Resistance to groundnut rosette disease in wild Arachis species

One hundred and sixteen accessions representing 28 species in the genus Arachis were evaluated for resistance to groundnut rosette disease using an infector row technique during the 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99 and 1999/2000 growing seasons at Chitedze, Malawi. Of these, a total of 25 accessions belonging to Arachis diogoi (1 accession), A. hoehnei (2), A. kretschmeri (2), A. cardenasii (2), A. villosa (1), A. pintoi (5), A. kuhlmannii (2), A. appressipila (3), A. stenosperma (5), A. decora (1), and A. triseminata (1) showed resistance to the groundnut rosette disease. No visible disease symptoms were observed in several accessions belonging to A. appressipila, A. cardenasii, A. hoehnei, A. kretschmeri, A. villosa, A. pintoi, A. kuhlmannii, and A. stenosperma. Some accessions in A. appressipila, A. diogoi, A. stenosperma, A. decora, A. triseminata, A. kretschmeri, A. kuhlmannii, and A. pintoi were resistant to all three components of rosette, Groundnut rosette ass is tor virus (GRAV), Groundnut rosette virus (GRV) and its satellite RNA (sat. RNA). Two accessions in A. stenosperma and one accession in A. kuhlmannii showed the presence of all three components of the rosette disease. Several wild Arachis accessions were resistant to GRAV. All the accessions of A. batizocoi (4), A. benensis (2), A. duranensis (46), A. dardani (1), A. ipaensis (1), A. magna (1), A. monticola (3), A. oteroi (1), A. pusilla (4), and A. valida (2) were susceptible to rosette disease. In all these accessions, infected plants were chlorotic and severely stunted. The value of exploitation of the resistance in wild Arachis species in rosette resistance breeding programmes is discussed.     

Phylogenetic relationships in Alisma (Alismataceae) based on RAPDs, and sequence data from ITS and trnL

The phylogeny of Alisma (Alismataceae), a genus of approximately nine species of aquatic plants mainly distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, was reconstructed with parsimony analysis on RAPD data and sequences of the nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnL regions, and with MDS on RAPD data. Separate analyses were performed on each data set. Butomus umbellatus was used as outgroup in the analysis of sequence data, and Luronium and Baldellia in the analyses of RAPD data. Among diploid Alisma, two major groups were found: (i) the gramineum group consisting of A. gramineum and A. wahlenbergii, and (ii) the plantago-aquatica group with A. plantago-aquatica, A. orientale, A. subcordatum, A. juzepczukii and A. ``bottnicum'. Taxa within the groups were poorly separated. The Baltic endemics A. wahlenbergii, A. juzepczukii and A. ``bottnicum' have probably originated relatively recently from local populations of A. gramineum (i.e. A. wahlenbergii) and A. plantago-aquatica (i.e. A. juzepczukii and A. ``bottnicum'). The exact origin of the polyploid taxa, i.e. A. lanceolatum, A. triviale, A. canaliculatum and A. rariflorum, is still unclear.     

基于ITS序列的中国外来苋属植物系统关系分析

通过ITS序列对21种中国外来苋属植物进行系统进化关系研究。通过ITS序列种间、种内遗传距离分析,发现苋属种间变异为0~0.055 1,种内变异为0~0.009 2。使用TAXON DNA软件分析ITS序列种间、种内变异的分布图看出规律,结果表明苋属ITS序列的种间变异适中,种间变异明显大于种内变异。采用最大似然法(ML)构建的系统树将中国苋属分为5或6个进化支(根据自展支持率取值不同)。异株苋亚属长芒苋和苋亚属刺苋聚类在一起,西部苋和糙果苋单独成为一个进化支。苋亚属中苋组苋亚组反枝苋和绿穗苋亚组鲍氏苋有着更近的亲缘关系,苋组苋亚组尾穗苋和绿穗苋亚组绿穗苋、繁穗苋等亲缘关系更近。白苋亚属分为2或3个类群,根据自展支持率取值不同,合被苋可以和白苋、北美苋并为一支,也可以单独成为一支。综上所述,该文认为苋属经典分类体系中3亚属或2~3组的分类地位不成立,建议中国苋属采取5组2亚组或6组2亚组的分类体系。5组2亚组分别由长芒苋组、糙果苋组、苋组(苋亚组和绿穗苋亚组)、白苋组和凹头苋组组成。其中,合被苋也可从白苋组分出,单独构成1组,形成6组2亚组的分类体系。表明该序列对苋属大部分种类分类效果较好,对西部苋和糙果苋复合群,绿穗苋复合群以及白苋亚属的分类价值不高。     

