Four New Species of the Genus Hemicriconemoides (Nematoda:Criconematidae)

Four new species of the genus Hemicriconemoides (H. californianus n.sp., H. taiwanensis n.sp., H. annulatus n. sp., and H. nitida n.sp.) are described. The range of total length of H. mangiferae is increased on the basis of specimens collected in Israel, Observations on H. mangiferae and H. litchi support the validity of H. litchi as distinct from H. mangiferae.     

A Key and Diagnostic Compendium to the Species of the Genus Hoplolaimus Daday, 1905 (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae)

An identification key to 29 valid species of Hoplolaimus is given. A compendium of the most important diagnostic characters for use in identification of species is included as a practical alternative and supplement to the key. Diagnosis of Hoplolaimus is emended and lists of species of the genus, their synonymies, species inquirendae, nomina nuda, and species transferred to other genera are given. Hoplolaimus sheri, H. chambus, H. casparus, and H. capensis are recognized as valid species.     

Dermatomycoses Caused by Nattrassia Mangiferae in São Paulo,Brazil

Nattrassia mangiferae formerly known as Hendersonula toruloidea,is a phaeoid coelomycete described by Nattrass in 1933. We report five casesof N. mangiferae infections in São Paulo, Brazil. This fungus wasisolated from interdigital lesions on the feet in one patient, toenails in threecases and fingernails in the other one. The infections were initially consideredto be caused by a dermatophyte. Although there are only a few cases describedin the medical literature, the five cases reported suggest that N. mangiferaeshould be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of tinea pedisinfections.     

First evidence of ethylene production by Fusarium mangiferae associated with mango malformation

Malformation is arguably the most crucial disease of mango (Mangifera indica L.) at present. It is receiving great attention not only because of its widespread and destructive nature but also because of its etiology and control is not absolutely understood. Recently, Fusarium mangiferae is found to be associated with mango malformation disease. There are indications that stress ethylene production could be involved in the disease. Here we have shown the first direct evidence of production of ethylene in pure culture of F. mangiferae obtained from mango. The study also revealed that all the isolates dissected from mango acquire morphological features of F. mangiferae showing most similarity to the features of species with accepted standard features. The isolates of F. mangiferae from mango were observed to produce ethylene in significant amounts, ranging from 9.28–13.66 n mol/g dry wt/day. The findings presented here suggest that F. mangiferae could contribute to the malformation of mango by producing ethylene and probably stimulating stress ethylene production in malformed tissue of mango. Ethylene might be produced through 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenase-type ethylene-forming-enzyme (EFE) pathway in Fusarium sp, which needs to be investigated.     

A revision of Habenaria section Macroceratitae (Orchidaceae) in Brazil

Habenaria sect.Macroceratitae from Brazil is revised, and seven species are recognized:H. bractescens, H. gourlieana, H. johannensis, H. longicauda, H. macronectar, H. nabucoi, and the newly describedH. paulistana. A main feature of these species is the presence of long, separated, involute stigmatic processes.Habenaria bractescens, H. gourlieana, H. johannensis, andH. macronectar are distributed mainly from central and southeastern Brazil to southern Brazil and southern South America, whereasH. longicauda andH. nabucoi are distributed mainly from west central, southeastern and northeastern Brazil to northern South America.Habenaria paulistana is restricted to the state of São Paulo.Habenaria bradei, H. juergensii, andH. sartoroides are lectotypified, andH. kleyi is neotypified. The identity ofH. fastor is discussed andH. nabucoi is recognized as the valid name for this species. Seven other species previously placed in sect.Macroceratitae are sufficiently distinct and are removed from the section.     

A new species of Aprostocetus Westwood (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), parasitizing mango leaf gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), from India

A new species of Aprostocetus doonensis Singh sp. nov. is described from northern India. The new species is a parasitoid of mango leaf gall midge, Procontarinia mangiferae (Felt) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Some observations on biology and parasitization rate are also given.     

Taxonomic status of Hoplichthys regani Jordan 1908 (Scorpaeniformes: Hoplichthyidae), with comments on its authorship

Validity of a ghost flathead, Hoplichthys regani Jordan 1908, which has sometimes been regarded as a junior synonym of Hoplichthys gilberti Jordan and Richardson 1908, was evaluated. We conclude that H. regani is a valid species from comparison of specimens of both species, including the name-bearing types. Hoplichthys regani can be distinguished from H. gilberti by the length of the longest free pectoral fin ray and length of each dorsal fin spine in males. We also redescribe H. regani and discuss its authorship, following the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.     

