Comparison of gum specimens from Acacia tortuosa and other Gummiferae species

Analytical data are presented for the polysaccharide of six gum specimens from Acacia tortuosa, a tropical American Gummiferae species. These data show that the gums were basically similar but differed in the sugar composition reported for most Acacia gum exudates studied so far. The presence of traces of xylose (<1%) and the absence of rhamnose in the gum specimens studied was very unusual.     

The proteinaceous, gum polysaccharide from Azadirachta indica A. Juss

The gum exuded by Azadirachta indica trees contains 35% of proteinaceous material. The most abundant amino acid is aspartic acid; there are also considerable proportions of serine and threonine, and at least 2% of amino sugars. Attempts to deproteinise the polysaccharide material were unsuccessful. Fractionation of the gum exudate on agarose columns gave a protein-depleted fraction of high molecular weight and a protein-enriched fraction of lower molecular weight. Studies involving molecular-sieve chromatography showed a close correspondence in protein and carbohydrate content, and it appears that the proportion of proteinaceous component that is free or only loosely associated with carbohydrate is small. The carbohydrate component is much more complex than was indicated by earlier investigators. In addition to galactose and arabinose (major components), mannose, xylose, fucose, and rhamnose are also present. The uronic acid content (28%) is higher than previously believed, and a relatively high methoxyl content has been found. The major aldobiouronic acid, previously undetected, is 4-O-(4-O-methyl-- -glucopyranosyluronic acid)- -galactose, with 4-O-(- -glucopyranosyluronic acid)- -galactose also present. The exudate from Azadirachta indica is therefore a complex material having several features that are unusual in gum chemistry.     

The gum exudates from Brachystegia and Julbernardia species

Analytical data are presented for the water-soluble gum exudates from Brachystegia glaucescens, B. spiciformis, and Julbernardia globiflora. They are acidic polysaccharides containing glucuronic acid, 4-O-methylglucuronic acid and galacturonic acid, together with galactose, minor amounts of arabinose, and relatively high proportions of rhamnose. The exudate from B. glaucescens is of particular interest in having high molecular weight, high intrinsic viscosity, and a high methoxyl content. The nitrogen content of all three gums is low, but amino acid analysis shows that proteinaceous components are involved, as in the gum exudates from other genera.     

The composition of acacia gum exudates from species of the subseries Juliflorae

An analytical study has been made of gum specimens from Acacia auriculiformis (two specimens), A.holosericea, A.mangium, A.leptostachya and A.pubifolia, which belong to subseries Juliflorae of the Series Phyllodineae. These gums appear to be more proteinaccous, more acidic and more viscous, with higher methoxyl contents and higher molecular weights but with lower proportions of rhamnose and arabinose, than the majority of Acacia gums studied so far.     

Inter-specific variation in the concentration of two iridoid glucosides in Avicennia L. (Avicenniaceae Endl.)

Concentrations of two iridoid glucosides (2′-cinnamoyl mussaenosidic acid and 2′-caffeoyl mussaenosidic acid) were measured in different populations of several Avicennia species. The results obtained for 2′-cinnamoyl mussaenosidic acid seem to confirm the recognition of infraspecific taxa in A. marina and also in A. germinans (africana (palaeotropic) and germinans (neotropic)).     

Some highly proteinaceous Acacia gum exudates of the subseries Juliflorae

Analytical data for the gum exudates from Acacia difficilis, A. dimidiata, A. eriopoda, A. maidenii, A. stipuligera, A. torulosa and A. tumida are presented. Of these, five are highly proteinaceous; they also have high methoxyl contents and very low rhamnose contents. In contrast, A. dimidiata shows no unusual analytical parameters, and A. maidenii gum has alowarabinose content and a high rhamnose content, thus having a sugar composition of the type first observed in the gum from A. saligna. The gum from A. maidenii is also of interest as its analytical data are closely similar to those for A. longifolia, the only other tetramerous member of the subseries Juliflorae to have been studied. The data reported extend even further the unusual ranges of analytical parameters found within the Juliflorae, and confirm its great heterogeneity and chemotaxonomic interest.     