New species and new records of the subgenus Amiota s. str. Loew (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from North America,East Asia and Oceania

Fifteen known and five new species of the subgenus Amiota (s. str.) from North America, East Asia and Oceania were surveyed and described: A. leucostoma Loew, A. minor (Malloch), A. subtusradiata quadrata Takada & Toda and A. communis Chen & Steyskal, n. sp. from North America; A. aquilotaurinternatta Takada et a/., A. delta Takada et al., A. dentata Okada, A. elongata Okada, A. flagellata Okada, A. kamui Chen & Toda, A. palpitera Okada, A. spinata Chen & Toda, A. subturcata Okada, A. angulisternita Chen & Liu, n. sp. and A. kitamura Chen & Liu, n. sp. from Liaoning and Taiwan, China; biturcata Chen, n. sp. and A. vulnerabla Chen & Zhang, n. sp. each from Hokkaido and Kyushu, Japan, A. sinuata Okada, A. kimurai Chen & Toda and A. nagatai Okada from Papua New Guinea.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS OF NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF ANTENNARIA GAERTNER (ASTERACEAE: INULEAE)

Chromosome numbers are presented for 99 populations of 13 species of Antennaria, including A. plantaginifolia, A. neglecta, A. virginica, A. solitaria, A. racemosa, A. corymbosa. A. rosea, A. media, A. Parlinii, A. fallax, A. neodioica, A. canadensis, and A. petaloidea. Four species from the eastern United States (A. plantaginifolia, A. neglecta, A. solitaria, and A. virginica) were determined as diploid (n = 14), and these are all sexual. Diploid counts were also obtained for two sexual species (A. racemosa and A. corymbosa) from the western United States. Chromosome counts are presented for two heteroploid agamic complexes occurring in the eastern United States; these include what have traditionally been referred to as A. Parlinii, A. fallax, A. neodioica, A. canadensis, and A. petaloidea. Determinations of 2n = 56, 70, 84, and 112 were obtained for the A. Parlinii and A. fallax groups, where 2n = 84 had been the only number previously reported. Numbers of 2n = 84 were confirmed for A. petaloidea and A. canadensis and 2n = 56 for A. neodioica. The western United States polyploid species (A. rosea and A. media) are reported as 2n = 56. The presence of apomixis is correlated with polyploidy. The distribution of chromosome numbers in eastern United States Antennaria demonstrates that two diploids and many polyploids occur above the glacial margin, and thus there is an increase in the frequency of polyploidy with latitude. Colonization of the glaciated region by Antennaria following the recession of the Wisconsin ice sheet is also discussed. Many of the polyploids occur only in the glaciated region, thus suggesting a recent origin for these cytotypes. There is evidence indicating that the original base number in Antennaria may be x = 7.     

土壤水分及其垂直分布对内蒙古草原冰草和冷蒿竞争的影响

内蒙古退化冷蒿草原围封恢复演替3-4年,植物群落更替出现半灌木冷蒿（Artemisia frigida）向禾草冰草（Agropyron cristatum）群落突然转变的现象,这对内蒙古草原植被恢复具有积极的作用,但目前关于冰草-冷蒿演替和竞争机制的研究鲜见报道。水分作为草原植被生长的主要限制因子,是影响群落演替的重要因素。气候干旱和过度放牧导致草原土壤水分垂直分布发生明显变化。由于冰草和冷蒿的根系分布深浅不同,土壤水分垂直变化可能会影响冰草-冷蒿的竞争。为探讨土壤水分及其垂直分布对冰草和冷蒿竞争的影响,本盆栽试验设置冰草、冷蒿单种以及混种处理,并进行不同土壤深度（0-30cm,30-60cm）的水分处理（上干下湿、上湿下干、上干下干）,结果表明：（1）与冷蒿相比,冰草受土壤水分变化影响显著,相对于上干下干处理,冰草在湿润（上干下湿或者上湿下干）处理的地上、地下生物量均显著增加,而冷蒿没有显著变化;（2）上干下湿和上湿下干处理间,冰草、冷蒿的地上、地下总生物量和根长差异均不显著;（3）不同水分处理,冰草和冷蒿的根系均可分布在30-60cm土壤中,且土壤30-60cm层冰草单种的根生物量和根长显著高于冷蒿单种;（4）相对竞争强度和竞争攻击力系数表明：湿润处理冰草的竞争力大于冷蒿;上干下干处理冷蒿的竞争力大于冰草。土壤水分变化引起冰草、冷蒿的明显竞争,上湿下干与上干下湿处理间冰草与冷蒿竞争力差异不显著。由于冰草和冷蒿均为多年生物种,冰草-冷蒿的竞争实验仍需在今后的研究中反复地验证。     