Himantura tutul sp. nov. (Myliobatoidei: Dasyatidae), a new ocellated whipray from the tropical Indo-West Pacific,described from its cytochrome-oxidase I gene sequence

It has been previously established that the Leopard Whipray, Himantura leoparda, consists of two genetically isolated, cryptic species, provisionally designated as ‘Cluster 1’ and ‘Cluster 4’ (Arlyza et al., Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 65 (2013) [1]). Here, we show that the two cryptic species differ by the spotting patterns on the dorsal surface of adults: Cluster-4 individuals tend to have larger-ocellated spots, which also more often have a continuous contour than Cluster-1 individuals. We show that H. leoparda's holotype has the typical larger-ocellated spot pattern, designating Cluster 4 as the actual H. leoparda. The other species (Cluster 1) is described as Himantura tutul sp. nov. on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a 655-base pair fragment of its cytochrome-oxidase I gene (GenBank accession No. JX263335). Nucleotide synapomorphies at this locus clearly distinguish H. tutul sp. nov. from all three other valid species in the H. uarnak species complex, namely H. leoparda, H. uarnak, and H. undulata. H. tutul sp. nov. has a wide distribution in the Indo-West Pacific, from the shores of eastern Africa to the Indo-Malay archipelago. H. leoparda under its new definition has a similarly wide Indo-West Pacific distribution.     

Role of stressed mango host conditions in attraction of and colonization by the mango bark beetle Hypocryphalus mangiferae Stebbing (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and in the symptom development of quick decline of mango trees in Pakistan

The mango sudden death syndrome has become a serious threat to the mango industry and caused significant decline in mango production worldwide. The bark beetle Hypocryphalus mangiferae (Stebbing) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) has been suggested as a potential vector of the disease based primarily on field observations with little or no supporting empirical data. In this study, we investigated the role of infected mango trees in host attraction and colonization by H. mangiferae to determine if beetle attack and colonization contributes to the disease progression on mango trees. Initially, the role of various stress factors on beetle attraction and disease progression was assessed under lathe house conditions from 2008 to 2009. Results suggest that symptomatic or recently inoculated mango trees (without any obvious symptoms) are preferentially colonized by H. mangiferae. Although not significant, high numbers of beetles attacked stressed or wounded mango trees, compared to healthy or dead mango trees. Disease symptoms after beetle colonization, such as bark splitting, wilting and oozing, were further evaluated. These symptoms showed positive correlation with the degree of disease severity and host plant condition. Furthermore, two fungi, Ceratocystis fimbriata and Lasiodiplodia theobromae, were frequently isolated from the beetle and beetle-colonized trees. Based on these findings, they suggests that H. mangiferae can vector multiple fungi associated with mango sudden decline disease and play a significant role in outbreaks of this disease.     

Meroterpenes isolated from the endophytic fungus Guignardia mangiferae

Two new guignardones and one tricycloalternarene derivatives, named guignardone D, E (2–3) and tricycloalternarene F (4), and the known guignardone A (1) were isolated from Guignardia mangiferae, an endophytic fungus from the leaves of Viguiera arenaria (Asteraceae), after fermentation in Czapek medium. Structures were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data, including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HMQC, HMBC and HRESI-MS.     

Characteristics of endophytic fungi from Polygonum hydropiper suggest potential application for P-phytoextraction

Endophytes may play important roles in phytoremediation; however, little information is available on the endophytes of phosphorus (P)-accumulating plants and their potential application in P-phytoextraction. Here, 30 endophytic fungi were isolated from Polygonum hydropiper and classified into 24 taxonomic groups, with 76.7% being Ascomycota and 23.3% being Basidiomycota. Metarhizium anisopliae, Guignardia mangiferae and Phaeophlebiopsis peniophoroides were the dominant species. The Simpson and Shannon diversity indices were higher in shoots than in roots. The isolates had varied plant-growth-promoting traits with all being indole-3-acetic acid positive and only 18 exhibiting siderophore activities. P solubilization capability varied with fungal species and P sources; it correlated negatively with pH but positively with organic acids in a tricalcium phosphate medium. However, in a phytin medium, it did not correlate with pH, but positively with phosphatase activities. Five endophytes were found to have the greatest potential as inoculants to assist P. hydropiper in future P-phytoextraction studies.     

