Genetic diversity and relationships among Egyptian Galium (Rubiaceae) and related species using ISSR and RAPD markers

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analyses of 24 species, representing nine sections of the genus Galium (Rubiaceae), have been made using the Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and combined ISSR and RAPD markers. Four ISSR primers and three RAPD primers generated 250 polymorphic amplified fragments. The results of this study showed that the level of genetic variation in Galium is relatively high. RAPD markers revealed a higher level of polymorphism (158 bands) than ISSR (92 bands). Clustering of genotypes within groups was not similar when RAPD and ISSR derived dendrograms were compared. Six clades can be recognized within Galium, which mostly corroborate, but also partly contradict, traditional groupings. UPGMA-based dendrogram showed a close relationship between members of section Leiogalium with G. verum and G. humifusum (sect. Galium), and G. angustifolium (sect. Lophogalium). Principal coordinated analysis, however, showed some minor differences with UPGMA-based dendrograms. The more apomorphic groups of Galium form the section Leiogalium clade including the perennial sections Galium, Lophogalium, Jubogalium, Hylaea and Leptogalium as well as the annual section Kolgyda. The remaining taxa of Galium are monophyletic.     

Iridoids and alkanes in twelve species of Galium and Asperula

The results of an analysis of the iridoid and n-alkane patterns in twelve species of Asperula and Galium revealed similarities rather than differences between and within the genera. The ease with which artefacts can be produced from asperuloside limits the taxonomic usefulness of asperuloside-type iridoids. A sub-division of the genus Galium based on the dominant alkanes was not completely in accord with the existing division of the genus into sections. The alkane patterns are largely unaffected by plant age or geographical location. They do support some of the taxonomic views currently held concerning the inter-relationships of different species in the genus Galium.     

Phylogeny ofRubiaceae-Rubieae inferred from the sequence of a cpDNA intergene region

A phylogenetic analysis of 25 species, representing eight genera of theRubieae tribe (Rubiaceae), has been made using the DNA sequence of the chloroplastatp B-rbc L intergene region. Six tropical genera from other tribes ofRubiaceae have been used as outgroups. Whatever the method of analysis (distance, parsimony or maximum likelihood), five groups are clearly separated and described as informal clades. Their relative relationships are not clearly resolved by the parsimony analysis, resulting in eight equally parsimonious trees, 327 steps long, with a consistency index (CI) of 0.749 (excluding uninformative sites). TheRubieae tribe appears monophyletic from the data available. Some new and partly unexpected phylogenetic relationships are suggested. The genusRubia forms a separate clade and appears to be the relatively advanced sister group of the remaining taxa. TheSherardia clade also includes the generaCrucianella andPhuopsis. Galium sect.Aparinoides appears closely attached to theAsperula sect.Glabella clade. The remaining taxa ofGalium are paraphyletic:Galium sect.Platygalium (in theCruciata clade) is linked to the advanced generaCruciata andValantia; the more apomorphic groups ofGalium form theGalium sect.Galium clade, including the perennial sectionsGalium, Leiogalium, andLeptogalium as well as the annual (and possibly polyphyletic) sect.Kolgyda.     

Three new species of galium (rubiaceae) from Baja California

The species described as new are apparently narrow endemics, all belonging to that section ofGalium having fruits with long straight specialized hairs.Galium wigginsii andG. moranii are of the widespreadG. wrightii-G. parishii complex, whereasG. carterae is most like the rarely collectedG. oresbium Greenman of northeastern Mexico.     

Four powdery mildew species with catenate conidia infect Galium: molecular and morphological evidence

The Erysiphaceae are a group of obligately biotrophic fungi that cause powdery mildew disease of angiosperms. Due to their inability to be cultured on artificial media, the taxonomy of the Erysiphaceae has generally been based on the morphological characteristics of fresh and herbarium specimens. Thus, several morphological species with wide host ranges have long been maintained in this family, even though they clearly consist of several biological species. Erysiphe galii has been known as a powdery mildew of Galium spp. Recently, the former E. galii var. galii has been reassessed as Neoerysiphe galii and E. galii var. riedliana as Golovinomyces riedlianus, along with a taxonomic revision of the generic concept of the Erysiphaceae. The present study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the taxonomic revision of the two varieties of E. galii. During the course of this study, we found that the Galium powdery mildews consist of at least four different species, viz. Neoerysiphe galii, Golovinomyces orontii, G. riedlianus, and an unknown species collected in Argentina. The latter species is described as a new species, Golovinomyces calceolariae. The three species belonging to Golovinomyces are morphologically very similar to each other, i.e. the discrimination between them is rather difficult. The morphological differences of the three Golovinomyces species of Galium are discussed.     