Air-borne fungi in the air of Barcelona (Spain). III. The genus Aspergillus link

During a survey on the presence of species of the genusAspergillus in the air of the city of Barcelona (Spain), the following species were identified:Aspergillus flavus Link,A. niger van Tieghem,A. fumigatus Fresenius,A. clavatus Desmazières,A. terreus Thorn,A. chevalieri (Mang.) Thomet Church,A. niveus Bloch, emend. Thomet Church,A. ochraceus Wilhelm,A. versicolor (Vuillemin) Tiraboschi, andA. amstelodami (Mang.) Churchet Thom.     

Evolution and improvement of cultivated amaranths

Summary This group of amaranths was studied using four domesticated species (A. hypochondriacus, A. cruentus, A. caudatus, A. caudatus var. atropurpureus and A. edulis), two ancestral weedy species (A. hybridus, A. powellii) and eight hybrids, namely A. edulis A. hypochondriacus, A. edulis X A. caudatus, A. edulis X A. caudatus var. atropurpureus, A. caudatus X A. hybridus, A. edulis X A. hybridus, A. caudatus X A. hypochondriacus, A. hybridus X A. hypochondriacus and A. powellii X A. hypochondriacus.The parents have perfectly normal meiosis and pollen and seed fertility. Except for A. powellii and A. cruentus (n = 17), the species have n = 16. However, the hybrids may be divided into three groups. The first group contains A. edulis X A. cruentus, involving parents with n = 16 and 17, which failed totally, although, under the same conditions, crosses between A. powellii (x = 17) and A hypochondriacus (n = 16) and those between species with n = 16 succeeded with ease. The second group is made up of A. edulis X A. hypochondriacus, A. caudatus X A. hypochondriacus, A. caudatus X A. hybridus, A. edulis X A. hybridus and probably also A. powellii X A. hypochondriacus. Of these, the two combinations, A. caudatus X A. hybridus and A. edulis X A. hybridus, did not proceed beyond the two-leaf stage. At pachytene, the other hybrids showed unmistakable evidence of structural hybridity, with deletions, long or short differentiated segments and inversions. Although bivalents were formed, they possessed a chiasma frequency lower than that of either parent. There was total pollen and seed sterility.The third group comprises A. edulis X A. caudatus, A. edulis X A. caudatus var. atropurpureus and A. hybridus X A. hypochondriacus, which did not show serious developmental defects, the F₁ being vigorous, with good meiotic pairing associated with a reasonable amount of differentiation in the chromosomes leading to 25– 55% fertile pollen and 49 to 66% threshable seed. In the F₂ there were 11–18% unthrifty plants, which disturb the ratios of gene combinations controlling the different characters in the two parents. Plants very near one or both parental phenotypes were recovered, and also those showing different degrees of recombination of characters. Amphidiploids from the F₁ hybrids showed the typical autoploid or segmental alloploid type of meiosis indicating that the parental chromosomes are quite homologous.In view of the present experimental evidence and possible parallel mutations in different grains and weed amaranths, it is not certain whether the cases of natural hybridization and, in particular, of introgression can be taken as evidence for or against the two hypotheses proposed by Sauer (1967) on the basis of his brilliant ecogeographical, morphological, ethnobotanical and archaeological studies of this group of amaranths.The only point that can be stated categorically is that A. caudatus has given rise to A. edulis. The dominance of the characters of A. caudatus over those of A. edulis strengthens such a view, but the latter is sufficiently differentiated morphologically and genetically to deserve independent status. A. caudatus var. atropurpureus is a fertile but unstabilized hybrid segregate between A. caudatus and A. edulis. This is borne out by its morphological, cytogenetic and breeding behaviour, and its hybrids with A. edulis, and, above all, by the recovery of plants identical with this variety from the F₂ progeny of A. edulis X A. caudatus.Whatever the origin of grain types, at present they exist only in cultivation and appear to have a long history, having been selected for large plant body, huge compound inflorescences, large number of female flowers per glomerule, small and soft bracts and pale coloured seed in a dehiscent utricle. At the same time, there has also been inadvertent selection for higher and correctly balanced amounts of protein, carbohydrate and fat.     