The molecular characterization of the polysaccharide gum from Laguncularia racemosa

A polysaccharide isolated from the exudate of Laguncularia racemosa, (Combreta-ceae) has been investigated using Smith-degradation, methylation analysis, hydrolysis, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The backbone of the structure is constituted of uronic acids, galactose and rhamnose. A complex pentasaccharide, constituted of these sugars, was isolated from the original gum and degradation products. This oligosaccharide is, probably, the main structural feature of the investigated polysaccharide. On the other hand, according to chemical and spectral evidence rhamnose is present, predominantly as internal residues. Arabinosyl (pyranosyl and furanosyl) residues and some galactosyl, glucuronic acid and 4-0-methyl--D-glucuronic acid residues are located in branches.     

Composition and properties of Albizia lebbeck gum exudate

An analytical study has been made of six gum specimens from Albizia lebbeck, Leguminosae. Galactose, mannose, arabinose, glucuronic acid and its 4-O--metyl analogue are present in all the specimens studied. Rhamnose was not detected according to sugar analysis and spectral data. The absence of this sugar, the high acidity and the relatively low limit viscosity number contrast with the values reported previously for one African sample of A. lebbeck. The lead content is much higher than that recorded for other Albizia gums. ¹³C-NMR spectrum of this gum, in deuterium oxide, shows good resolution.     

Antechiniscus in Australia: Description of Antechiniscus moscali sp. n. and Redescription of Antechiniscus parvisentus (Horning & Schuster, 1983) (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae)

Two species of the genus Antechiniscus have been found in Nothofagus forests in Australia. The new species A. moscali sp. n. is described. The New Zealand species A. parvisentus (Horning & Schuster, 1983) is redescribed from type material and from the new material from Australia. The taxonomic status of the two species within the genus is discussed.     

Phylogenetic and biosystematic relationships in four highly disjunct polyploid complexes in the subgenera Ceterach and Phyllitis in Asplenium (Aspleniaceae)

Phylogenetic studies using DNA sequences of two chloroplast regions, rbcL and trnL-F, demonstrate that the proposed genus Ceterach is a small clade within the large genus Asplenium, and sister to the Phyllitis clade. The Ceterach clade is characterised by irregular anastomosing veins and often densely scaled leaf blades. Its taxonomic status as a group nested within Asplenium is confirmed, and it is accepted here as a subgenus with seven species. The Ceterach clade comprises four lineages that correspond to disjunct polyploid complexes: the A. aureum clade forming a polyploid complex (4×, 6×, 8×) in Macaronesia, the A. ceterach clade forming a polyploid complex (2×, 4×, 6×) in the Mediterranean Basin, the A. paucivenosum clade (4×, 6×) in central Asia, and the A. dalhousiae clade (2×) with a disjunct distribution in the Himalaya, Yemen and Eritrea, and southwestern North America. Asplenium paucivenosum is sister to all other members of the Ceterach clade, whereas A. dalhousiae is sister to the A. aureum clade that includes tetraploid A. aureum, hexaploid A. lolegnamense, and octoploid A. parvifolium. Asplenium ceterach and its variations – including the hexaploid A. ceterach subsp. mediterraneum subsp. nov. first described below – form a monophyletic unit, sister to a clade consisting of A. aureum and A. dalhousiae. Asplenium cordatum from Africa and A. haugthonii from the isolated atlantic island of St. Helena are not members of the Ceterach clade, which suggests that leaf blades with dense indumenta have evolved at least twice within asplenioid ferns. The allotetraploid species A. hybridum has the chloroplast DNA from A. ceterach, and therefore the latter species is the maternal ancestor of the former. The other parent of this hybrid species is A. sagittatum that is nested within the sister clade of Ceterach, the Phyllitis clade comprising A. sagittatum and A. scolopendrium. The findings suggest that the current distribution of Ceterach is either the result of long-distance dispersal or represents fragmented relicts of a previously more widely distributed species.     

