都显著高于鲜叶和L层(P0.05),表明F层的芳香性化合物含量和腐殖化程度越来越高。DOM的同步荧光峰值显示淋溶液中含有类蛋白和类富里酸荧光团。两植物的红外光谱显示有5个相似的吸收谱带,强度最大的吸收来自于H键键合的-OH的伸缩振动,同一植物3种样品之间红外吸收的差异证明从鲜叶-L层-F层凋落物的共轭体系逐渐增大,结构更复杂。因此,随分解进程两植被DOM的化学结构越来越复杂;马尾松较芒萁含有更多的DON和DOP,这一方面为微生物提供了更多的养分,另一方面又增加了底物分解的难度。     

Three new species and a new combination in the genusTorulomyces from soil

Seven isolates ofTorulomyces from Asian and Australian soil samples were studied in comparison with known taxa of the genus and withMonocillium indicum, the type species ofMonocillium. Three new species,Torulomyces parviverrucosus, T. laevis, andT. ovatus, are described, andT. brunneus is described as a new combination. Conidial characteristics, especially their shape and surface structure, are useful taxonomic criteria for distinguishing species ofTorulomyces. Monocillium is considered to be a distinct genus.     

Decomposition ofCarex andNuphar plants in a subalpine marsh

To assess the effect of water depth on the decomposition process, I measured the losses in dry mass of the above- and belowground materials ofCarex utriculata andNuphar luteum ssp.potysepalum as well as cellulose (Whatman filter paper) in the top 10 cm of sediment/soil in a subalpine marsh. Samples were examined by the litter bag technique at three flooding levels (0 to 5, 60, and 100 cm water depth). Over a 374-d period, the % mass losses of cellulose,Carex leaves and roots, andNuphar leaves and rhizomes ranged from 98.5 to 99.0, 74.8 to 81.8, 36.3 to 44.9, 95.8 to 97.7, and 78.4 to 91.5%, respectively. Rates for cellulose decay in this study were much higher than for samples from other wetlands; this difference resulted from the location of the litter bag (in the top 10 cm of soilvs in the water column). Water depth significantly affected the decomposition ofCarex roots andNuphar rhizomes. The rate of loss for K was highest in all tissues ofCarex andNuphar, followed by Na inCarex and P inNuphar. N and Ca loss rates generally were low. The C/N ratio tended to converge to a common value over the long term. This convergence has an important implication in the paleoecological interpretation of the C/N ratio change in sediment; i.e., this ratio shift in the sediment core results from a change in the environment, rather than the source material.     

Variability in susceptibility to simulated sunlight of conidia among isolates of entomopathogenic Hyphomycetes

The influence of simulated sunlight on survival of conidia of 4 species of entomopathogenic Hyphomycetes was investigated. Conidia from 65 isolates ofBeauveria bassiana, 23 ofMetarhizium anisopliae, 14 ofMetarhizium flavoviride and 33 isolates ofPaecilomyces fumosoroseus were irradiated by artificial sunlight (295 to 1,100 nm at an ultraviolet-B irradiance of 0.3 W m^–2) for 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 h. Survival was estimated by comparing the number of colony forming units (CFU) produced by conidia exposed to irradiation to the number of CFUs produced by an unexposed control. Survival decreased with increased exposure to simulated sunlight; exposure for 2 h or more was detrimental to all isolates tested. Overall, isolates ofM. flavoviride were the most resistant to irradiation followed byB. bassiana andM. anisopliae. Conidia ofP. fumosoroseus were most susceptible. In addition to the large interspecies differences in susceptibility to irradiation, there was also an intraspecies variation indicating that strain selection to irradiation tolerance may be important in the development of microbial control agents where increased persistence in an insolated environment is desirable.Abbreviations CFU Colony forming units - UV-B ultraviolet radiation-B     

Effect of bryophytes on survival of conifer seedlings in subalpine forests of central Japan

Bryophytes form the major seedbed for coniferous trees in the subalpine forests of central Japan. Field experiments were conducted on the floor of a closed stand dominated byTsuga on Mt Fuji to examine the seedling survival ofAbies veitchii andTsuga diversifolia in seven substrate types in relation to the morphological characteristics of the seeds and seedlings. NeitherAbies norTsuga seedlings could survive on dwarf-bamboo litter beyond 2 years after the seed rain.Abies seedlings survived not only in all types of bryophyte communities but also in larch litter. In contrast, the survival ofTsuga seedlings was restricted to communities of smaller-statured bryophytes found on logs. The seeds and 1st year seedlings ofA. veitchii were larger than those ofT. diversifolia. Abies seedlings produced hypocotyls taller than any bryophyte community and radicles which were long enough to penetrate into the moist humus layer, whereasTsuga seedling radicles presumably penetrate into humus only in bryophyte communities forming a thin mat on logs. The effect of bryophytes on survival of tree seedlings therefore depends on the relationships between the morphology of seeds and seedlings and the structure of bryophyte communities.     