Revision and affinities ofGalium (Rubiaceae) in Madagascar

The only representatives ofRubiaceae-Rubieae in Madagascar are five species ofGalium. G. thunbergianum andG. chloroionanthum are essentially afromontane species, ± widely distributed in both the African mainland and Madagascar. The new speciesG. andringitrense andG. ankaratrense are endemic to Madagascar but show close affinities to two afromontane—afroalpine groups from the African mainland, theG. simense—G. ruwenzoriense andG. glaciale complex respectively.G. polyacanthum (new combination) exhibits certain primitive morphological traits and appears to be an old Madagascan endemic without close allies. New chromosome counts for populations from the African mainland demonstrate thatG. chloroionanthum andG. simense are 4x (x=11). Distribution patterns and origins of theGalium species in Madagascar and their relationships with African taxa are discussed.     

New taxa ofRubiaceae-Rubieae from Iran

Asperula sect.Oppositifoliae is validated. 2 new species ofAsperula and 7 new species and 1 variety ofGalium from Iran are described, discussed in respect to their affinities and illustrated. 2 subspecies are raised to species rank.     

Biosynthesis of iridoid glucosides in Galium mollugo,G. spurium var. Echinospermon and Deutzia crenata. Intermediacy of deoxyloganic acid,loganin and iridodial glucoside

Administration of ²H-labelled compounds to Galium mollugo, G. spurium var. echinospermon and Deutzia crenata established that deoxyloganic acid is a precursor of asperuloside, geniposidic acid and secogalioside in G. mollugo as well as asperuloside in G. spurium, while iridodial glucoside is a precursor of deutzioside in D. crenata. Additionally, the intermediacy of loganic acid in the biosynthesis of the iridoid and secoiridoid glucosides in the Galium plants was reconfirmed.     

Three new species ofGalium (Rubiaceae) from Pakistan

Three new species ofGalium from the NW. Himalaya in Pakistan are described and illustrated.Dedicated to Prof.K. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Additional new taxa ofRubiaceae for the Flora of Turkey

A new species ofCruciata and a new subspecies ofGalium are described and discussed with regard to their affinities. Two new combinations are required for geographical races ofRubia tenuifolia. Galium lovcense Urum. has priority overG. protopycnotrichum Ehrend. & Krendl.     

Further taxonomic notes onRubiaceae in Europe

Several new names and combinations of EuropeanRubiaceae, i.e.Galium andCruciata, are proposed. The nomenclatorial interpretation ofGalium saxatile L. (=G. harcynicum Weigel) andG. megalospermum All. (=G. helveticum Weigel) is clarified. Among important publications from the year 1806Willdenow, Sp. Pl.4(2) has priority overSibthorp etSmith, Prodr. Fl. Graec.1 (part 1).     

Phylogenetic relationships of Dysaphis pyri (Boyer de Fonscolombe) and Dysaphis reaumuri (Mordvilko) (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae): COI and EF-1α evidence

Dysaphis (Pomaphis) pyri (Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1841) and Dysaphis (Pomaphis) reaumuri (Mordvilko, 1928) are two holocyclic aphid species alternating between Pyrus (Rosaceae) and Galium (Rubiaceae). Comparative phylogenetic analysis was performed using partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1??) sequences. Partial COI data indicate the possibility of the early divergence in the D. pyri?CD. reaumuri stem, which might have occurred even before the splitting of the common ancestral species of the D. reaumuri?CD. plantaginea complex. Such a conclusion seems to be compatible with the available data on host specificity, life cycles and distribution of both species. This introductory phylogenetic analysis based on partial COI and EF-1?? sequences indicates the need for reconsideration of the subgeneric structure in the genus Dysaphis.     