Sequence differences in the internal transcribed spacers of DNA among four species of hookworm (Ancylostomatoidea: Ancylostoma)

The two ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers (1 and 2) of the hookworms Ancylostoma caninum, A. tubaeforme, A. ceylanicum and A. duodenale were sequenced. The sequence lengths were similar among the four species, except that A. ceylanicum had slightly longer (by 5–7 bp) internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 sequences. The predicted secondary structure of the internal transcribed spacer 2 precursor rRNA was similar for all species, despite interspecific differences in primary sequence ranging from 0.9% to 13.2%. Interspecific differences in internal transcribed spacer 1 sequence ranged from 0.9% to 7.5%. A cladistic analysis of the sequence data, using the human hookworm Necator americanus as the outgroup, provided little resolution of the phylogenetic relationships, except that A. ceylanicum occurred on a branch external to the other three species. Nonetheless, internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 may provide useful phylogenetic information at higher taxonomic levels within the superfamily Ancylostomatoidea.     

Genetic diversity of an amphicarpic species, Amphicarpaea edgeworthii Benth. (Leguminosae) based on RAPD markers

Amphicarpaea edgeworthii Benth. is an amphicarpic legume widespread in China. Amphicarpy describes the phenomenon that a plant produces aerial as well as subterranean fruits. A. edgeworthii can reproduce via three kinds of flowers: aerial chasmogamous flowers, aerial cleistogamous flowers, and subterranean cleistogamous flowers. Although there are some studies on the population genetic structure of species with both chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers, none has been done for that of an amphicarpic species so far. The present study uses random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to assess level and pattern of genetic variation in 15 natural populations of A. edgeworthii. A total of 131 stable and clearly scored RAPD bands were achieved from 13 primers. The average genetic diversity within populations estimated by Shannon's information index was 0.218 at the population level, but ranged from 0.119 to 0.302, which was significantly different (P < 0.01). Different statistical analyses revealed a high level of genetic differentiation among populations (G_ST = 0.473–0.527). Thus, the pattern of genetic structure of A. edgeworthii is consistent with that of an inbreeding species.     

The composition and properties of the gum exudates from Terminalia sericea and T. Superba

The gum polysaccharides from Terminalia sericea and T. superba have been analysed. They have a complex sugar composition, containing galacturonic, glucuronic, and 4-O-methylglucuronic acids as well as galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, mannose and xylose. The exudates from T. sericea and T. superba are remarkably similar in composition, particularly with respect to their proportions of neutral sugars and total uronic acid content, although T. sericea gum contains considerably more 4-O-methylglucuronic acid than T. superba. Both gums are very viscous and dissolve readily to give solutions of good colour.!!     

中国姬鼠属的研究及与日本种类关系的讨论

姬鼠属(Apodemus)分布在欧亚大陆及其邻近的岛屿上,种类及数量均较多。一般认为有2个亚属:田姬鼠亚属(Apodemus)和林姬鼠亚属(Sylvaemus)。Ellerman和Morrison-Scott(1951)虽对它作了较系统的研究,但对中国所产的姬鼠仍有许多不同的意见,随着中国研究工作的深入,有许多看法与他们不同。Corbet(1978)虽作了一些改正,但仍不能令人满意。仅就现有材料提出个人的意见,抛砖引玉,提供进一步研究的一块踏板。     