黄花蒿与其近缘种化学成分的FTIR和GC-MS鉴定与分析

黄花蒿是一种治疗痢疾的特效中药,植物体中含有丰富的精油,但其应用和生产中常有种类混杂现象,严重影响了黄花蒿为原料的药材质量。为实现黄花蒿药材快速鉴定与评价,该研究利用FTIR技术和GCMS分别对黄花蒿及其近缘种叶片原药材及挥发油成分进行了检测和鉴定。结果表明:挥发油以黄花蒿含量最高(1.86%),其次是南牡蒿、茵陈蒿、青蒿、牡蒿和艾蒿。FTIR分析结果表明,黄花蒿及其近缘种一维图谱相似,酰胺类、芳香类以及萜类化合物种类较多且含量丰富;二阶导数图谱中,黄花蒿青蒿素成分振动吸收明显增强,可以明显将黄花蒿与其混淆中区分开。GC-MS分析显示,黄花蒿与其近缘种的挥发油成分中共检测出17个共有峰,28种化学成分,均含有较高樟脑、á-杜松烯、Crocetane、植烷、2,4-二叔丁基苯酚,但不同种间成分含量差异很大,植烷在黄花蒿中含量明显高于其它近缘种,龙脑成分只能在黄花蒿叶片中检测出,然而á-雪松烯在青蒿、南牡蒿、茵陈蒿均较高,而在黄花蒿,艾蒿,牡蒿中含量均较低。最后通过聚类分析探讨了黄花蒿与其近缘种挥发油成分差异性,6种材料明显聚为2类。其中,黄花蒿与牡蒿、艾蒿聚为一类,青蒿与茵陈蒿和南牡蒿聚为一类。该研究结果为黄花蒿药材的真伪鉴别及其药材质量评价提供了快速而有效的分析手段。     

Genomic in situ hybridization inArachis (Fabaceae) identifies the diploid wild progenitors of cultivated (A. hypogaea) and related wild (A. monticola) peanut species

Genomic in situ hybridization offers a powerful tool for investigating genome organisation and evolution of taxa known, or suspected, to be allopolyploids. The question of the diploid progenitors of cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea, 2n=4x=40) has been the subject of numerous studies at cytogenetical, cytochemical, biochemical and molecular levels, but no definitive conclusions have been reached. The biotinylated total genomic DNA from potential diploidArachis species were separately hybridized in situ to root tip chromosomes ofA. hypogaea and wild speciesA. monticola (2n=4x=40) without or mixed with an excess of unlabelled DNA from the species not used as a probe. Among the range of different species combinations used, the strong and uniform signals given by labelledA. ipaensis DNA when hybridized toA. hypogaea andA. monticola in combination with unlabelledA. villosa DNA indicates that overall molecular composition of twenty chromosomes ofA. hypogaea andA. monticola is very similar toA. ipaensis chromosomes. ProbingA. hypogaea andA. monticola chromosomes with labelled genomic DNA fromA. villosa mixed with unlabelled DNA fromA. ipaensis likewise labelled strongly and uniformly the other twenty chromosomes. BarringA. ipaensis, all the diploidArachis species presently investigated had characteristic centromeric bands in the twenty chromosomes within the complement indicating a clear division ofA. ipaensis from other species. InA. hypogaea andA. monticola only twenty chromosomes showed centromeric bands. These results (i) confirm the allopolyploid nature ofA. hypogaea andA. monticola, (ii) strongly support the view that wildA. monticola and cultivatedA. hypogaea are very closely related, and (iii) indicate thatA. villosa andA. ipaensis are the diploid wild progenitors of the tetraploid species studied. The present results also reveal that the nucleolus organizing region (NOR) originating fromA. villosa alone is expressed in the two tetraploid species.     

