Subcellular integrities in Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 029 survivors after prolonged desiccation revealed by molecular probes and genome stability assays

Desiccation-tolerant cells must either protect their cellular components from desiccation-induced damage and/or repair it upon rewetting. Subcellular damage to the anhydrobiotic cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 029 stored in the desiccated state for 4 years was evaluated at the single-cell level using fluorescent DNA strand breakage labelling, membrane integrity and potential related molecular probes, oxidant-sensing fluorochrome and redox dye. Covalent modifications of dried genomes were assessed by testing their suitability as PCR template. Results suggest that desiccation survivors avoid/and or limit genome fragmentation and genome covalent modifications, preserve intact plasma membranes and phycobiliprotein autofluorescence, exhibit spatially-reduced ROS accumulation and dehydrogenase activity upon rewetting. Damaged cells undergo genome fragmentation, loss of plasma membrane potential and integrity, phycobiliprotein bleaching, whole-cell ROS accumulation and lack respiratory activity upon rewetting. The co-occurrence of live and dead cells within dried aggregates of Chroococcidiopsis confirms that desiccation resistance is not a simple process and that subtle modifications to the cellular milieu are required to dry without dying. It rises also intriguing questions about the triggers of dead cells in response to drying. The capability of desiccation survivors to avoid and/or reduce subcellular damage, shows that protection mechanisms are relevant in the desiccation tolerance of this cyanobacterium. This paper is dedicated to the memory of E. Imre Friedmann and his wife Roseli, who pioneered researches on Chroococcidiopsis and life in desert environments.     

Studies on generaMallomonas andSynura,and other plankton in freshwater with the electron microscope VIII. On three new species of chrysophyceae

Three new species (Chrysophyceae) which belong to the Torquata group of the genusMallomonas, to the Spinosa group of the genusSynura, and to the genusOhromonas were found from freshwater in the North-East of Japan by the aid of an electron microscope. They were namedMallomonas recticostata, Synura mammillosa, andOchromonas diademifera, respectively. The characteristics of the three new species are described here.     

The emendation of the genusKluyveromyces v. d. Walt

The genusKluyveromyces has been emended to include species forming 1 – 4 crescentiform, reniform, prolate ellipsoidal or spheroidal ascospores.Fourteen species have been assigned to the emended genusKluyveromyces.     

A note on the genusTurritis L.

Conclusion The genusTurritis L. differs from the genusArabis L. by the arrangement of the myrosine cells and by the alignment of the seeds in the pods in two rows.The anatomical structure of the septum ist not a character differentiating the genusArabis from the genusTurritis. The author backs the view that it would be more correct to evaluate the genusTurritis only as an infrageneric taxon of the genusArabis.     

The yeastKluyveromyces africanus nov. spec. and its phylogenetic significance

Summary A new budding yeast species isolated from soil is described. Its outstanding features are, firstly, the formation of asci containing up to sixteen long oval to reniform ascospores and, secondly, a fermentative as well as oxidative metabolism. The assimilation of nitrate is absent and no pseudomycelium is formed. The taxonomic position of the yeast is discussed and it is pointed out that, due to its exceptional ascospore number (1–16), it cannot be classified in any of the existing fermentative genera of theEndomycetaceae (in sensu Lodder et Kreger-van Rij). The reniform shape of its ascospores indicates, however, its close relationship with the multispored genusKluyveromyces, on the one hand, and the newly proposed one to four-spored genusDekkeromyces on the other. The species is provisionally classified as aKluyveromyces species,Kluyveromyces africanus nov. spec., until further information regarding its sexual characteristics becomes available. By virtue of its more or less intermediate ascospore number, it establishes the direct derivation of the genusDekkeromyces fromDipodascus uninucleatus via the multispored yeast genusKluyveromyces.     