Comparison of pressure chamber and psychrometer estimates of leaf water potential in rice

Summary The need to compare pressure-chamber estimates of leaf water potential with a psychrometric method has been established for several crop species. We investigated this relationship for rice (Oryza sativa L.) as well as the need to protect leaves from water loss during sampling and measuring period in the pressure chamber. Two rice cultivars grown in containers on a clay-loam soil were stressed to varying degrees by withholding water. Fully expanded leaves were sampled for estimation of leaf water potential by the dew point hygrometer and pressure-chamber techniques. The same leaf was used in both methods allowing direct comparison. Additionally, two alternative methods of leaf handling for measurement by the pressure chamber technique were compared. Protection of leaf samples against water loss during excision, transport and handling was found to be more important at higher leaf water potentials (>−1.0 MPa). The two cultivars used appeared to differ in their response to protection of the leaf sample. These results serve to further caution pressure chamber users on extrapolating comparisons between the two measurement methods and between tissue handling techniques even within a crop species.     

A method for the selective isolation ofMyxococcus directly from soil

A new method is described for the selective isolation of species ofMyxococcus directly from soil by dilution plating. The method involves suppression of competing microorganisms with antibiotics combined with air drying and wet heat treatment of soils. Fungi were eliminated by supplementing the plating medium with cycloheximide and nystatin. Non-sporulating bacteria were controlled by air drying soils and then heating aqueous soil dilutions for 10 min at 56°C. The predominant sporulating bacteria in soil,Streptomyces andBacillus, were suppressed by adding either tiacumicin B, ristocetin or vancomycin to the medium. Swarming ofMyxococcus colonies was controlled with a casein digest-yeast extract plating medium (CY-C10 agar). Ultrasound treatment of soil suspensions gave the highest number ofMyxococcus colonies in the soils studied, but these cultures could be recovered without ultrasound. Strains ofMyxococccus fulvus, M. xanthus, M. coralloides, M. stipitatus andM. virescens were isolated from soil using this technique. Soils examined yielded one or twoMyxococcus species per sample.     

Endophytic fungi of teak leaves Tectona grandis L. and rain tree leaves Samanea saman Merr.

Summary In order to study the foliar endophytes from teak (Tectona grandis L.) and rain tree (Samanea saman Merr.) growing in the campus of Chulalongkorn University, healthy leaves were collected at two-monthly intervals during January to December. The number of genera and species, together with their colonization frequency (CF%) in mature teak and rain tree leaves were greater than those in the young leaves. More endophytic isolates in the leaves of both trees were recovered during the rainy season. The fungal genera found in both young and mature teak leaves were Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Nigrospora, Phomopsis and mycelia sterilia. Phomopsis was the dominant genus in both young (newly emerged) and mature leaves. Fusarium, Penicillium, Schizophyllum commune and members of the Xylariaceae were found only in mature leaves. For the rain tree leaves, species of Phomopsis and mycelia sterilia were found in both young newly emerged and mature leaves. Colletotrichum and Penicillium were found only in mature leaves, whereas Nigrospora was found only in young newly emerged leaves. In this study, Phomopsis was the dominant genus in the leaves of both tree species. A total of 37 isolates of endophytic fungi isolated from teak and rain tree leaves were tested for the production of antimicrobial activities. Out of these, 18 isolates could produce inhibitory substances effective against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and 3 isolates inhibited growth of Candida albicans in vitro.     

Additions to the genusXenidiocercus (coelomycetes) from Ghana

Two new species of the coelomycete genusXenidiocercus are described and illustrated,X. macrospora on leaves ofMacaranga rowlandii andX. pyriformis on leaves ofM. huraefolia. They differ from the type species in having wider and ellipsoidal or pyriform conidia. A key to species ofXenidiocercus andIdiocercus is provided.     

Two new taxa of Bauhinia sect. Caulotretus from Bahia,Brazil

One new species and one new variety ofBauhinia subg.Phanera sect.Caulotretus are described. Both taxa are tendrilled lianas with woody fruit and both are apparently endemic to Southern Bahian moist forest.Bauhinia carvalhoi has the smallest entire leaves known in the section.Bauhinia angulosa var.bahiana apparently replaces, in “Mata higrófila sul Bahiana”, the typical variety from southeastern Brazil. A key to the three taxa of this section known from Bahia is provided.