Tylenchulus graminis n. sp. and T. palustris n. sp. (Tylenchulidae), from Native Flora of Florida,with Notes on T. semipenetrans and T. furcus

Tylenchulus graminis n. sp. and T. palustris n. sp. are described and illustrated from broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus L.) and pop ash (Fraxinus caroliniana Mill.), respectively. T. graminis resembles T. furcus in having a distinct anus, but T. graminis second-stage juveniles (J2) do not have a bifid tail. T. semipenetrans does not have a perceptible anus. The mature female of T. graminis has a mucronate pointed terminus while T. semipenetrans has a smooth and round terminus. T. graminis males have wider stylet knobs and basal bulb and a longer tail than T. semipenetrans males. T. graminis J2 have a longer posterior body portion (without large fat globules) than T. semipenetrans J2. T. palustris resembles T. semipenetrans in having an undetectable anus but differs by the short and conoid mature female postvulval section. The male of T. palustris has larger stylet knobs and basal bulb than those of T. semipenetrans and a bluntly rounded tail terminus, which is tapered in T. semipenetrans. T. palustris differs from T. furcus and T. graminis in having an undetectable anus, by the conoid postvulval section of mature females, by the shorter and rounded tail of males, and the shorter J2 posterior body section without large fat globules. T. graminis and T. palustris are parasites of indigenous flora of Florida.     

Taxonomic revision of European Apium L. s.l.: Helosciadium W.D.J.Koch restored

European representatives of Apium sensu lato (Apiaceae), and Apium prostratum and Naufraga balearica, were studied with morphological, fruit anatomical, and palynological methods. Morphometric data were compared with phylogenetic results from previous molecular studies. This confirms that most of the European Apium species belong to a separate group corresponding to the previously named genus Helosciadium. All these species had previously been formally named as Helosciadium species, except for the new combination Helosciadium bermejoi, which is formally described here. Molecular studies place Apium prostratum and Naufraga balearica close to Apium graveolens, the type species of Apium. Our morphometric results show similarities of Naufraga with H. bermejoi, but fruit anatomy distinguishes it both from Helosciadium and from A. graveolens/prostratum. The placement of Cyclospermum leptophyllum in a separate genus is confirmed. Diagnostic keys to the genera and Helosciadium species, and an annotated checklist are given.     

Species composition and toxicity of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia in Taiwan Strait,including P. chiniana sp. nov. and P. qiana sp. nov.

In a field survey in the Taiwan Strait during April 2016, the species composition and the domoic acid production of the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia were investigated. A total of 80 strains of Pseudo-nitzschia were established, and species identification was determined based on a combination of morphological and molecular data. Fourteen taxa were recognized, i.e., P. americana, P. brasiliana, P. calliantha, P. cuspidata, P. galaxiae, P. lundholmiae, P. multiseries, P. multistriata, P. pseudodelicatissima, P. pungens var. aveirensis, P. pungenus var. pungens and P. sabit, as well as two novel species P. chiniana C.X. Huang & Yang Li and P. qiana C.X. Huang & Yang Li. Morphologically, P. chiniana is characterized by striae comprising one or two rows of poroids, and valve ends that are normally dominated by two rows of poroids within each stria. Whereas P. qiana is unique by having a narrow valve width (1.3–1.5 μm) and sharply pointed valve ends. Both taxa constitute their own monophyletic lineage in the phylogenetic analyses inferred from LSU and ITS2 rDNA, and are well differentiated from other Pseudo-nitzschia species. Pseudo-nitzschia chiniana forms a group with P. abrensis and P. batesiana in LSU and ITS trees, whereas P. qiana is sister to P. lineola. When comparing ITS2 secondary structure, five CBCs and seven HCBCs are recognized between P. chiniana and P. abrensis, and four CBCs and ten HCBCs between P. chiniana and P. batesiana. Two CBCs and eight HCBCs are found between P. qiana with P. lineola. The ability of the strains to produce domoic acid was assessed, including a potential toxin induction by the presence of brine shrimps. Results revealed production of domoic acid in six strains belonging to three species. Without presence of brine shrimps, cellular DA (pDA) was detected in four P. multiseries strains (1.6 ± 0.3, 26.6 ± 2.7, 68.3 ± 4.2 and 56.9 ± 4.7 fg cell⁻¹, separately), one strain of P. pseudodelicatissima (0.8 ± 0.2 fg cell⁻¹) and one strain of P. lundholmiae (2.5 ± 0.4 fg cell⁻¹). In the presence of brine shrimps, pDA contents increased significantly (p < 0.05) in P. lundholmiae (strain MC4218) and P. multiseries (strain MC4177), from 2.5 ± 0.4 to 8.9 ± 0.7 and 1.6 ± 0.3 to 37.2 ± 2.5 fg cell⁻¹ respectively.     