COMPOSITION OF VOLATILES IN RELATION TO TAXONOMY OF AMERICAN ALLIUMS

The North American species of Allium exclusive of A. schoenoprasum and A. tricoccum of Old World affinity are grouped on the basis of morphological similarity into eight discontinuous species alliances typified by A. acuminatum, A. campanulatum, A. canadense, A. cernuum, A. falcifolium, A. kunthii, A. sanbornii, and A. validum, respectively. Representatives of each of these alliances were compared with respect to volatile constituents responsible for characteristic odors by means of gas chromatography. Results indicate that these volatiles provide evidence of relationship useful in the classification of alliums. Uniformity was found in composition of volatiles in the representatives of the A. canadense, A. cernuum, A. kunthii, and A. sanbornii alliances. Variation was observed in the A. acuminatum, A. campanulatum, and A. falcifolium alliances. A. validum was the only species of its alliance studied. Vapors of A. validum contain mostly n-propyl sulfides (onion-like odor) as does the cultivated A. cepa. Methyl sulfides (cabbage-like odor) predominate in the A. sanbornii alliance. A few species of the A. acuminatum and A. falcifolium alliances contain mainly allyl sulfides (garlic-like odor).     

CHROMOSOME NUMBER DETERMINATIONS IN ASTER L. (COMPOSITAE) WITH COMMENTS ON CYTOGEOGRAPHY,PHYLOGENY AND CHROMOSOME MORPHOLOGY

Chromosome number determinations from 360 individuals of 73 species, varieties and hybrids of Aster (not including Virgulus Raf.) are reported for the first time. Most reports confirm one or more earlier ones for the taxa. Several first counts are included: A. curtisii T. & G., 2n = 32; A. drummondii Lindl. var. drummondii, 2n = 16; A. eulae Shinners, 2n = 48; A. infirmus Michx., 2n = 18; A. lateriflorus (L.) Britt., 2n = 64; A. meritus A. Nels., 2n = 36; A. parviceps (Burg.) Macken. & Bush, 2n = 32; A. pubentior Cronq., 2n = 18; and A. sagittifolius Wedem., 2n = 48. Counts of 2n = 18 for A. avitus Alex. and A. hemisphaericus Alex. and 2n = 36 for A. paludosus Ait. provide additional evidence that the base number of A. sect. Heleastrum is x = 9, not x = 5. Counts of 2n = 32 and 2n = 48 for A. curtisii support its placement with other x = 8 species in sect. Foliacei, but not with x = 9 species in sect. Spectabiles. The geographic distributions of cytotypes support the taxonomic delimitations A. puniceus L. and A. praealtus Poir. Diploids were found throughout the range of A. puniceus, but tetraploids were rare and found only in the southwestern portion of the range; ploidy level did not correlate with morphological variation. In A. praealtus the distribution of tetraploids and octoploids correlated with the allopatric varities praealtus and angustior Wieg. Satellite chromosome morphology was determined in species not studied before. Aster engelmannii, A. glaucodes, A. infirmus, A. modestus, A. oregonensis, A. pauciflorus and A. pubentior had subequal satellites and short arms, the “primitive” type in the genus. Aster meritus, A. radula and A. radulina had the “derived,” subg. Aster type, a very large satellite attached to a very short proximal portion of the short arm.     

Experimental studies of evolution inAnthoxanthum (Gramineae)

Hybridization reveals the close affinity ofAnthoxanthum odoratum and the Mediterranean annualA. ovatum. A. alpinum is genetically somewhat more isolated; occasional sterile hybrids withA. ovatum can be obtained.Morphology reveals an affinity betweenA. odoratum andA. ovatum. There are nodiagnostic characters linkingA. odoratum toA. alpinum.The perennial nature of the generality ofA. odoratum, plus phenotypic flexibility and an ability to behave as an annual in particular habitats, suggest an affinity both toA. alpinum (winter-hardy perennial) andA. ovatum (variable annual or occasional biennial).The artificial allotetraploid based on the sterile hybrid betweenA. alpinum andA. ovatum simulatesA. odoratum, more closely than do either of the diploids.Experimental observations suggest a very reasonable possibility that a similar sequence of events perhaps occurring on several occasions under natural conditions could have given rise to the tetraploid speciesA. odoratum.     

