An Uncommon Wall Thickening of Guard Cells

Four species of the family Zingiberaceae, Curcuma amada Roxb.,C. domestica Valet., Zingiber officinale Rose, Elettaria cardamomumMat.; one species of the family Cannaceae, Canna indica L.;one species of the family Rubiaceae, Coffea arabica L.; andone species of the family Theaceae, Camellia sinensis L. showedthe presence of wall thickening at the polar ends of the guardcells. This thickening may be restricted to the outer wall atthe polar regions or may also be extended to the common innercell wall (not the part of the inner wall abutting the stomatalpore). In C. sinensis the wall thickening may be restrictedonly to the common inner wall. The thick walls are PAS-positive.     

Shell characters and taxonomy of Latirus and related fasciolariid groups

The neogastropod family Fasciolariidae contains a complex ofgenera related to Latirus Montfort, 1810, many of which havetraits unusual for the family. In a taxonomic revision of someof these genera, based on shell characters, we restrict Latirusto a mainly Indo-West Pacific group of Pliocene to Recent species,which closely resemble the middle Miocene to Recent pantropicalgenus Hemipolygona Rovereto, 1899. Hemipolygona stenomphalus(Habe & Kosuge, 1966) is synonymized with H. recurvirostris(Schubert & Wagner, 1829). Lathyropsis Oostingh, 1939, basedon a small Pliocene species from Indonesia, is here tentativelysubsumed under Polygona Schumacher, 1817. The latter genus,ranging from the late Oligocene to Recent, occurs mainly inthe New World and eastern Atlantic, and contains at least twospecies groups centered on P. infundibulum Schumacher, 1817(type of genus) and P. angulatus (Röding, 1798). Taxa assignedby many authors to Latirulus Cossmann, 1889, are here reassignedto the new genus Turrilatirus (type species: Voluta turritaGmelin, 1791), from the Pliocene to Recent of the Indo-WestPacific. Latirulus is restricted to Eocene species. We assignvarious early Miocene to Recent species from the western Atlanticand eastern Pacific to the new genus Pustulatirus (type species:Latirus mediamericanus, Hertlein & Strong, 1951a). Taxaformerly assigned to Latirus but here removed from Fasciolariidaeinclude Latirus ewekoroensis Adegoke, 1977; the Eocene RusculaCasey, 1904; Lathyrus granifer and L. compactilis, both of Martin,1931; Latirus kirbyi Clark, 1938; Latirus tortilis var. nanafaliusHarris, 1899; and Latirus quercotillaensis Olsson, 1931. (Received 6 September 2005; accepted 29 May 2006)     

COCCULINIFORM LIMPETS (COCCULINIDAE AND PYROPELTIDAE) LIVING ON WHALE BONE IN THE DEEP SEA OFF CALIFORNIA

Cocculiniform limpets of the families Cocculinidae and Pyropeltidaeare here reported for the first time on whale bone in the deepsea. The new species and records of previously described speciesare from four whale-falls at bathyal depths on the continentalmargin off California, from Monterey Bay to the Catalina Basin.The family Cocculinidae is represented by the new species Cocculinacraigsmithi. With few exceptions, the previously known speciesof Cocculinidae are known from wood substrates. The family Pyropeltidaeis represented by three species: Pyropelta musaica McLean &Haszprunar, 1987, originally described from the Juan de Fucahydrothermal vents, Pyropelta corymba McLean & Haszprunar,1987, originally described from the hydrothermal vent habitatat the Guaymas Basin, and one new species, P. wakefieldi. Thetwo previously known species of Pyropelta have heretofore beenregarded as obligate members of the sulfide habitat of hydrothermalvents. Pyropelta species are the first gastropods known fromboth habitats. Like the hydrothermal-vent habitat, the newlyreported habitat on whale bone is also a sulfide-rich, reducingenvironment. (Received 20 January 1991; accepted 28 April 1992)     

A new species of Acartia (Copepoda, Calanoida) from the Yellow Sea

A new species (Acartia hongi) of Acartia (family Acartiidae)predominating in the Korean coastal waters of the Yellow Seais described. This species closely resembles Acartia bifilosa,from which it can be easily distinguished by the co-occurrenceof the following morphological characters: the absence of rostralfilaments in both genders; the terminal spine on the femalefifth leg toothed only on the inner side; the first exopodalsegment of the male right fifth leg with a long seta; the distalsegment of the male left fifth leg with a rod-like appendage.Its distribution was discussed in comparison with two siblingspecies, Acartia omorii and Acartia hudsonica.     