Novelties in the Corticiales: Vuilleminia nilsii sp. nov. and Dendrominia gen. nov. (Basidiomycota)

Vuilleminia nilsii sp. nov. is described based on collections made in Argelès-sur-Mer communal forest, France. It is characterized by a resupinate, smooth, whitish, decorticating basidiocarp, cylindrical cystidia, heavily crystallized matrix, and guttulate, allantoid spores. It can be distinguished from V. coryli by basidiospore size, substrate preferences, abundance of dendrohyphidia, and crystal in the context. Phylogenetic analyses place Vuilleminia ericae, Dendrothele dryina (= V. dryina) and Dendrothele maculata in a distinct, well-defined clade. The new genus Dendrominia is proposed for this clade. The new combinations Dendrominia dryina, D. ericae, and D. maculata are proposed. Dendrothele corticola is regarded as a synonym of D. maculata. A lectotype is selected for V. macrospora. An updated key to the genus Vuilleminia and a key to Dendrominia species are provided.     

Morphogenesis of the tail of bacteriophage lambda. III. Morphogenetic pathway.

Precursors of the tail of bacteriophage λ have been detected by measurements of in vitro complementation activities and serum blocking activity in sucrose gradients of lysates defective in tail genes.On the basis of these measurements, a pathway for the assembly of the λ tail is proposed:The morphogenesis of the λ tail starts from the tail fiber (product of gene J) located at the distal end of the tail, and proceeds to the proximal end. Gene J by itself produces a 15 S structure with serum blocking activity but without any detectable in vitro complementation activity, which may be the least advanced precursor of the λ tail or an abortive product. Functions of genes J, I, K, L are required for the formation of a 15 S precursor that has in vitro complementation activities with J⁻, I⁻, K⁻ and L⁻ lysates and serum blocking activity. If the products of genes G and H act on the latter 15 S precursor, a 25 S precursor is made, but this precursor seems either to be in equilibrium with the 15 S precursor or to degrade easily into the 15 S precursor. Gene M has a function of stabilizing the 25 S precursor. After the action of gene M product, the 25 S precursor is ready to serve as a nucleus on which the product of gene V (the major tail protein) assembles. However, gene U product is also necessary at this step for the correct assembly of the major tail protein on the 25 S precursor. Without gene U product the assembly of the major tail protein does not stop at the correct length and a polytail is formed instead of a morphologically normal tail. Finally, gene Z product acts on the morphologically normal tail and makes it a biologically active tail. Without the action of gene Z product, the defective tail binds to a head and forms a phage-like particle which is only very weakly infectious. (The position of gene T in the pathway is not determined, because no sus mutant is available in gene T.)Two abnormal, less efficient pathways are also present in vitro. (1) If gene U product acts on a polytail in an U⁻ lysate, the polytail finally binds to a head and forms a phage particle with an extra long tail which is infectious to a small extent. (2) The function of gene K seems to be bypassed to some extent: K⁻ lysates accumulate particles which sediment as fast as normal phage and which are complemented by other tail⁻ lysates.     