Biosynthesis of Anthraquinone by Cells of Galium mollugo L. Grown in a Chemostat with Limiting Sucrose or Phosphate

Growth and anthraquinone biosynthesis by Galium cells were examinedin steady-state substrate-limited conditions using a chemostatcontinuous culture technique. Steady-state growth was obtainedin both sucrose- and phosphate-limiting conditions for periodsup to 60 d. In sucrose-limiting conditions three growth rateswere investigated with doubling times (t_d) of 25 h, 35 h and40 h, and phosphate-limited growth was obtained at t_d= 35 h.The kinetics of the growth response to a change in limitingsubstrate concentration in sucrose-limiting conditions was examinedand found to follow closely that predicted by the applicationof Monod's (1950) model obtained for micro-organisms. The anthraquinone content of cells grown in phosphate and sucroselimitation was uniformly similar and at a relatively low level(0.68 mg g^–1 dry wt.). When the substrate limitation wasrelieved by the addition of the limiting substrate, either phosphate,or sucrose, anthraquinone synthesis was markedly stimulated.The addition of the anthraquinone precursor, orthosuccinyl benzoicacid (OSB) greatly enhanced anthraquinone synthesis in phosphate-limitingconditions but not in sucrose-limited cells. The results show that growth limitation by phosphate and bysucrose causes a suppression of the rate of synthesis of thesecondary metabolite anthraquinone in Galium cells and suggeststhat the metabolic point of suppression is different in eachcase. Key words: Anthraquinone biosynthesis, Galium, Continuous culture, recursor feeding     

Can vegetation provide indications of ancient lake shorelines after more than one hundred years? A case study of Iskander-kul Lake,Tajikistan

Bioindication is a common approach to assess and evaluate environmental changes over both short or long periods of time. Here we attempt to highlight that vegetation can provide indications of the palaeoshoreline of Lake Iskander-kul, even after at least 150 years. It is an example of a dammed lake that was created by a huge mass rockfall as a result of a strong earthquake during the late Pleistocene. Applying the two way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) we found that the shrubby vegetation is the particular one that can still effectively thrive along the palaeoshoreline despite the lake downlift. Using the phi coefficient as a fidelity measure for certain vegetation type, we found, that Juniperus seravschanica, Lonicera seravschanica, Berberis integerrima, Seseli lehmannianum, Astragalus kabadianus and Ephedra intermedia have the highest indicator value for palaeoshoreline. Apart from the ancient palaeoshoreline, on the screes and slopes surrounding the lake, significantly different vegetation types developed on the screes and slopes dominated by steppe (Hyssopus servaschanica, Galium turkestanicum, Festuca valesiaca) and scree (Ferula foetidissima, Stipa drobovii or Ferula kuhistanica) vegetation types. Using the multivariate analysis (CCA) we show that the slope inclination and distance from the palaeoshorelines has considerable influence on species composition within the study plots.     

Splitting Asperula (Rubiaceae): a proposal for consistency purposes within sections Cynanchicae,Thliphthisa and Hexaphylla

Abstract

Authors report 139 new nomenclatural combinations in the sections Cynanchicae, Thliphthisa and Hexaphylla of the genus Asperula L. (Rubiaceae). These changes were deemed necessary as a consequence of numerous molecular phylogenetic studies which have provided abundant evidence on the polyphyletic nature of the genus. As the complete species-level phylogeny of the tribe Rubieae, and especially, of the genus Galium L. is not available as yet, the authors preferred to instigate changes only in the sections of Asperula whose phylogenetic position is deemed stable.     

Discriminant analysis some east Tennessee forest herb niches

Niche differences in four species of Galium were quantified by using discriminant function analysis (DFA) of site characteristics including biotic variables. Data were analyzed separately for a mesic hardwood site and cedar barrens. Significant differences in niche centroids were also determined for 17 co-occurring herbs in the mesic hardwood site using similar variables. Variables used in the analysis included site characteristics such as aspect and percent slope, biotic variables such as total woody basal area and litter composition, and soil characteristics (for the seventeen species) including pH and texture. Biotic variables were included as indicators of environmental variables and possible allelopathic influence.In the Galium data, variables highly correlated with discriminant axes included canopy density, litter type, and overstory type. In the co-occurring species data, litter composition, slope position, soil pH and texture, and steepness of slope were most correlated with discriminant axes. Discriminant axes derived from the Galium cedar barren data set proved a poor predictor of species occurrence in the mesic hardwood site.The utility of DFA in plant niche analysis is discussed.Nomenclature follows: Fernald, M. L., 1950. Gray's manual of botany. American Book Co., Atlanta, Georgia, USA.Research sponsored by the Office of Health and Environmental Research, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract W-7405-eng-26 with Union Carbide Corporation. Publication No. 2031, Environmental Sciences Division, ORNL. We would like to thank Lynn Tharp for assistance with computer problems, and Drs. Mac Post and Bob O'Neill for many useful comments. We are grateful to Tom Kitchings for providing overstory data.     

