MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF THE UPRIGHT ERYTHROPELTIDALES (COMPSOPOGONOPHYCEAE,RHODOPHYTA): MULTIPLE CRYPTIC LINEAGES OF ERYTHROTRICHIA CARNEA1

The phylogeny of morphologically simple algae is problematic due to insufficient morphological characters to aid in distinguishing species and relationships. The problem is further compounded because multiple evolutionary lineages of morphologically similar species occur in most well‐sampled biogeographic locations; therefore, location cannot be used as a proxy for species. The phylogeny of the upright members of the Erythropeltidales is partially clarified by combining molecular data, unialgal culture observations, and worldwide sampling. Our results show that there are several well‐supported lineages within the Erythropeltidales with only two morphologically recognizable taxa at present. The first is the genus Porphyrostromium, with a well‐developed basal crust, which includes two Erythrotrichia species (Porphyrostromium ligulatum comb. nov. and Porphyrostromium pulvinatum comb. nov.). The second is the branched species Erythrotrichia welwitschii (Rupr.) Batters. There are also six strongly supported Erythrotrichia carnea–like lineages. While not completely satisfactory, we propose that one lineage (lineage 2) with samples close to the type locality be designated as E. carnea with a specific isolate as an epitype. The lack of morphology to differentiate the other lineages leads to a taxonomy based solely on gene sequencing and molecular phylogeny, with rbcL sequences differentiating the lineages proposed. We hold off on proposing more species and genera until more data and samples can be gathered.     

Erythrotrichopeltis,eine neue Gattung der Erythropeltidaceae (Bangiophyceae,Rhodophyta)

In culture experimentsErythropeltis discigera (Berth.) Schmitz andErythrotrichia discigera Berth. proved to be heteromorphous stages in the life history of the same entity, incorporated into the new genusErythrotrichopeltis. There is no obligate alternation of generations, the peltoid and the trichoid phase both propagate asexually by monospores. In addition, the trichoid phase releases spermatia in abundance, while carpogonia cannot be distinguished from vegetative cells. Thus far, the present statements are in full accordance with Berthold's observations, made at Naples more than 100 years ago, which have, however, recently been challenged. Moreover, the cultivation experiments made supplement Berthold's results as to the post fertilization process. A few days after the appearance of spermatia, peltoid plants are met with among the filamentous ones: they obviously originate from carpospores. The transition of the peltoid to the trichoid phase, at first observed accidentally in 3-month old moribund cultures, was reconstructed on more than one occasion by designed experiments. This study was started with discoid plants isolated from crude cultures of sublitoral algae from Helgoland (North Sea). NeitherErythrotrichia discigera Berth. norErythropeltis discigera (Berth.) Schmitz were ever found in the field around Helgoland. Recognized by Batters to be identical withBangia ciliaris Carmichael, the name of the typical representative of the new genus isErythrotrichopeltis ciliaris (Carm. ex Harv. in Hook.) nov. comb.     

Sonoran Desert Ecosystem transformation by a C4 grass without the grass/fire cycle

Aim Biological invasions facilitate ecosystem transformation by altering the structure and function, diversity, dominance and disturbance regimes. A classic case is the grass–fire cycle in which grass invasion increases the frequency, scale and/or intensity of wildfires and promotes the continued invasion of invasive grasses. Despite wide acceptance of the grass–fire cycle, questions linger about the relative roles that interspecific plant competition and fire play in ecosystem transformations. Location Sonoran Desert Arizona Upland of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona, USA. Methods We measured species cover, density and saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) size structure along gradients of Pennisetum ciliare invasion at 10 unburned/ungrazed P. ciliare patches. Regression models quantified differences in diversity, cover and density with respect to P. ciliare cover, and residence time and a Fisher’s exact test detected demographic changes in saguaro populations. Because P. ciliare may have initially invaded locations that were both more invasible and less diverse, we ran analyses with and without the plots in which initial infestations were located. Results Richness and diversity decreased with P. ciliare cover as did cover and density of most dominant species. Richness and diversity declined with increasing time since invasion, suggesting an ongoing transformation. The proportion of old‐to‐young Carnegiea gigantea was significantly lower in plots with dominant P. ciliare cover. Main conclusions Rich desert scrub (15–25 species per plot) was transformed into depauperate grassland (2–5 species per plot) within 20 years following P. ciliare invasion without changes to the fire regime. While the onset of a grass–fire cycle may drive ecosystem change in the later stages and larger scales of grass invasions of arid lands, competition by P. ciliare can drive small‐scale transformations earlier in the invasion. Linking competition‐induced transformation rates with spatially explicit models of spread may be necessary for predicting landscape‐level impacts on ecosystem processes in advance of a grass–fire cycle.     