不同生境源的稻飞虱卵寄生蜂对寄主的选择和寄生特眭

稻飞虱重要卵寄生蜂缨小蜂Anagrus flaveolus、A optabilis和寡索赤眼蜂Oligosita aesopi、O.Naias均能在稻田和稻田周围的非稻田生境中生存。而.Ftaveolus为优势种。不同生境来源的卵寄生蜂有着不同的寄生和选择特性。缨小蜂A.Flaveolus能在飞虱科内转换寄主,但需1～2代的适应期。寄主卵对寡索赤眼蜂O.Aesopi的寄生有较大的影响,用褐飞虱和黑尾叶蝉诱集的O.Aesopi呼;不能交叉寄生。稻田内诱集的寄生蜂选择稻飞虱,而杂草地中诱集的缨小蜂则对飞虱T.Pusanus有一定的选择性。非稻田生境对保护稻飞虱卵寄生蜂有很大的作用,但对其寄生特性有较大的影响。     

B型烟粉虱和温室白粉虱热激蛋白90基因（hsp90）的全长cDNA克隆与系统发育分析

B型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B和温室白粉虱Trialeurodes vaporariorum均为全球普遍发生的重要害虫。本研究以其他昆虫热激蛋白90基因（hsp90）保守区域设计兼并引物扩增两种粉虱hsp90中间片段, 然后利用RACE技术获得全长cDNA。温室白粉虱hsp90全长cDNA的开放性阅读框2 166 bp, 编码722个氨基酸; 烟粉虱hsp90全长cDNA的开放性阅读框2 160 bp, 编码720个氨基酸。两种粉虱HSP90的完整氨基酸序列相似性高达92.94％, 并均具有定义HSP90家族签名序列的5个氨基酸保守区域和末尾基序“MEEVD”。通过real-time PCR技术, 探测到两个基因在mRNA水平上皆能高温诱导表达。采用昆虫纲所有完整HSP90氨基酸序列进行Kimura双参数遗传距离分析并构建NJ进化树, 结果显示hsp90在昆虫纲低级阶元水平和高级阶元水平系统进化上能得到一个较理想结果。本研究结果为B型烟粉虱和温室白粉虱抗逆适应性研究提供基础, 并进一步验证保守的功能基因hsp90可以作为研究生物系统发育的手段之一     

Floral Nectar, Nectary Structure and Pollinators in Some Argentinean Bromeliaceae

The floral nectar chemical composition and nectary structureof some Argentinean Bromeliaceae were studied, including fieldobservations on pollinators. Twenty species belonging to eightgenera from the three subfamilies were analysed. The nectarcomponents report is mostly new since no comprehensive studyhas been carried out on the family previously. Sugars were alwayspresent, while alkaloids, lipids, phenols, and proteins werenot detected in any sample. Reducing acids were found in threespecies. Amino acids were detected in a very low concentrationin only about half the samples. Pitcairnioideae species showa mean balanced disaccharide/monosaccharide nectar sugar composition,Bromelioideae had hexose-rich nectars and Tillandsioideae saccharose-dominantones. Nectar concentration ranged from 16 to 48 %. All taxabear septal nectaries with many common features. Pitcairnioideaeand Tillandsioideae members have half-inferior ovaries, a featuremostly overlooked in previous studies. Three types of nectaryarchitecture were recognized in both subfamilies. Bromelioideaehave inferior ovaries and possess comparable nectaries. Hummingbirdsconstitute the main flower pollinators of many species but butterfliesand bees were occasionally seen in two species, cropping nectarand pollen, respectively. Argentinean Bromeliaceae,, floral nectar, nectary structure, pollinators, alkalinity, abromeitiella, Aechmea, Bromelia, Deuterocohnia, Dyckia, puya, Tillandsia, vriesea     

Floral Nectar, Nectary Structure and Pollinators in Some Argentinean Bromeliaceae