Parablastocatena tetracerae gen. et sp. nov. and Corynesporella licualae sp. nov. from Hainan, China

Parablastocatena tetracerae gen. et sp. nov. and Corynesporella licualae sp. nov., collected on dead branches of Tetracera asiatica and Licuala fordiana, respectively, in tropical forests of China, are described and illustrated. Parablastocatena tetracerae is the type species for a new monotypic genus in possessing macronematous conidiophores forming distinct synnemata with holoblastic conidiogenesis and euseptate, short-chained conidia ending in a paler brown rostrum, whereas C. licualae is distinguished from described species by the smaller conidia with long appendages. A key to currently accepted species of Corynesporella is provided.     

Description ofOceanospirillum kriegii sp. nov. andO. jannaschii sp. nov. and assignment of two species ofAlteromonas to this genus asO. commune comb. nov. andO. vagum comb. nov

Immunological studies of Fe-containing superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) and glutamine synthetase (GS) have established a close relationship betweenOceanospirillum linum (the type species of the genus),O. beijerinckii, Alteromonas communis, A. vaga, and two unnamed species of marine bacteria (groups H-1 and I-1). The four latter species have, consequently, been assigned to the genusOceanospirillum asO. commune comb. nov.,O. vagum comb. nov.,O. kriegii sp. nov. (group H-1; type strain 197, ATCC 27133), andO. jannaschii sp. nov. (group I-1; type strain 207, ATCC 27135). The phenotypic properties of these species are presented together with their distinguishing traits.     

New Species of Boletellus Section Boletellus (Boletaceae,Boletales) from Japan,B. aurocontextus sp. nov. and B. areolatus sp. nov.

We describe and illustrate two new species of Boletellus section Boletellus, B. aurocontextus sp. nov. and B. areolatus sp. nov., which are generally assumed to be B. emodensis. In this study, we reconstructed separate molecular phylogenetic trees of section Boletellus using the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA, the largest subunit (RPB1) and the second-largest subunit (RPB2) of nuclear RNA polymerase II gene and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 3 (cox3) gene. We also examined the morphologies of B. emodensis sensu lato (s.l.) and other related species for comparison. The molecular phylogenetic tree inferred from the sequences of nuclear DNA (ITS, and combined dataset of RPB1 and RPB2) indicated that three genetically and phylogenetically well-separated lineages were present within B. emodensis s.l. These three lineages were also distinguished on the basis of the molecular phylogenetic tree constructed using the sequences of mitochondrial DNA (cox3), suggesting distinct cytonuclear disequilibria (i.e., evidence of reproductive isolation) among these lineages. Therefore, these three lineages can be treated as independent species: B. aurocontextus, B. areolatus, and B. emodensis. Boletellus aurocontextus and B. areolatus are also distinct from B. emodensis by the macro- and microscopic morphologies. Boletellus aurocontextus is characterized by a pileus with bright yellow to lemon yellow context, which can be observed through a gap in the scales, and basidiospores with relatively large length (mean spore length, 21.4 μm; quotient of spore length and width, 2.51). In contrast, B. areolatus is characterized by a pileus with floccose to appressed thin scaly patches, a stipe with pallid or pale cream color at the upper half, and basidiospores with relatively small length (mean spore length, 16.5 μm; quotient of spore length and width, 1.80).     

Fulvifomes hainanensis sp. nov. and F. indicus comb. nov. (Hymenochaetales,Basidiomycota) evidenced by a combination of morphology and phylogeny