New additions to the marine algae of Mochima National Park, Sucre, Venezuela

The marine algal flora from the eastern coast of Mochima National Park, Sucre, Venezuela was studied with a total of 51 taxa identified, including eight new additions of red algae which are Erythrotrichia carnea (Dillwyn) J. Agardh, Sahlingia subintegra (Rosenvinge) Kornmann, Liagora ceranoides Lamouroux, Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Trevisan, Dasya corymbifera J. Agardh, Chondria dasyphylla (Woodward) C. Agardh, Herposiphonia secunda f. tenella (C. Agardh) M.J. Wynne and Polysiphonia subtilissima Montagne. Morphological and anatomical aspects of the specimens are described and illustrated.     

Phylogenetic relationships among species ofWilliopsis andSaturnospora gen. nov. as determined from partial rRNA sequences

Phylogenetic relationships among those yeast species that form saturn-shaped ascospores and which are assigned to the generaWilliopsis andPichia were estimated from their extent of nucleotide sequence divergence in three regions of ribosomal RNA. ThePichia species (P. dispora, P. saitoi, P. zaruensis andP. sp. nov.) are a closely clustered group only distantly related toWilliopsis, and it is proposed that they be reassigned toSaturnospora gen. nov. The extent of divergence amongWilliopsis species (W. californica, W. mucosa, W. pratensis, W. saturnus andW. sp. nov.) is greater than that previously observed within other ascomycetous yeast genera.     

Infrageneric classification of the genusEleutherococcus maxim. (Araliaceae) with a new sectionCissifolius

The genusEleutherococcus Maxim, is divided into five sections based on the morphology;Eleutherococcus, Cissifolius C.H. Kim and B.-Y. Sun (sect, nov.),Acanthopanax (Decne. & Planch.) H. Ohashi,Cephalopanax (Baill.) H. Ohashi andZanthoxylopanax (Harms) H. Ohashi. SectionAcanthopanax is further divided into two subsections;Acanthopanax andIonostachyae (Nakai) C.H. Kim & B.-Y Sun (comb. nov.). The new sectCissifolius is distinguished from others in having five fused carpels with free styles, solitary umbels at the end of branches, dioecious sexuality, and absence of tufted hairs in abaxial surface of leaf veins. The new section is most closely related toAcanthopanax in having free styles, solitary umbels, and dioecious sexuality. It is also related toEleutherococcus in having five carpels and lacking tufted hairs on abaxial surface of leaves. SectionCephalopanax shares all characteristics other than the number of carpels withEleutherococcus. SectionZanthoxylopanax is closely related toAcanthopanax in having two carpels with free styles, while it is also related toCephalopanax by having bisexual flowers and umbels arranged in a simple cyme. Considering the evolutionary trend in the family Araliaceae, five-carpellate sectionsEleutherococcus andCissifolius are more primitive than two-carpellate sectionsAcanthopanax, Cephalopanax, andZanthoxylopanax. SectionZanthoxylopanax seems to be intermediate betweenAcanthopanax andCephalopanax.     

Ueber die AscomycetengattungenCeratostomella Sacc.,Ophiostoma Syd. undRostrella Zimmermann

Summary Ceratostomella Sacc. is a member of theDiaporthaceae (sensuMiller 1949) and is closely related toPhomatospora Sacc., ifCeratostomella vestita Sacc. [=C. cirrhosa (Pers.) Sacc.] is regarded as type of the genus. This species has perithecia with a rather thick membrane, consisting of several layers of slightly compressed, dark cells. The neck is long cylindrical, lined with periphyses. The asci are cylindrical, with an refractive ring in the thickened tip. When young, the spores are continuous, hyaline, with two or four oildrops, when old they often develop one or three pseudosepta. A list of synonyms of this species is given. Some species, which have been described asCeratostomella belong toOphiostoma Sydow (1919); this genus belongs to thePlectascales (Nannfeldt 1932, 1934).Rostrella coffeae Zimmerm. is also anOphiostoma and must be namedO. coffeae (Zimmerm.) comb. nov. The nameRostrella Zimmermann (1900) is older thanOphiostoma, but must be rejected, as an ascomycetous genusRostrella Fabre exists, described in 1878. Several other species, described asCeratostomella, Endoconidiophora andGrosmannia are transferred toOphiostoma. A list of synonyms of the genus is given.      

In situ spore germination in Erythrotrichia carnea

The in situ germination of monospores is reported in European and North American material of Erythrotrichia carnea (Dillw.) J.Ag., and its significance discussed in relation to branching in the genus.     

STRUCTURE AND REPRODUCTION OF NEOARDISSONEA KYLIN (RHODOPHYTA-NACCARIACEAE)1

Neoardissonea naccarioides (J. Ag.) Kylin, the type and only species of its genus, is shown to be referable to Naccaria Endlicher, to which genus it is transferred as Naccaria naccarioides (J. Ag.) comb. nov.     