Pichia robertsii nov. spec. A new haploid homothallic yeast

Summary A new haploid, homothallic yeast isolated from the larval feed ofXylocopa caffra is described. A study of its properties shows that the evolution of its sexual and biochemical characteristics has not taken place at the same rate as in the genusHansenula and the proposed genusDekkeromyces. This led the author to the conclusion that in the yeast domain phylogenetic lines may exist in which a unilateral evolution of biochemical characteristics has taken place. At least thre groups of yeasts exist where such discrepancies exist between the evolution of their sexual and biochemical characteristics. The inclusion of the new species in these groups is discussed. The new species has provisionally been classified in the genusPichia (in sensu Phaff). A Latin diagnosis of the species is given.     

Description ofAvesicladiella gen. nov. (hyphomycetes) for two undescribed leaf litter microfungi

The new hyphomycete genusAvesicladiella with two species,A. britannica sp. nov., type species, andA. microsperma sp. nov., is described and illustrated. Both species are leaf litter microfungi. The genus closely resemblesVesicladiella, Circinotrichum, Gyrothrix, Ceratocladium andVermiculariopsiella, several hyphomycete genera with comparable characters such as superficial hyphal networks; production of setae; absence of conidiophores; lageniform or ampulliform conidiogenous cells; and hyaline aseptate conidia produced in clusters around the apices of conidiogenous cells. The new genus differs from these by its hyaline, septate setae, typical ‘phialidic’ conidiogenous cells, and hyaline, aseptate cylindrical conidia.     

The yeast genus Ambrosiozyma gen. nov. (ascomycetes)

Five ascogenous, filamentous yeast species characterized by the formation of septal pore bodies and a primary association with ambrosia beetles, are transferred to the new genusAmbrosiozyma. A key to the species of the genusAmbrosiozyma is given.

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Zusammenfassung Fünf ascogene, mycelbildende Hefenarten, die durch die Bildung von septalen Porenkörperchen und eine primäre Association mit Ambrosia Käfern charakterisiert sind, wurden in die neue GattungAmbrosiozyma überführt.Ein Bestimmungsschlüssel der Arten der Gattung wurde angegeben.

     

Systematic revision of the catfish genusSilurus,with description of a new species from Thailand and Burma

On the basis of external morphology and anatomy, 17 scpeies of the genusSilurus Linnaeus including a new species,S. torrentis from Thailand and Burma, are recognized as valid.S. bedfordi Regan is synonymized withS. asotus, andS. goae Haig is transferred to the genusOmpok. From an anatomical study of 12 species, the diagnostic feature of the genusParasilurus Bleeker is revealed to be invalid, and the genus is synonymized withSilurus. From the phylogenetic analysis, the genusSilurus is divided into two major species groups, thecochinchinensis group which is disributed mainly in Southeast Asia, and theglanis group which is further separated into three subgroups occurring separately in East Asia and Europe. The pattern of distribution and relationships between ontogeny and phytogeny in the genusSilurus are briefly discussed.     

Pollination of sevenPlectranthus spp. (Lamiaceae) in southern Natal, South Africa

The genusPlectranthus (Lamiaceae) shows remarkable radiation on the sandstones of southern Natal and northern Transkei in South Africa, where six endemic species occur. Two of these endemic species,P. hilliardiae andP. oribiensis, are included in this study, as well asP. reflexus, for which only limited data are available. The other species that were studied areP. ambiguus, P. ciliatus, P. ecklonii, P. madagascariensis andP. zuluensis. Four of these taxa,P. ambiguus, P. hilliardiae, P. reflexus andP. saccatus var.longitubus, have uniquely long corolla-tubes (20–30mm) and this is related to pollination by nemestrinid flies of the genusStenobasipteron that have proboscides of similar length. Other nemestrinid species of the genusProsoeca have shorter proboscides and pollinate two species ofPlectranthus with shorter corolla-tube lengths (6–15mm). Acrocerid flies, tabanid flies and anthophorid bees are also important visitors to these species. This study on the pollination of seven species of varying corolla-tube lengths shows a correlation between floral tube length and proboscis length of insect visitors, many of which are recorded for the first time as pollinators ofPlectranthus.     