Fulvifomes hainanensis sp. nov. is described from tropical China. The new species resembles Fulvifomes rimosus, but differs by uncracked pileal surface, the presence of a black cuticle between tomentum and lower context, and ellipsoid basidiospores. In nuclear large subunit rDNA (nLSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) based phylogenies, F. hainanensis formed a distinct lineage from other sequenced taxa in the Fulvifomes clade. Aurificaria indica, the type of Aurificaria, has typical morphological characters for Fulvifomes, such as lack of setae and production of colored basidiospores. It was transferred to Fulvifomes based on additional evidence from molecular phylogeny, and F. indicus was redescribed according to Chinese collections. Aurificaria, posterior to Fulvifomes, was thus treated as a taxonomic synonym of Fulvifomes, and the concept of Fulvifomes was accordingly emended to include Aurificaria species. Inonotus luteoumbrinus and I. porrectus are similar to F. indicus in morphology, and they were also supported as lineages in the Fulvifomes clade. However, taxonomical adjustments for the two species were not proposed as the specimens yielding their nLSU and ITS sequences were not reexamined in morphology in this study.     

Cytotaxonomic study ofChelidonium majus L. s. l.

The present paper deals with cytotaxonomy ofChelidonium majus L. s. 1. taxa and their hybrids. Based on results of hybridization experiments, cytology and reproductive isolation, a new combination,Ch. asiaticum (Hara) Krahulcová, is proposed. The structure of the aggregate is as follows:Ch. majus L. subsp.Majus (2n=12, distributed in Europe),Ch. majus L. subsp.grandiflorum (DC.)Printz (2n=12, S. Siberia, China) andCh. asisaticum (2n=10, E. Asia). Karyotypes ofCh. m. subsp.grandiflorum andCh. asiaticum are compared in detail.     

Cladistic analysis of Taxaceae s. l.

Taxaceae s. l. is a wider concept of classification treating five genera of Taxaceae s. str. and Cephalotaxus together. Cephalotaxus is morphologically very similar to the five genera of Taxaceae s. str. Various models of classification for six genera have already been published. However, the phylogenetic position and genuine relationships of these genera and species are still confusing. A cladistic analysis of Taxaceae s. l. has been carried out to resolve the problem existing in their phylogeny and to provide a new approach regarding the relationships of these six genera. Parsimony analyses were based on 28 characters and eight genera including two outgroups Agathis and Sciadopitys. The most parsimonious tree retained with branch length 38 and 194 rearrangement trials. Consistency index was 0.68 and retention index was 0.66. Principally, two main clades were found: one represented by Austrotaxus forming the base of the tree and another by the remaining five genera. Taxus + Pseudotaxus clade split after Austrotaxus, and Cephalotaxus was sister to Torreya + Amentotaxus clade. Taxus + Pseudotaxus clade was supported by the highest bootstrap value. Finally, cladistic analysis does not support existence of Cephalotaxaceae. Therefore, it would be better to classify Cephalotaxus within Taxaceae s. l. with the other five genera.     

Incipient Genome Differentiation in Gossypium. II. Comparison of 12 Chromosomes in G. HIRSUTUM, G. MUSTELINUM and G. TOMENTOSUM Using Heterozygous Translocations

Eight homozygous translocation lines (TT) of G. hirsutum marking 3 chromosomes of the A genome and 9 chromosomes of the D genome were crossed with G. hirsutum, G. mustelinum and G. tomentosum, all homozygous for the standard end arrangements (tt). Chiasma frequencies in the G. hirsutum Tt controls were compared with those in the G. hirsutum x G. mustelinum and the G. hirsutum x G. tomentosum Tt hybrids. Both nucleus-wide and region-specific chiasma frequencies were compared.—Some genome differentiation appears to have arisen between G. hirsutum and G. mustelinum. The G. hirsutum x G. mustelinum hybrids had a 1.8 to 1.9% reduction in the nucleus-wide chiasma frequency. Four of the eight TT lines showed a 3.4 to 10.5% reduction in chiasmata in the hybrid translocation quadrivalents, suggesting that chromosomes 1, 21, 23 and 24 may have undergone localized genome differentiation. The two species may differ naturally in the end arrangement of two chromosomes, since a quadrivalent not due to experimentally introduced translocations was observed in 13% of the PMC's of two G. hirsutum x G. mustelinum hybrids.—Very little genome differentiation has occurred between G. hirsutum and G. tomentosum. In the G. hirsutum x G. tomentosum hybrids, the nucleus-wide estimates showed only a very small (0.1 to 0.2%), though statistically significant, lowering of the chiasma frequency, and there was no reduction in chiasma frequency in the more sensitive readings for specific translocation quadrivalents.     

