<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptopus marusiki</Emphasis> Vinokurov,a new species of the bug family Leptopodidae (Heteroptera) from Northern India

A new species, Leptopus marusiki Vinokurov, sp. n., of the family Leptopodidae is described from northern India (Himachal Pradesh State). The new species is closely related to the Western Palaearctic L. hispanus Rambur, 1840, which is distinguished by a dark transverse spot on the apical part of the corium and the pale colored femora. The known Indian Leptopus species are distributed in the south and characterized by the following features: L. decus Drake, 1955 has the brown body and long 1st antennal segment; the lower part of the head of L. scutulus Drake, 1954 bears 4 very long spines, the fore femur bears 2 rows of very long spines (5 in each row). L. travancorensis Distant, 1910 differs in the paler coloration; the 1st and 2nd antennal segments, collar and posterior margin of the pronotum, and legs are ochreous.     

Description of the new subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metoporaphodius</Emphasis> subgen. n. of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphodius</Emphasis> Helw. (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) and of the larva of its type species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. plustschewskii</Emphasis> D. Kosh.

The new Irano-Turanian subgenus, Metoporaphodius subgen. n., is erected in Aphodius Helw. for A. plustschewskii D. Kosh. (type species) and A. baghlanicus Frolov. The males of Metoporaphodius subgen. n. are distinguished by the presence of a comb of dense setae on hind tibia and by the parameres with spatulate projections. The 3rd instar larva of A. plustschewskii has 2 rows of large flattened spinules on anal stemite (with 10-12 spinules in a row), and 3 spinules on the lacinial apex.     

A review of the genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calotelea,Calliscelio</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oxyscelio</Emphasis> (Scelioninae,Scelionidae, Proctotrupoidea) from the Palaearctic fauna

Nine new species of scelionids collected in Japan, Israel, and the Ukraine, Calotelea shimurai Kononova et Fursov, C. japonica Kononova, C. stellae Kononova, Calliscelio recens Kononova, C. floridum Kononova, C. parilis Kononova, C. ordo Kononova, Oxyscelio florum Kononova, and O. perpensum Kononova, are described. A brief morphological characteristics of the mentioned genera and some data on the geographical distribution of these species are given. Calotelea shimurai differs from C. striola Kononova in the sculpture of the metasoma (tergites I–III striate, whereas in C. striola striation present only on tergites I and II), fore-wing venation (stigmal vein of C. shimurai 0.43 times as long as postmarginal vein and 1.75 times as long as marginal one; in C. striola, stigmal vein 0.52 times as long as postmarginal vein and 1.3 times as long as marginal one), and the length of the metasoma (in C. shimurai and C. striola, metasoma 4.0 and 2.3 times as long as wide, respectively). Calotelea shimurai parasitizes in eggs of the dragonflies Aeshna nigroflava Martin, Planaeschna milnei Selys, and Boyeria macachlani (Aeshnidae, Odonata). C. japonica is closely related to C. originalis Kozlov and Kononova, but differs from it in the sculpture of the metasoma (metasomal tergites with longitudinal wrinkles against the bright smooth background; in C. originalis, tergites I and II with longitudinal wrinkles against the alveolate background), in the coloration of fore wing (infuscate in C. japonica and dark, with dark transverse stripes in C. originalis). C. stellae differs from C. artus Kozlov and Kononova in the more flattened mesoscutum (C. artus with protruding mesoscutum) and the sculpture of the metasomal tergites (in C. stellae, only petiolus and tergite II striate, while in C. artus, such striation present on tergites I–IV). C. stellae was reared from eggs of unidentified Orthoptera. C. recens is closely related to C. parilis Kononova. It can be distinguished by the fore-wing venation (C. recens has stigmal vein, which is twice as long as marginal vein and 0.66 times as long as postmarginal one; stigmal vein of C. parilis is 3 times as long as marginal vein and 0.83 times as long as postmarginal one), by the sculpture of the metasoma, and coloration of the coxae (yellow in C. recens and black in C. parilis). C. floridum is similar to C. mediterranea Kieffer, but can be identified by the length of the postmarginal vein, which is 3 times as long as the stigmal vein, whereas C. mediterranea has the postmarginal vein, which is only twice as long as the stigmal one. C. floridum also differs in the sculpture of the metasoma (C. floridum has all the metasomal tergites with longitudinal lines, while C. mediterranea has only metasomal petiolus with the same sculpture and tergites II–IV with alveolate sculpture, tergites V and VI are slightly stippled) and in the coloration of the legs, which are yellow (as coxae), while C. mediterranea has brownish black legs. C. parilis resembles C. recens, but differs from it in the fore-wing venation, sculpture of the metasoma, and coloration of the coxae. C. ordo differs from the closely related C. ruficollis Kozlov et Kononova in the head sculpture, which is finely alveolate in C. ordo and finely granulate in C. ruficollis. Oxyscelio florum is closely related to O. perpensum, but differs from it in the coloration of the body and size of the antennal segments, stigmal and postmarginal veins, and metasomal tergites. O. perpensum is closely related to O. florum. The main distinguishing morphological characters are similar to those in O. florum. O. perpensum was reared from eggs of unidentified Orthoptera.     