Effect of carbon levels from three organic substrates on egyptian soil fungi

Summary The fungal composition of soils with an equivalent percentage of carbon levels 2%, 5%, 10% and 20% fromOlea europea,, Citrus sinensis andEucalyptus rostrato leaves was studied after 10, 45 and 120 days using the dilution-plate method. They all induced significant increases in the total count of fungi, but their effect on the individual fungi was selective. The best substrate for the total fungus flora wasCitrus sinensis and the poorest wasOlea europeae leaves. The best three colonisers (possessing the highest counts), at carbon levels 2%, 5%, 10% and 20% at the end of the experimental periods were, respectively, as follows: forOlea europeae leaves,Scopulariaopsis brevicaulis, Drechslera halodes andCylindrocarpon sp.;Aspergillus quadrilineatus, A. sydowi andCurvularia lunata; A. quadrilineatus, Alternaria alternata andC. lunata andA. quadrilineatus, A. egyptiacus andA. terreus; forCitrus sinensis leaves,A. quadrilineatus, A. fumigatus andS. brumptii; A. fumigatus, A. quadrilineatus andA. versicolor; A. quadrilineatus, A. terreus andS. brumptii; andA. quadrilineatus, A. flavus andA. sydowi; and forEucalyptus rostrata leaves,A. quadrilineatus, Rhizopus stolonifer andA. sydowi; A. quadrilineatus, A. niger andA. terreus; A. niger, A. quadrilineatus andS. brevicaulis; andA. terreus, A. niger andA. quadrilineatus.     

梵净山冷杉和元宝山冷杉的叶绿体微卫星遗传多样性分析

梵净山冷杉和元宝山冷杉是极度濒危的国家一级重点保护植物.应用叶绿体微卫星标记(cpSSR)研究它们的遗传多样性,并与同属的广布种岷江冷杉的一个种群进行比较.结果表明：3对 cpSSR 引物(Pt63718、Pt30204和Pt71936)在这3种冷杉的249个个体中共检测到21个等位基因,组成35种单倍型;它们的单倍型数和有效单倍型数分别为梵净山冷杉(No＝12,Ne＝3．92),元宝山冷杉(No＝9,Ne＝3．28),两者均低于广布种岷江冷杉(No＝14,Ne＝11．57);梵净山冷杉和元宝山冷杉的稀有单倍型较少,其频率最高的单倍型分别出现在该种群的46．0％和44．1％的个体中;梵净山冷杉(He＝0．75)和元宝山冷杉(He＝0．70)的单倍型多样性也低于岷江冷杉(He＝0．97).梵净山冷杉和元宝山冷杉的叶绿体微卫星遗传多样性水平低.     

Nestmate Recognition Differences between Honeybee Colonies of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Apis cerana</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis>

Nestmate recognition in Apis cerana and Apis mellifera was studied by introducing sealed queen cells heterospecifically between queenless colonies. No A. cerana queens were accepted by queenless A. mellifera; but A. mellifera queens were accepted in queenless A. cerana colonies. A. mellifera queens oviposited in queenless A. cerana colonies, but A. cerana workers removed most eggs. In time, egg removals declined, and some A. mellifera larvae that hatched from these eggs reached adulthood, and eventually about half of the workers were newly emerged A. mellifera. Eventually, the colonies consisted only of A. mellifera after A. cerana workers died by attrition. A. mellifera workers are more sensitive to nestmate recognition and killed the A. cerana virgin queens. In mixed-species colonies, after newly emerged A. mellifera workers matured, they removed eggs laid by the A. cerana queens until there were no workers to replace the old ones.     