Helicotylenchus oleae n. sp. and H. neopaxilli n. sp. (Hoplolaimidae), Two New Spiral Nematodes Parasitic on Olive Trees in Italy

Helicotylenchus oleae n. sp. and H. neopaxilli n. sp., from olive roots and soil in Italy, are described and illustrated. Helicotylenchus oleae can be distinguished from the related species H. canadensis and H. tunisiensis especially by the smaller styler, its distinctive tail shape, and a tail longer than one anal body width. Helicotylenchus neopaxilli differs from the close species H. paxilli by having a conical, anteriorly truncated labial region, shorter stylet, and phasmids always anterior to level of anus. Also illustrated and discussed are histopathological changes within feeder roots of olive caused by the feeding activity of the semi-endoparasitic H. oleae.     

TRS-based PCR as a potential tool for inter-serovar discrimination of Salmonella Enteritidis,S. Typhimurium,S. Infantis,S. Virchow,S. Hadar,S. Newport and S. Anatum

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica comprises a number of serovars, many of which pose an epidemiological threat to humans and are a worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality. Most reported food infection outbreaks involve the serovars Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium. Rapid identification to determine the primary sources of the bacterial contamination is important to the improvement of public health. In recent years, many DNA-based techniques have been applied to genotype Salmonella. Herein, we report the use of a manual TRS-PCR approach for the differentiation of the Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovars in a single-tube assay. One hundred seventy Salmonella strains were examined in this work. These consisted of serovars S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, S. Infantis, S. Virchow, S. Hadar, S. Newport and S. Anatum. Five of the TRS-primers, N₆(GTG)₄, N₆(CAC)₄, N₆(CGG)₄, N₆(CCG)₄ and N₆(CTG)₄, perfectly distinguished the S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium serovars, and the N₆(GTG)₄ primer additionally grouped the other five frequently isolated serovars. In our opinion, the TRS-PCR methodology could be recommended for a quick and simple DNA-based test for inter-serovar discrimination of Salmonella strains.     

Cryptosporidium apodemi sp. n. and Cryptosporidium ditrichi sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) in Apodemus spp.

Faecal samples from striped field mice (n = 72) and yellow-necked mice (n = 246) were screened for Cryptosporidium by microscopy and PCR/sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of small-subunit rRNA, Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein and actin gene sequences revealed the presence of C. parvum, C. hominis, C. muris and two new species, C. apodemi and C. ditrichi. Oocysts of C. apodemi are smaller than C. ditrichi and both are experimentally infectious for yellow-necked mice but not for common voles. Additionally, infection by C. ditrichi was established in one of three BALB/c mice. The prepatent period was 7–9 and 5–6 days post infection for C. apodemi and C. ditrichi, respectively. The patent period was greater than 30 days for both species. Infection intensity of C. ditrichi ranged from 4000–50,000 oocyst per gram of faeces and developmental stages of C. ditrichi were detected in the jejunum and ileum. In contrast, neither oocysts nor endogenous developmental stages of C. apodemi were detected in faecal or tissue samples, although C. apodemi DNA was detected in contents from the small and large intestine. Morphological, genetic, and biological data support the establishment of C. apodemi and C. ditrichi as a separate species of the genus Cryptosporidium.     

Two new species ofTrichogramma [Hym.: Trichogrammatidae] from the U.S.A.

Two new species ofTrichogramma from the U.S.A. are described.T. parkeri sp. n., a morphologically distinct species, was reared from an egg ofHeliothis zea (Boddie), whileT. platneri sp. n. which is morphologically indistinguishable fromT. minutum Riley, was reared from eggs ofCydia pomonella (L.). Reproductive incompatibility ofT. platneri andT. minutum is discussed.