The floral nectar chemical composition and nectary structureof some Argentinean Bromeliaceae were studied, including fieldobservations on pollinators. Twenty species belonging to eightgenera from the three subfamilies were analysed. The nectarcomponents report is mostly new since no comprehensive studyhas been carried out on the family previously. Sugars were alwayspresent, while alkaloids, lipids, phenols, and proteins werenot detected in any sample. Reducing acids were found in threespecies. Amino acids were detected in a very low concentrationin only about half the samples. Pitcairnioideae species showa mean balanced disaccharide/monosaccharide nectar sugar composition,Bromelioideae had hexose-rich nectars and Tillandsioideae saccharose-dominantones. Nectar concentration ranged from 16 to 48%. All taxa bearseptal nectaries with many common features. Pitcairnioideaeand Tillandsioideae members have half-inferior ovaries, a featuremostly overlooked in previous studies. Three types of nectaryarchitecture were recognized in both subfamilies. Bromelioideaehave inferior ovaries and possess comparable nectaries. Hummingbirdsconstitute the main flower pollinators of many species but butterfliesand bees were occasionally seen in two species, cropping nectarand pollen, respectively. Argentinean Bromeliaceae, floral nectar, nectary structure, pollinators, Abromeitiella, Aechmea, Bromelia, Deuterocohnia, Dvckia, Puva, Tillandsia, Vriesea     

厚厉螨科二新种(蜱螨亚纲：革螨股)

记述厚厉螨科二新种：光滑厚厉螨Pachylaelaps nuditectus sp. nov.和陈氏厚绥螨Pachyseius chenpengi sp. nov.。     

The FLOWERING LOCUS T/TERMINAL FLOWER 1 family in Lombardy poplar

Genes in the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1)family have been shown to be important in the control of theswitch between vegetative and reproductive growth in severalplant species. We isolated nine members of the FT/TFL1 familyfrom Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra var. italica Koehne). Sequenceanalysis of the members of the FT/TFL1 family revealed considerablehomology within their coding regions both among family membersand to the members of the same family in Arabidopsis, tomatoand grapevine. Moreover, members of this family in all fourspecies examined display a common exon–intron organization.Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genes fall into fourdifferent clades: two into the TFL1 clade; five into the FTclade; and one each into the MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 and BROTHEROF FT AND TFL1 clades. One gene in the TFL1 clade, PnTFL1, isexpressed in vegetative meristems, and transgenic Arabidopsisthat ectopically expressed PnTFL1 had a late-flowering phenotype.The expression patterns of two genes in the FT clade, PnFT1and PnFT2, suggested a role for them in the promotion of flowering,and transgenic Arabidopsis that ectopically expressed eitherPnFT1 or PnFT2 had an early-flowering phenotype.     

TURRILITIDAE (CRETACEOUS AMMONOIDEA) FROM SOUTH AFRICA, WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE EVOLUTION AND LIMITS OF THE FAMILY

The helically coiled mid-Cretaceous family Turrilitidae Meek,1876 are abundant in late Albian and Cenomanian sediments ofEastern South Africa, including representatives of the generaPseudhelicoceras, Turrilites, Hypoturrilites, Ostlingocerasand Mariella, together with a new genus, Neostlingoceras (typespecies Turrilites carcitanensis Matheron, 1842).a Hypoturriliteshomoeomorph derived from Ostlingoceras. Twenty-two species andsubspecies are described, four of them new: Hypoturrilites crickisp. nov., Mariella (Mariella) acanthotuberculata sp. nov., Mariella(Mariella) oehlerti (Pervinquière) sulcata subsp. nov.and Mariella (Mariella) gallienii evoluta subsp. nov. The systematicpart.of the paper providesa basis for the discussion of thephylogeny, and some of the evolutionary trends shown by thefamily. An annotated synopsis of all genera and species referred tothe family is also included (Received 10 March 1977;     