Fusarium Species Associated with Mango Malformation in Peninsular Malaysia

Mango malformation has become the most important global disease on mango. Fusarium species previously associated with this disease include F. mangiferae, F. mexicanum, F. sterilihyphosum, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans and F. tupiense. A few strains of F. proliferatum have been reported from Malaysia, but in this study, we report the results of more extensive sampling. The recovered strains were evaluated with morphology, mating tester strain cross‐fertility, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), and partial DNA sequences of the genes encoding translation elongation factor 1‐α (tef‐1α) and β‐tubulin (tub‐2). Amongst the 43 strains evaluated, three species were identified – F. proliferatum, F. mangiferae and F. subglutinans – with F. proliferatum being the most frequent (69%). None of the Fusarium species that appear to originate in the Americas were recovered in Malaysia, which suggests special measures may be warranted to keep these species from entering the country.     

Screening biological activities of soil-borne Streptomyces sp. against several phytopathogenic fungi

About 70 Streptomyces species, isolated from soils of greenhouses and citrus orchards were evaluated for their antagonistic activity against Verticillium dahliae, Fusarium subglutinans, Fusarium sambucinum, Phoma glomerata and Nattrassia mangiferae. Preliminary screening for antimicrobial activity was determined by dual culture method. The soils of Kerman are rich sources of micro-organisms with potent biological activities, and screening programmes are to be conducted to reveal the presence of active Actinomycetes isolates against phytopathogenic fungi.     

Effect of different eriophyid and tetranychid mango mite species on development,longevity, fecundity and predation of Typhlodromus mangiferus Zaher and El-Brolossy (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Effects on development, longevity, fecundity and predation of the predatory phytoseiid mite Typhlodromus mangiferus Zaher and El-Brolossy were studied in the laboratory at different temperatures and relative humidities using four prey mite species: the motile stages of the eriophyid mango bud mite Aceria mangiferae Sayed, the eriophyid leaf coating and webbing mite Cisaberoptus kenyae Keifer, the eriophyid mango rust mite Metaculus mangiferae (Attiah) and nymphs of the tetranychid mango red mite Oligonychus mangiferus (Rahman and Sabra). The increase of different temperatures and decrease of relative humidities from 25°C and 60% to 30°C and 55% and 35°C and 50% shortened development and increased reproduction and prey consumption. The developmental durations were almost similar when the predator was fed on eriophyids compared to that on tetranychid. The maximum reproduction (2.70, 2.08, 1.97 and 1.66 eggs/ ♀ /day) was recorded at the highest temperature and the lowest relative humidity, while the minimum reproduction (1.7, 1.54, 1.53, and 1.06 eggs/ ♀ /day) was noted at the lowest temperature and highest relative humidity with all mango prey species. Life table parameters indicated that feeding of T. mangiferus on A. mangiferae led to the highest reproduction rate (rm = 0.204 and 0.139 females/female/day), while feeding on O. mangiferus gave the lowest reproduction rate (rm = 0.137 and 0.116) at 35°C and 50% relative humidity and 25°C and 60% relative humidity, respectively. T. mangiferus seems to be a voracious predator of both mango eriophyid and tetranychid mites. The adult female daily consumed about 127 A. mangiferae, 97 C. kenyae, 86 M. mangiferae, and 18 O. mangiferus at 35°C and 50% relative humidity, while it devoured only 99.81, 86, 81, and 15 individuals, respectively at 25°C and 60% relative humidity. The present study revealed that each injurious mite is thought to be profitable prey species to T. mangiferus as a facultative predator.     