黑木耳复合群中种类学名说明

黑木耳在我国已经有1 000多年栽培历史,是我国最重要的栽培真菌之一,多年来我国黑木耳的学名一直使用模式产地为欧洲的Auricularia auricula-judae。最近的研究表明A. auricula-judae实际为一复合种,该复合种在全球范围内有5个种。其中A. auricula-judae仅分布于欧洲;美洲有2个种,生长在针叶树上的美洲木耳A. americana和生长在阔叶树上的尚未命名的木耳。中国该类群有3个种：自然分布和栽培最广泛的黑木耳的学名应为A. heimuer,此外,短毛木耳A. villosula在我国东北也广泛分布,并有少量栽培,生长针叶树上的木耳为美洲木耳A. americana,主要分布于中国东北和华北。     

Ammotheidae (Arthropoda: Pycnogonidae) collected during the Victoria Land Transect cruise 2004 (Ross Sea, Antarctica), with a description of a new species of Ammothea

Specimens belonging to the pycnogonid family Ammotheidae collected during the Victoria Land Transect 2004 cruise (Ross Sea, Antarctica) were studied. Five species are recognized in this collection, three species of Ammothea, one of Achelia and one of Austroraptus. Some information about the variability of the propodal armature of Ammothea glacialis is discussed. The rare species Ammothea meridionalis is reported for the fifth time, enlarging its known bathymetric range. A new species in the genus Ammothea is described, Ammothea victoriae. The new taxon is compared with its closest congeners, especially with A. armentis, A. gordonae and A. carolinensis. Both morphotypes of Achelia spicata are reported, some additional morphological differences having been detected between them. Austroraptus calcaratus is reported for the third time, and with our specimens 14 individuals are now known. Present and previous data show a restricted geographical and bathymetric distribution.     

Biotransformation of monoterpenoids, (−)- and menthols, terpinolene and carvotanacetone by Aspergillus species

Four monoterpenoids, (−)- and (+)-menthols, terpinolene and carvotanacetone were biotransformed by Aspergillus niger and several related species. Aspergillus niger converted (−)-menthol to 1-, 2-, 6-, 7-, and 9-hydroxymenthols and the mosquito repellent-active 8-hydroxymenthol. On the other hand, (+)-menthol was smoothly biotransformed by A. niger to give 7-hydroxymenthol. Aspergillus cellulosae biotransformed (−)-menthol specifically to 4-hydroxymenthol. Terpinolene and (−)-carvotanacetone were converted by A. niger to two , β-unsaturated ketones, a fenchane-type compound and diastereoisomeric p-menthane-2,9-diols and 8-hydroxycarvomenthol, respectively.     

中国马兜铃属和关木通属(马兜铃科)概览

马兜铃属(广义) (Aristolochia sensu lato)具有花单被、花萼管状、合蕊柱、子房下位、中轴胎座、胚珠多数、蒴果等主要特征, 广布于全世界的热带、亚热带和温带地区, 约有600种, 是马兜铃科中种类最多的属。依据Flora of China, 我国有本属植物45种, 其中33种为中国特有。近些年, 国内大量的新类群被相继报道, 特别是云南、广西两地, 而另一些类群则得到了确认、恢复、重新发表或修订。最近, 基于形态和分子证据, 关木通属(Isotrema)因其花萼管急剧弯曲; 合蕊柱3裂; 雄蕊6, 成对与合蕊柱裂片对生; 蒴果由上而下开裂等区别特征而从广义马兜铃属中被分出独立成属。本文基于大量的野外调查、标本鉴定、数码照片考证和相关文献的仔细研究, 重新梳理了中国马兜铃属和关木通属的种类及分布情况, 确认现阶段中国马兜铃属17种和关木通属58种1亚种, 并一一记述同时编制了最新的检索表。其中, 柔叶关木通(I. mollis)、线叶关木通(I. neolongifolia)的种级地位得到重新确认, 并提供了图版。探讨了优贵马兜铃(A. gentilis)、川滇马兜铃(A. chuandianensis)和纤细马兜铃(A. gracillima)的关系, 昆明关木通(I. kunmingense)与波氏关木通(A. bonatii)的关系, 以及卵叶关木通(I. ovatifolium)、葫芦叶关木通(I. cucurbitoides)、西藏关木通(I. griffithii)、过石珠(I. versicolor)、大别山关木通(I. dabieshanensis)等复合群和袋形关木通(I. saccata)等物种存在的问题。     

Biology and Nymph Host Range of Anchocoema bidentata and Astroma saltense (Orthoptera: Proscopiidae), Potential Biocontrol Agents for Creosotebush, Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae) in the U.S.A.