The dynamic ups and downs of genome size evolution in Brassicaceae

Crucifers (Brassicaceae, Cruciferae) are a large family comprisingsome 338 genera and c. 3,700 species. The family includes importantcrops as well as several model species in various fields ofplant research. This paper reports new genome size (GS) datafor more than 100 cruciferous species in addition to previouslypublished C-values (the DNA amount in the unreplicated gameticnuclei) to give a data set comprising 185 Brassicaceae taxa,including all but 1 of the 25 tribes currently recognized. Evolutionof GS was analyzed within a phylogenetic framework based ongene trees built from five data sets (matK, chs, adh, trnLF,and ITS). Despite the 16.2-fold variation across the family,most Brassicaceae species are characterized by very small genomeswith a mean 1C-value of 0.63 pg. The ancestral genome size (ancGS)for Brassicaceae was reconstructed as ^anc1C = 0.50 pg. Approximately50% of crucifer taxa analyzed showed a decrease in GS comparedwith the ancGS. The remaining species showed an increase inGS although this was generally moderate, with significant increasesin C-value found only in the tribes Anchonieae and Physarieae.Using statistical approaches to analyze GS, evolutionary gainsor losses in GS were seen to have accumulated disproportionatelyfaster within longer branches. However, we also found that GShas not changed substantially through time and most likely evolvespassively (i.e., a tempo that cannot be distinguished betweenneutral evolution and weak forms of selection). The data revealan apparent paradox between the narrow range of small GSs overlong evolutionary time periods despite evidence of dynamic genomicprocesses that have the potential to lead to genome obesity(e.g., transposable element amplification and polyploidy). Toresolve this, it is suggested that mechanisms to suppress amplificationand to eliminate amplified DNA must be active in Brassicaceaealthough their control and mode of operation are still poorlyunderstood.     

Nucleotide and copy-number polymorphism at the odorant receptor genes Or22a and Or22b in Drosophila melanogaster

In Drosophila, odorant receptors are encoded by an old and moderatelysized multigene family. Or22a and Or22b are two tandemly arrangedgenes of this family that have proved to be the result of arather young duplication. Nucleotide variation in the regionspanning both duplicates was surveyed in four natural populations(two African and two non-African) of Drosophila melanogasterand also analyzed in species of the melanogaster subgroup. Theintraspecific survey revealed a particular copy-number polymorphismin some of the studied populations, with the two genes (Or22aand Or22b) present in the long variant and a single chimericgene (Or22ab) present in the short variant. Estimated nucleotidediversity was higher in the short than in the long variant,despite the ancestral character of the latter variant in D.melanogaster. The general skew toward low-frequency variantsdetected in the non-African long variant and its reduced levelof silent polymorphism relative to divergence is consistentwith the recent fixation of an advantageous mutation at, ornearby, the Or22 long variant region. The nonnegligible frequencyof the short variant and the presence of a highly divergenthaplotype in the East African sample would point to direct orindirect selection for its maintenance in the species. Therewas evidence for a generally more rapid evolution of the Or22bcopy at both synonymous and nonsynonymous sites. However, anexcess of nonsynonymous substitutions was only detected in theearly history of this copy.     

Delimitation of Epacridaceae: Preliminary Molecular Evidence

Comparative sequence data for the chloroplast encodedrbc L genehas been obtained for species representing the basal lineagesin the proposed phylogeny of Powellet al. (Annals of Botany77:305–315, 1996), with the aim of testing the delimitationof the family and the validity of the supra-generic taxa proposed,and estimating relationships within the family. Cladistic analysesindicate that EpacridaceaesensuPowellet al. (1996) is not monophyletic.Lebetanthus,a monotypic genus from South America commonly placed withinthe family, mostly near the Tasmanian endemicPrionotes, is shownto be closer toGaultheriaand other members of the ericaceoustribe Andromedeae. The hypothetical phylogeny of Powellet al.(1996) is evaluated in the light of this preliminary analysisof relationships within the family. The data do not supportthe recognition of the two subfamilies, Richeoideae and Epacridoideae,of Watson Epacridaceae; Ericales; molecular systematics; molecular systematics; rbc L     

Developmental Ultrastructure of Cells and Plastids in the Petals of Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri)

An ultrastructural study of petal cells of wallflower (Erysimumcheirii) of the family Brassicaceae shows that the adaxial epidermalcells are of the conical papillate type whereas the cells ofthe abaxial epidermis are lenticular in shape. The abaxial epidermiscontains stomata, which are solitary and lack any obvious subsidiarycells. Pigmentation is apparent in both epidermal and internalmesophyll cells and results from the presence of both chromoplastsand large cytoplasmic vesicles containing pigment. These pigmentedvesicles are very obvious in preparations of fixed isolatedpetal cells. Chromoplasts are of the globular type and are presentin significant numbers in both epidermal and mesophyll cells.Division of chloroplasts in young petals prior to bud breakappears to give rise to the populations of chromoplasts observedin mature petals since there was no evidence of chromoplastdivision itself. The development of wallflower petals and theirchromoplasts is discussed in relation to development of petalsin the related species Arabidopsis thaliana. Copyright 1999Annals of Botany Company Wallflower, Erysimum cheiri, Chieranthus, petal development, chromoplasts, chloroplast differentiation.     