中国藓类植物一新记录种——芒果树生藓

报道产自贵州省的中国藓类植物一新记录种———芒果树生藓( Erpodium mangiferae)。树生藓科( Erp-odiaceae)隶属于变齿藓目( Isobryales)木灵藓亚目( Orthotrichinales),该科全世界共有5属24种,主要分布在热带地区。中国报道有3属4种。该科的树生藓属( Erpodium),在我国曾经有过2种的记录,被认为是细鳞藓[Solmsiella biseriata (Austin) Steere.]和钟帽藓[Venturiella sinensis (Vent.) C. Müll.]的异名。2004年熊源新等人在贵州省罗甸县红水河谷采到1号树生藓科标本,最终鉴定为芒果树生藓( E. mangiferae C. Muell.)。此次发现也为树生藓属在中国的新分布记录。至此,我国的树生藓科共有4属5种。该文根据对标本的显微观察提供了详细的形态描述和各部分细节线条图,并对该种的分布状况进行了简要的讨论。根据资料,该种主要分布于印度南部、中部、北部和东北部,该种的发现地“贵州罗甸县红水河谷”从经纬度上看,与此前报道的最北分布地印度阿萨姆邦基本在同一纬度上,仅在经度上相差约10°,距离上相差约1400 km。该种与Erpodium glaziovii的外形相似,但根据雌苞叶与营养叶的尺寸比较,以及叶片细胞中是否存在原始小囊( primordial utri-cle)等可将两者区分开。     

Phylogenetic systematics of the genus Echinococcus (Cestoda: Taeniidae)

Echinococcosis is a serious helminthic zoonosis in humans, livestock and wildlife. The pathogenic organisms are members of the genus Echinococcus (Cestoda: Taeniidae). Life cycles of Echinococcus spp. are consistently dependent on predator–prey association between two obligate mammalian hosts. Carnivores (canids and felids) serve as definitive hosts for adult tapeworms and their herbivore prey (ungulates, rodents and lagomorphs) as intermediate hosts for metacestode larvae. Humans are involved as an accidental host for metacestode infections. The metacestodes develop in various internal organs, particularly in liver and lungs. Each metacestode of Echinococcus spp. has an organotropism and a characteristic form known as an unilocular (cystic), alveolar or polycystic hydatid. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that the type species, Echinococcus granulosus, causing cystic echinococcosis is a cryptic species complex. Therefore, the orthodox taxonomy of Echinococcus established from morphological criteria has been revised from the standpoint of phylogenetic systematics. Nine valid species including newly resurrected taxa are recognised as a result of the revision. This review summarises the recent advances in the phylogenetic systematics of Echinococcus, together with the historical backgrounds and molecular epidemiological aspects of each species. A new phylogenetic tree inferred from the mitochondrial genomes of all valid Echinococcus spp. is also presented. The taxonomic nomenclature for Echinococcus oligarthrus is shown to be incorrect and this name should be replaced with Echinococcus oligarthra.     

Homatula laxiclathra (Teleostei: Balitoridae), a new species of nemacheiline loach from the Yellow River drainage in Shaanxi Province, northern china

Homatula laxiclathra, new species, is here described from the Wei-He of the Yellow River drainage in Shaanxi Province, northern China. It is similar to H. berezowskii, H. longidorsalis, and H. variegata in the shared possession of a shallower body with a uniform depth, a character distinguishing all of them from all other congeners, but differs from these three species in the width of vertical brown bars on the caudal peduncle. This new species, along with H. berezowskii, differs from H. longidorsalis, and H. variegata in head length, caudal-peduncle depth, length of the dorsal adipose creast of the caudal peduncle, body squamation, and intestinal coiling. Homatula laxiclathra and H. berezowskii are further distinct in the caudal-fin shape and interorbital width.     

Genomic Evidence for Speciation with Gene Flow in Broadcast Spawning Marine Invertebrates

How early stages of speciation in free-spawning marine invertebrates proceed is poorly understood. The Western Pacific abalones, Haliotis discus, H. madaka, and H. gigantea, occur in sympatry with shared breeding season and are capable of producing viable F₁ hybrids in spite of being ecologically differentiated. Population genomic analyses revealed that although the three species are genetically distinct, there is evidence for historical and ongoing gene flow among these species. Evidence from demographic modeling suggests that reproductive isolation among the three species started to build in allopatry and has proceeded with gene flow, possibly driven by ecological selection. We identified 27 differentiation islands between the closely related H. discus and H. madaka characterized by high F_ST and d_A, but not high d_XY values, as well as high genetic diversity in one H. madaka population. These genomic signatures suggest differentiation driven by recent ecological divergent selection in presence of gene flow outside of the genomic islands of differentiation. The differentiation islands showed low polymorphism in H. gigantea, and both high F_ST, d_XY, and d_A values between H. discus and H. gigantea, as well as between H. madaka and H. gigantea. Collectively, the Western Pacific abalones appear to occupy the early stages speciation continuum, and the differentiation islands associated with ecological divergence among the abalones do not appear to have acted as barrier loci to gene flow in the younger divergences but appear to do so in older divergences.