Molecular phylogeny,morphology and pathogenicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudopestalotiopsis</Emphasis> species on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ixora</Emphasis> in Taiwan

Pestalotiopsis-like species are phytopathogenic, causing numerous diseases on different hosts, and are widely distributed in tropical and temperate ecosystems. These taxa were recently segregated into several genera and species having brown to dark brown or olivaceous median cells, with or without knobbed apical appendages, were classified under the new genus Pseudopestalotiopsis. Pseudopestalotiopsis species are well known for their capability to produce novel medicinal compounds that may have medicinal, agricultural and industrial applications. Ixora is among the largest genera in the family Rubiaceae and is cultivated throughout Taiwan, as a garden plant. During a survey of fungal diseases associated with Ixora species in Taiwan, several Pestalotiopsis-like species causing leaf spot were isolated. Based on morphology coupled with single- and multi-gene (ITS, TUB, TEF) phylogenies, these taxa belong to two novel species of Pseudopestalotiopsis and are introduced herein as Ps. ixorae and Ps. taiwanensis. These two new taxa fit well with Pseudopestalotiopsis in having dark concolourous median cells with knobbed apical appendages, but differ from the known species in the size of conidiomata, size of the conidia, the number of apical appendages, the length of basal appendages plus ecology and distribution. Pathogenicity testing showed that Ps. ixorae and Ps. taiwanensis are capable of causing leaf disease on Ixora and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of Pseudopestalotiopsis species associated with leaf spots of Ixora in Taiwan.     

Species Identification in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thrips</Emphasis> Genus-Group in Brazil

The Thrips genus-group is a monophyletic taxon composed of 17 genera, whose representatives exhibit three main synapomorphies: absence of ocellar setae I, presence of ctenidia on tergites V–VIII, and ctenidia on tergite VIII positioned posteromesad to the spiracles. The group is native to and more diverse in the Old World, especially in Southeast Asia, but several species are widely distributed, including some pests of cultivated plants. Here, we provide an identification key to the species of the Thrips genus-group currently recorded in Brazil, including three new records of Bolacothrips striatopennatus (Schmutz), Thrips florum Schmutz, and Thrips orientalis (Bagnall), and present notes on their morphology and biology. Stenchaetothrips biformis Bagnall is excluded from the list of thrips recorded in Brazil.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phialemoniopsis endophytica</Emphasis> sp. nov., a new species of endophytic fungi from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luffa cylindrica</Emphasis> in Henan,China

During a survey of endophytic fungi in the cucurbit plants collected from Henan, China, a new species, Phialemoniopsis endophytica was isolated from the lower stem of Luffa cylindrica. It differs from other Phialemoniopsis species by its cylindrical to flask-shaped phialides, falcate conidia with blunt ends, ostiolate pycnidium-like conidiomata without marginal setae and ellipsoidal chlamydospores. Multi-locus (ITS, LSU, ACT, and TUB) phylogenetic analysis confirmed that P. endophytica is distinct from other species. A synopsis of the morphological characters of the new species is provided.     