Fruit infesting tephritids [Dipt.: Tephritidae] and associated parasitoids in Chiapas,Mexico

A total of 1,302 parasitoids representing 8 species and 4 families were recovered from 9,818 fruit fly host fruits sampled. The most common parasitoid species wasDiachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead). Average percent parasitism ranged between 0.44 and 29.23%. Parasitoid emergence data indicate thatAnastrepha ludens (Loew),A. obliqua (Sein),A. serpentina (Wiedeman),A. striata (Schiner) andToxotrypana curvicauda (Gerstaecker) were subject to parasitism. We provide information on the population fluctuation ofAnastrepha ludens, A. obliqua, A. serpentina, A. distincta (Greene),A. striata, A. fraterculus (Wiedeman),A. chiclayae (Greene),A. montei (Costa Lima),A. leptozona (Hendel) andA. tripunctata (Wulp).Anastrepha ludens andA. obliqua were the most common species, representing 95.3% of all fruit fly species caught in McPhail traps.      

New species of Alaus Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera: Elateridae,Agrypninae, Hemirhipini)

Four new species of Alaus Eschscholtz, 1829 are described: A. cinnamomeus n. sp., A. latlpennls n. sp., A. serlceus n. sp. and A. thoracopunctatus n. sp. Three species removed from Chalcolepldlus Eschscholtz, 1829, are transferred to this genus: A. allcll (Pjatakowa, 1941) n. comb., A. haroldl (Candèze, 1878) n.comb. and A. unlcus (Fleutiaux, 1910) n. comb. The characters of external morphology of these seven species and male and female genitalia, when available, are described and illustrated. An identification key for all species of the genus is included: A. allcll (Pjatakowa, 1941) n. comb., A. calcarlpllosus Casari, 1996, A. cinnamomeus n. sp., A. haroldl (Candèze, 1878) n. comb., A. latlpennls n. sp., A. lusclosus (Hope, 1832), A. melanops Leconte, 1863, A. myops (Fabricius, 1801), A. nobllls Sallé, 1855, A. oculatus (Linnaeus, 1758), A. patrlclus (Candèze, 1857), A. plebejus Candèze, 1874, A. serlceus n. sp., A. thoracopunctatus n. sp., A. tricolor (Olivier, 1790), A. unlcus (Fleutiaux, 1910) n. comb., A. veracruzanus Casari, 1996 and A. zunianus Casey, 1893.     

Rediscovery of Ardisia gigantifolia and the reinstatement of A. kteniophylla (Primulaceae) – finding the correct name for the Chinese medicinal plant ’Zou Ma Tai’

With the rediscovery of Ardisia gigantifolia, the long‐standing confusion with A. pseudoverticillata, A. kteniophylla and A. dasyrhizomatica owing to the misinterpretation of the type of A. gigantifolia is clarified. It is shown that A. dasyrhizomatica is a later synonym of A. gigantifolia, while A. kteniophylla and A. pseudoverticillata are conspecific and represent another species for which A. kteniophylla is the earliest name available. Ardisia kteniophylla is the correct scientific name for the Chinese medicinal plant ’Zou Ma Tai’.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthobothrium</Emphasis> van Beneden, 1850 (Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) from carcharhinid sharks,with a redescription of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthobothrium laciniatum</Emphasis> Linton, 1890

Anthobothrium laciniatum Linton, 1890 is redescribed based on specimens taken from the dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur) collected from the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean, and a neotype is designated. A. laciniatum differs from A. cornucopia van Beneden, 1850, A. altavelae Euzet & Ben Hassine, 2002, A. lesteri Williams, Burt & Caira, 2004 and A. spinosum Subhapradha, 1955 in total length. It further differs from A. cornucopia, A. altavelae and A. spinosum in proglottid number, and differs from A. galeorhini Suriano, 2002, A. cornucopia, and A. spinosum in testis number. A. lyndoni n. sp. is described from the sandbar shark C. plumbeus (Nardo). This new species differs from A. laciniatum in ovarian width and from A. cornucopia, A. altavelae, A. galeorhini and A. spinosum in the total number of proglottids. It further differs from A. cornucopia, A. galeorhini, and A. spinosum in total length, and from A. cornucopia and A. galeorhini in the number of testes. A. lyndoni n. sp. differs from A. lesteri in bothridial muscle and ovarian morphology. Anthobothrium caseyi n. sp. is described from Prionace glauca (Linnaeus). This new species differs conspicuously from the other six species of Anthobothrium van Beneden, 1850 (sensu stricto) in the shape of its proglottid laciniations. The taxonomic status of 43 species that have been associated with Anthobothrium is addressed. Taxonomic actions regarding Anthobothrium during the past century have resulted in a polyphyletic taxon.