Some species ofCamposporium Harkn. from India

Camposporium indicum, C. hyderabadense andC. microsporum are described as new species. They were collected from dry leaves ofBorassus flabellifer L. A key to the Indian species of the genusCamposporium is given.     

Dilleniaceae Novae Neotropicae VIII. Two new species of Davilla from Brazil

Two new species of the genusDavilla from Brazil are described and illustrated (D. kubitzkii andD. morri). The new species are assigned to sect.Homalochlaena and their relationships with allied species are discussed.     

Morphological, physiological and molecular genetic characterization ofArabidopsis himalaica, with reference toA. thaliana

Arabidopsis himalaica (Edgeworth) O.E. Schulz, a poorly characterized species typical of HimalayanArabidopsis, was analyzed in terms of its morphology, physiology, chromosome number and molecular genetics, in comparison withA. thaliana which is the standard species in the genusArabidopsis. From view point of developmental genetics, several features which are specific toA. himalaica seem not to be derived by single-gene mutations inA. thaliana. Phylogenetic analyses based onrbcL sequences suggested that genusArabidopsis is not monophyletic. The detailed characterization ofA. himalaica should provide clues to understand the trait of evolution of particular features of Himalayan species ofArabidopsis and their genetic basis.     

Drei neue Blattlaus-Parasiten aus Hongkong

Summary Two new species of the genusBinodoxys Mackauer 1960 and one new species of the genusLipolexis Foerster 1862 (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) from the Oriental region are described. All parasites have been reared from aphids onCitrus. A key is given for the known species of the genusLipolexis Foerster.

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22. Beitrag zur Kenntnis derAphidiidae.     

Nova especie do genero Coelomomyces parasito de ovos de Phlebotomus

Summary A new species of fungus of the genusCoelomomyces, C. ciferrii has been found as endoparasites ofPhlebotomus eggs at Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, State in Brazil. It is the first time that the genusCoelomomyces is found in Brasil.The morphological characters of the new species are distinct from other species described.     

Interspecific relationships of the genus<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Cicer</Emphasis> L. (Fabaceae) based on<Emphasis Type="Italic"> trn</Emphasis>T-F sequences

The trnT-F region in chloroplasts was sequenced to elucidate interspecific phylogenetic relationships in the genus Cicer. Twenty-five species representing four sections and two outgroups were analyzed. A phylogenetic analysis revealed three major clades in the genus Cicer. Inferred phylogenetic relationships support multiple origins of annual species in the genus Cicer. Low variation within the most perennial species in the sequence regions suggests they may have originated during a period of rapid diversification after the genus arose. High levels of sequence divergence, biogeographical patterns and morphological traits between African and Eurasian groups of species suggest that Cicer may have independently diverged on each continent. Phylogenetic analysis of sequence data did not support the monophyly of the currently recognized sections and indicated the need for a revision of the infrageneric classification.Communicated by C. Möllers     

Catapyrenium (Verrucariaceae) species from South America

13 species of the lichen genusCatapyrenium are reported from South America. Five species (C. analogicum, C. andicolum, C. exaratum, C. lachneoides, andC. podolepis) are described as new. A key to the species known from South America is presented. Remarks on taxonomy, ecology and distribution of the species are given.Studies on the lichen genusCatapyrenium (Verrucariaceae) III. For second part seeBreuss (1991).     

Two new species of Thalictrum L. in Iran

Two new species of the genus Thalictrum named Th. mazandaranicum Pakravan & Assadi and Th. tacabicum Pakravan & Assadi from Iran are described and illustrated, their differences to related species are discussed. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Taxonomy of someDiploschistes spp. (lichenized ascomycetes,Thelotremataceae) containing gyrophoric acid

Three species which contain both gyrophoric and lecanoric acids and possess perithecioid ascomata are recognized in the genusDiploschistes. D. badius andD. gyrophoricus are described as new, whileD. subcupreus is reduced to synonymy withD. sticticus. Two species occur in the southern hemisphere, whileD. badius is found in N. America.