Description of the Larva of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Protaetia famelica</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Scarabaeoidea) from the Russian Far East

A previously unknown larva of Protaetia famelica is described and illustrated. The larva of P. famelica is similar to that of P. brevitarsis in the number of posterior epicranial setae and in the presence of anterior frontal setae but differs in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule, in the epipharynx structure, and in the number and position of spinules on the anal sternite. An original key to the known larvae of the genus Protaetia in the fauna of the Russian Far East is given.     

Role of Arabidopsis <Emphasis Type="Italic">ABF1</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">3</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">4</Emphasis> during <Emphasis Type="Italic">det1</Emphasis> germination in salt and osmotic stress conditions

Key message

Arabidopsis det1 mutants exhibit salt and osmotic stress resistant germination. This phenotype requires HY5, ABF1, ABF3, and ABF4.

Abstract

While DE-ETIOLATED 1 (DET1) is well known as a negative regulator of light development, here we describe how det1 mutants also exhibit altered responses to salt and osmotic stress, specifically salt and mannitol resistant germination. LONG HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5) positively regulates both light and abscisic acid (ABA) signalling. We found that hy5 suppressed the det1 salt and mannitol resistant germination phenotype, thus, det1 stress resistant germination requires HY5. We then queried publically available microarray datasets to identify genes downstream of HY5 that were differentially expressed in det1 mutants. Our analysis revealed that ABA regulated genes, including ABA RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING FACTOR 3 (ABF3), are downregulated in det1 seedlings. We found that ABF3 is induced by salt in wildtype seeds, while homologues ABF4 and ABF1 are repressed, and all three genes are underexpressed in det1 seeds. We then investigated the role of ABF3, ABF4, and ABF1 in det1 phenotypes. Double mutant analysis showed that abf3, abf4, and abf1 all suppress the det1 salt/osmotic stress resistant germination phenotype. In addition, abf1 suppressed det1 rapid water loss and open stomata phenotypes. Thus interactions between ABF genes contribute to det1 salt/osmotic stress response phenotypes.

     

Horizontal transfer of the C-termini of <Emphasis Type="Italic">tccC</Emphasis> genes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Photorhabdus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenorhabdus</Emphasis>

The high molecular weight insecticidal toxin complexes (Tcs), including four toxin-complex loci (tca, tcb, tcc and tcd), were first identified in Photorhabdus luminescens W14. Each member of tca, tcb or tcc is required for oral toxicity of Tcs. However, the sequence sources of the C-termini of tccC3, tccC4, tccC6 and tccC7 are unknown. Here, we performed a whole genome survey to identify the orthologs of Tc genes, and found 165 such genes in 14 bacterial genomes, including 40 genes homologous to tccC1-7 in P. luminescens TT01. The sequence sources of the C-termini of tccC2-6 were determined by sequence analysis. Further phylogenetic investigations suggested that the C-termini of 6 tccC genes experienced horizontal gene transfer events.     