Studies in Indian Phyllachoraceae IV

Summary P. symploci Pat. is a new record to India andP. dalbergiae Niessl. a new addition to the Fungi of Bombay. Association of spermogonia with the developing ascocarps has been noted in three out of the seven species described in this paper, confirming the earlier observations ofTilak (1959) of the occurrence of spermatization as a common process of sexuality in this genus.     

Labiatae Novae Iranicae

Four new species are described:Lavandula sublepidota, from S. Iran (related toL. coronopifolia),Phlomis pachyphylla from S. Iran, Prov. Fars (nearPh. polioxantha),Satureia isophylla from N. Iran, Prov. Mazanderan (close toS. mutica andS. intermedia), andThymbra neurophylla from Iraqi Kurdistan (distinct forth species of the genus).

Florae Iranicae praecursores 1–4.     

CYTOGENETIC STUDIES IN THE GENUS TRIBOLIUM (POACEAE: ARUNDINEAE)

The genus Tribolium Desv. consists of nine species, i.e., T. utriculosum (Nees) Renv., T. ciliare (Stapf) Renv., T. echinatum (Thunb.) Desv., T. hispidum (Thunb.) Desv., T. acutiflorum (Nees) Renv., T. obliterum sensu Davidse, T. glomeratum sensu Davidse, T. uniolae (L.f.) Renv., and T. brachystachyum (Nees) Renv. The genus has a basic chromosome number of 6, and from diploid to hexaploid specimens have been examined. Precocious segregation of metaphase I bivalents were observed in four species. Multivalent formation results in unequal chromosome segregation during anaphase I, and several cells with an 11–13 chromosome distribution have been observed. The presence of univalents and anaphase I bridges in all T. brachystachyum specimens suggests a hybrid origin for the species. B-chromosomes were present in specimens from four species. The B-chromosomes are similar to the euchromosomes with the exception that they do not participate in meiosis. The B-chromosomes have a possible isochromosome origin. The cytogenetic evidence presented supports the combination of Plagiochloa and Lasiochloa into Tribolium and indicates that the genus is closely related to Urochlaena, whereas it is not closely related to Prionanthium.     

Biomass production by alders on four abandoned agricultural soils in Québec

The production of aboveground tissue of three alder species (Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh,A. rugosa (Du Roi) Spreng. andA. glutinosa (L) Gaertn.) on four sites ranged from 0.4 t ha^–1 yr^–1 to 4.0 t ha^–1 yr^–1 after four growing seasons. Large differences were observed among the four sites studied and among species. Soil nutrient levels affected the biomass production and foliar symptoms of P and Mg deficiency occurred withA. crispa andA. rugosa. Because of their poor aboveground biomass production (0.4–1.4 t ha^–1 yr^–1),A. crispa andA. rugosa should be used mainly as nurse trees. For its higher potential for biomass production (up to 4.0 t ha^–1 yr^–1), and its apparent higher ability to use P and Mg on deficient sites,A. glutinosa should be used preferably toA. crispa andA. rugosa for the production of biomass.     

A contribution to the taxonomy of Piptadenia (Mimosaceae) in South America

Four new species ofPiptadenia are described:P. anolidurus (from Amazonian Ecuador, Peru and Brazil),P. buchtienii (from trans-Andean Bolivia),P. cuzcoënsis (from southern Peru), andP. imatacae (from Venezuelan Guayana); andP. adiantoides var.peruviana J. F. Macbr. is raised in rank toP. peruviana. In relation toP. imatacae the transfer ofP. uaupensis Benth. andP. floribunda Kleinhoonte toAdenopodia Presl is shown to be ill-advised. The affinities of each new species are discussed and critical characters are illustrated.Mimosa tessmanii Harms is newly synonymized withP. uaupensis.

     

Morphology and taxonomy of the Puccinia species on corn and sorghum

Morphological characters of the sori and spore forms ofPuccinia polysora andP. purpurea are described and illustrated indicating the range of variation as determined from herbarium and field materials. Morphological variation inP. sorghi clones and inbred lines from these clones were studied earlier. The genes conditioning morphology apparently function independently of those conditioning pathogenicity. Race 13 ofP. purpurea was morphologically similar toP. sorghi and probably was not derived from the recombination of gametes ofP. purpurea as indicated in an earlier paper. Morphological distinctions between the 3 pathogens viz.P. sorghi, P. polysora andP. purpurea are wide. Taxonomically they are retained as valid species. A study of the complete life cycle of the latter 2 species and the genetic control of morphological characters, however, is essential to the final solution of the problem.     