稀有属——刺毡蚧属在中国的发现和一新种记述(同翅目：蚧总科，毡蚧科)

刺毡蚧属Aculeococcus为Lepage氏于1941年所建立,直至目前只知一个属模种,且半世纪来未作形态重描,是一个世界有名的古老疑难属。Lepage当年发表时,未能确定科位,直至Ferris[1]氏在1957年取得一个标本加以研究后,由其第一龄若虫具有像实状体刺而判定应属毡蚧科Eriococcidae,以后Hoy[2]（1962：6）和Morrisons[3]（1966：3）等均沿其说,然而对其在科内的地位,文献中却从未触及。我们最近整理此科历年所存标本,发现一新种已在我国云南西双版纳地区存在,现将研究资料整理报道如下,模式标本保存于山西农业大学蚧虫标本室。1本届…     

Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Genus Ilex L. (Aquifoliaceae)

The chloroplast atpB-rbcL spacer was sequenced for 115 speciesof Ilex and forNemopanthus mucronatus (Aquifoliaceae). In addition,rbcL sequences were obtained for 47 selected species. Takentogether with fossil records in the literature, the data indicatethat: (1) the lineage Ilex was already cosmopolitan long beforethe end of the Cretaceous. A relative test of the rate of nucleotidesubstitution indicates that extant species do not representthe entire lineage because of the extinction of its basal branches.The common ancestor of the extant species probably appearedat the upper Tertiary. (2) Several Asian/North American disjunctionsare observed, as well as North American/South American relationships.The directions of these relationships are yet to be determined.The African species Ilex mitis is closely related to Asian species.Ilex anomala (Hawaii and Tahiti) is related to American species.Ilex perado and Ilex canariensis (both in Macaronesia) havetotally different relationships, the former being related toEurasian species, while relationships of the latter remain obscure.(3) Gene trees substantially contradict the systematics of Loesener.Nemopanthus,closely related to Ilex amelanchier, is nested in the genusIlex. The family Aquifoliaceae is organized in four groups,each of them having a geographic or ecological peculiarity.Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Aquifoliaceae, chloroplast DNA, fossil record, historical biogeography, Ilex (holly tree), molecular phylogeny.     

Developmental changes in interrenal responsiveness in anuran amphibians

Basal activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-interrenal (HPI)axis changes over development in larval amphibians, but developmentof the responsiveness of this axis to an external stressor hasnot been studied. We compared developmental changes in whole-bodycorticosterone content of two anuran amphibian species, Ranapipiens (family Ranidae) and Xenopus laevis (family Pipidae).We also examined developmental changes in the responsivenessof the HPI axis by subjecting tadpoles of different developmentalstages to a laboratory shaking/confinement stress and to ACTHinjection. We measured whole-body corticosterone content asan indicator of the activity of the HPI axis. Whole-body corticosteronecontent of R. pipiens remained low during premetamorphosis andprometamorphosis but increased dramatically at metamorphic climaxand remained elevated in juvenile frogs. By contrast, whole-bodycorticosterone content of X. laevis was highest during premetamorphosis,declined at the onset of prometamorphosis, increased at metamorphicclimax and remained at climax levels in juvenile frogs. Premetamorphicand prometamorphic tadpoles of both species showed strong corticosteroneresponses to both shaking stress and ACTH injection. The magnitudeand pattern of response differed among developmental stages,with premetamorphic tadpoles of both species showing greaterresponsiveness to stress and ACTH. Our results show that interrenalresponsiveness is developed in premetamorphic tadpoles, suggestingthat at these stages tadpoles are capable of mounting an increasein stress hormone production in response to changes in the externalenvironment. Our results also highlight the importance of comparativestudies in understanding the development of the stress axis.