Two stick-like acridids (Orthoptera: Proscopiidae) from Argentina, Anchocoema bidentata Mello-Leitao and Astroma saltense Mello-Leitao, were evaluated as potential biological control agents of creosote bush (Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville) in the southwestern United States. Their biology, behavior and geographic distribution of those species were studied. The host plant ranges for both insects were established through nymph feeding preference and development tests in the laboratory and in the field. A total of 33 species of plants belonging to 13 families were tested. Anchocoema bidentata and A. saltense are mimetic species, having as many as three generations a year, and exhibit strong sexual dimorphism; females are larger and less mobile than males. In both species, females laid egg masses in the soil. First instars appeared in the field at the end of the spring, the second generation at mid-summer, and a third at the end of the summer. Adults of A. bidentata and A. saltense appeared in the field at the beginning of the spring. The laboratory multiple-choice feeding test showed that A. bidentata preferred Larrea divaricata Cav., whereas A. saltense preferred L. divaricata and L. cuneifolia Cav. In the nymph development test (no choice), A. bidentata was able to complete its development only on L. divaricata and L. cuneifolia, while Astroma saltense completed its development on six plant species: L divaricata, L. cuneifolia, Bulnesia retama (Gillies ex Hooker et Arnott), B. schickendantzi Hieron (all Zygophyllaceae), Zuccagnia punctata Cav., and Prosopis torquata (Cav. Ap. Lag.) (both Fabaseae). We concluded that A. bidentata could be a biocontrol agent for L. tridentata because the first instar can complete its development only on Larrea spp. Regarding A. saltense, this species showed a wide host range and should not be considered as a biological control agent of L. tridentata.     

鲟鱼分子鉴定方法的整合应用

鲟形目物种是国家重点保护水生野生动物和CITES附录物种。其人工养殖种群数量众多, 种类丰富, 产品贸易量大, 但种类鉴定困难。本文在厘清当前鲟鱼商业类群的基础上, 通过分析现有种类鉴定方法, 整合了线粒体DNA遗传分析、SNP分析和微卫星DNA分析的鉴定方法, 探讨其鉴定国际贸易所涉鲟鱼的可行性。结果表明: 上述3种方法整合应用可在11种纯种鲟鱼及其正反杂交产生的杂交鲟范围内进行盲检。当前共有贸易鲟鱼36种, 其中杂交鲟14种, 杂交鲟的亲本共涉及9种鲟鱼。整合方法可准确鉴定小体鲟(Acipenser ruthenus)、达氏鳇(Huso dauricus)、施氏鲟(Acipenser schrenckii)、欧洲鳇(Huso huso)、闪光鲟(Acipenser stellatus)、高首鲟(A. transmontanus)两两杂交所产生的杂交鲟, 小体鲟为母本与纳氏鲟(Acipenser naccarii)或富氏鲟(A. fulvescens)或中华鲟(A. sinensis)产生的杂交鲟, 纯种的达氏鳇、高首鲟、富氏鲟和中华鲟, 但无法准确鉴定纯种的西伯利亚鲟(Acipenser baerii)和俄罗斯鲟(A. gueldenstaedti)以及父母本涉及此两种鲟鱼的杂交鲟。由于已开发的分子标记仍有限, 上述结果是对当前CITES贸易所涉鲟鱼鉴定的最大范围, 可以满足一些鲟鱼野生种群保护、贸易产品检测、种质资源管理等情景下的鉴定需求。