Isoenzyme variation in the generaPhaseolus andVigna (Fabaceae) in relation to their systematics: Aspartate aminotransferase and superoxide dismutase

Evolutionary variation of aspartate aminotransferase and superoxide dismutase isoenzymes in 14 wild and cultivated species ofPhaseolus andVigna has been studied by electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel. The American cultivated beans of the genusPhaseolus s. str.,P. vulgaris, P. coccineus, P. lunatus andP. acutifolius, form a homogeneous group with only minor isoenzyme variation. The genusVigna, on the contrary, proves to be heterogeneous in isozyme characters. Several clusters of taxa can be distinguished in close correspondence with modern treatments of the genus. The isoenzyme data support the inclusion of the Asian Azuki beans of subg.Ceratotropis inVigna, but argue against the transfer of the S. American speciesP. adenantha. The cowpea complexV. unguiculata s. lato of sect.Catiang forms an uniform and isolated group, distinct from other sections of subg.Vigna, and shows affinity toPhaseolus s. str. by some isoenzymes. It is suggested to removeV. unguiculata s. lato from subg.Vigna and to recognize it as a separate subg.Catiang (DC.)Jaaska & Jaaska, stat. nov.     

STUDIES IN SOME FOLIOSE RED ALGAE OF THE PACIFIC COAST. III. DUMONTIACEAE,WEEKSIACEAE, KALLYMENIACEAE1

The female reproductive structures and their development, and the vegetative structure are studied in 17 species of red algae in the Cryptonemiales (Rhodophyceae). Three genera, Weeksia, Constantinea, and the type species of Leptocladia, are removed from the Dumontiaceae to a newly created family, the Weeksiaceae, because of differing postfertilization events leading to the development of the gonimoblast from a cell of the carpogonial branch. Three genera of Dumontiaceae are studied: Pikea, including P. californica, the type species, and Pikea robusta a newly described species; Dilsea californica, and a newly described species of Neodilsea, a genus heretofore known only from the northwestern Pacific. Two transfers are made from the genus Leptocladia, 1 to Farlowia, as F. conferta, and 1 to Rhodophyllis (Gigartinales) as R. peruviana. Three species in the Kallymeniaceae are redescribed: Kallymenia pacifica, a rare and nearly unknown species from southern California and adjacent Pacific Mexico; K. norrisii from central California; and K. oblongifructa from Washington, Oregon, and northern California.     

Two new fossil woods ofAcer and a new combination ofPrunus from the Tertiary of Japan

Two new species ofAcer fossil woods,A. momijiyamense andA. Watarianum, are described and a short review of fossil wood of this genus from the Tertiary of Japan is given. In the course of a study on three fossil wood species which have been described asAcer andAcernium from Japan, it is noticed thatAcernium iwatense Watari does not belong toAcer but toPrunus of the Rosaceae, and is therafore transferred intoPrunus asPrunus iwatense comb. nov.     

Effects of bacterial contamination on development ofMicroplitis croceipes [Hym.: Braconidae]

Bacterial contaminants ofHeliothis virescens (F.) influenced the development ofMicroplitis croceipes (Cresson). Among the four bacterial species studied, the most virulent wasPseudomonas maltophilia Hugh and Ryschenkow followed byBacillus subtilis (Ehrenberg) Cohn. Both bacteria caused severe mortality in all stages ofMicroplitis tested.Microplitis larvae were less susceptible toEscherichia coli (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers andLeuconostoc mesenteroides (Tsenkovskii) van Thieghem than toB. subtilis andP. maltophilia. AlthoughE. coli did not affect the number of cocoons produced, adult emergence was lower than in controls. Longevity of adultMicroplitis exposed to bacterially contaminated honey-water was greatly reduced in all bacterial treatments.      

Permophricodothyris Pavlova, 1965 (Brachiopoda, Spiriferida) from the Permian of South China: its morphology, biostratigraphy and distribution

A study of both silicified and nonsilicified specimens of Permian reticularioid brachiopods from South China suggests thatPermophricodothyris, a genus previously rarely reported from China, is actually very common and abundant in the Middle and especially Upper Permian of South China. This study also clarifies, for the first time, that many of the reticularioid brachiopod species previously described asSquamularia in fact belong toPermophricodothyris. The new data presented in this paper also allows a critical evaluation ofPermophricodothyris in relation to its closest allies:Phricodothyris, Squamularia, Bullarina andNeophricodothyris. The revision reveals that a total of 18Permophricodothyris species are present in the Middle and Upper Permian of South China, with only one species,P. squamularioides, having survived the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. Two species,P. grandis (Chao) andP. guangxiensis Han, Zhou & Wang, are redescribed here, providing critical new information on the morphology and taxonomy of these species.