Differential weed seed removal in dryland cereals

Weeds persist in rain-fed cereal fields in NE Spain, despite intense herbicide use and high seed removal rates by granivorous harvester ants. Herbicide resistance is involved, but certain weed species also appear to escape seed removal by granivores. To identify the mechanisms involved, we measured seed removal rates (three fields in 2010) and the timing of seed shed (one field in 2009 and three fields in 2010) and used an existing model, which integrates short-term rates of seed shed, burial and removal, to estimate long-term seed removal rates. Averaged over years, fields and weed species, the long-term seed removal rate was estimated at 72?% (range 46?C100?%). Fifteen to 25?% of the seeds of Bromus diandrus avoided removal by being less attractive (low removal rates), and another 0?C29?% escaped through crop harvest, which made seeds inaccessible to granivores. Similarly, 20?C32?% of the Papaver rhoeas seeds escaped through crop harvest, while another 13?C17?% escaped by burial into the soil (small seed size). Other species, such as Galium spurium or Diplotaxis erucoides, had no means of avoiding seed removal by harvester ants. In particular, the more troublesome weeds, such as B. diandrus, P. rhoeas and L.?rigidum, combined herbicide resistance or tolerance with avoidance mechanisms against granivory.     

Uptake and Accumulation of {alpha}-Naphthalene Acetic Acid by Cell Suspensions of Galium mollugo L.

Fidgeon, C. and Wilson, G. 1988. Uptake and accumulation ofa-naphthalene acetic acid by cell suspensions of Galium mollugoL.—J. exp. Bot. 39: 241-249. Galium mollugo cell suspensions require -NAA for continued growthand cell division. The kinetics of -NAA uptake from the medium(B₅) by Galium cells was assessed using 1-¹⁴C -NAA in a standardratio of cells to medium (0.25 g: 2.5 cm³). It was found thatthe uptake of -NAA was rapid, over 90% being taken up within4 h. Cells which had accumulated -NAA for 4 h or more did notrelease it back into the medium. It was found that Galium cellsaccumulated -NAA against a significant concentration gradient;suggesting the participation of an active component in the uptakemechanism. The effect of free-space and surface adsorption onthe uptake of -NAA was determined by means of a repeated washtechnique. These two factors were found to be of importanceonly during the first hour of uptake. Neither dead cells norplasmolysed cells absorbed -NAA. It is clear that, in the normal growth cycle, Galium cells cantake up the available -NAA within 3 or 4 h of inoculation andthat this can stimulate a cell division response of 3-4 generationsover the subsequent 14 d. Key words: Galium, cell suspension, -naphthalene acetic acid     

New records,synonyms and combinations for oriental Sarcophagidae (Diptera), with updated checklists for Cambodia,India, Taiwan,Thailand and Vietnam

Faunistic records of 29 flesh fly species are presented, and the following new country-level records are provided: 12 species (Senotainia albifrons, Eremasiomyia macularis, Asceloctella calicifera, Pseudothyrsocnema caudagalli, Liosarcophaga dux, L. kohla, L. scopariiformis, L. tuberosa, Parasarcophaga misera, Sarcosolomonia harinasutai, S. shinonagai, Seniorwhitea princeps) new to Cambodia, one species (S. shinonagai) new to India, one species (Brachicoma devia) new to Taiwan, two species (Myorhina thinhi, L. tuberosa) new to Thailand, and two species (E. macularis, P. caudagalli) new to Vietnam. Based on critical revision of all published records and on new data presented herein, 215 species of Sarcophagidae are listed from Cambodia (16 species), India (138), Taiwan (63), Thailand (98) and Vietnam (49). One new subjective generic synonym is proposed: Shinonagaella Verves, 1997 = Lehisca Kurahashi and Tan, 2012, syn. nov. Altogether, total of 21 new subjective synonyms and 16 new combinations are proposed.     

The genus Omalus Panzer, 1801 (Hymenoptera,Chrysididae) from China,with descriptions of four new species

The Chinese species of the genus Omalus Panzer, 1801 are revised and keyed for the first time. Eight species are recorded, of which four are new to science and one is new to China: Omalus aeneus (Fabricius, 1787), Omalus berezovskii (Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1932), Omalus potanini (Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1932), Omalus imbecillus (Mocsáry, 1889) (new to China), Omalus helanshanus sp. n., Omalus probiaccinctus sp. n., Omalus pseudoimbecillus sp. n., and Omalus tibetanus sp. n.