Ectomycorrhizae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuber huidongense</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. liyuanum</Emphasis> with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Castanea mollissima</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus armandii</Emphasis>

Tuber huidongense and T. liyuanum are common commercial white truffles in China that belong to the Rufum and Puberulum groups of the genus Tuber, respectively. Their mycorrhizae were successfully synthesized with two native trees—Castanea mollissima and Pinus armandii—under greenhouse conditions. The identities of the mycorrhizae were confirmed through internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses, and their morphological characteristics were described. All of the obtained mycorrhizae have an interlocking pseudoparenchymatous mantle, which is a typical feature of truffle mycorrhizae. The mycorrhizae of T. huidongense on the two trees have hyaline branched emanating hyphae, similar to the documented mycorrhizae of the Rufum group. The unramified, spiky, and hyaline cystidia on the mycorrhizae of T. liyuanum with both C. mollissima and P. armandii further confirmed that this characteristic is constant for the mycorrhizae of the Puberulum group. The successful mycorrhizal syntheses on the two nut-producing trees will be of economic importance in the cultivation of the two truffles.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Adh</Emphasis> locus and adaptation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cn</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">vg</Emphasis> mutants in experimental populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster MEIG</Emphasis>

A complex study on the adaptation of cn and vn mutants and the allozymes of alcoholdehydrogenase (ADH) was carried out in initially pure lines, and their panmixia populations during exchange of the mutant genotype with that of wild-type flies (C-S) and D) through saturating crossings. The relative adaptation of the genotypes was estimated by their effect on reproductive efficiency in the experimentally obtained population. Fecundity, lifespan, and the resistance of the studied genotypes to hyperthermia were investigated individually. It was shown that the high level of adaptation of the cn mutants and the low level of adaptation of the vg mutants was correlated with the presence of different ADH allozymes. In the studied population, the F-allozyme of ADH accompanied the vg mutation, while the S-allozyme of the enzyme was detected in cn mutants. Saturating crossings of C-S(Adh ^S)×vg(Adh ^F) and D(Adh ^F) × cn(Adh ^S), along with the parallel determination of the allele composition of the Adh locus, demonstrated that the complete substitution of the F-allozyme of ADH in the vg mutants by the S-allozyme in D flies, as well as the substitution of the S-allozyme of ADH in the cn mutants by the F-allozyme in D flies was realized only after the 15th–20th backcrosses. These results favor the coadaptation of cn and vg marker genes with alleles of the Adh locus and indicate the important role of the latter in the adaptation of genotypes. In the studied population, selection acted primarily against the vg mutants, which were inferior to the cn mutants, and heterozygote genotypes in indices of the main adaptation components.     

Stable,fertile somatic hybrids between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sinapis alba</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> show resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria brassicae</Emphasis> and heat stress

Wild relatives of Brassica are a rich reservoir of genes that are invaluable for the improvement of cultivated species. Sinapis alba is a close relative of crop Brassicas that possesses several desirable traits such as tolerance to Alternaria black spot disease, heat stress, insect pests and nematodes. This study is aimed at developing and characterizing hybrids between Brassica juncea and S. alba with the ultimate goal of transferring genes for tolerance to Alternaria brassicae and heat stress, the traits that are lacking in cultivated Brassica. We generated three hybrids between B. juncea and S. alba through protoplast fusion. The hybridity was confirmed through cytology and molecular markers. While two of the hybrids were symmetric, the third one was asymmetric and had greater resemblance to B. juncea. Hybrids showed some characteristic features of the parents and were fully male and female fertile and also set seeds upon back crossing with the parent species. In vitro leaf assay and field inoculation studies revealed that the hybrids are highly resistant to A. brassicae. Besides, hybrids set seeds at temperature of >?38 °C when parents failed to produce seeds indicating that hybrids possess heat tolerance. These stable hybrids provide a reliable genetic resource for transfer of genes from S. alba into cultivated Brassica species.     

Deletion of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ldh</Emphasis>A and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ald</Emphasis>H genes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">pneumoniae</Emphasis> to enhance 1,3-propanediol production

Objectives

To improve 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) production and reduce byproduct concentration during the fermentation of Klebsiella pneumonia.

Results

Klebsiella. pneumonia 2-1ΔldhA, K. pneumonia 2-1ΔaldH and K. pneumonia 2-1ΔldhAΔaldH mutant strains were obtained through deletion of the ldhA gene encoding lactate dehydrogenase required for lactate synthesis and the aldH gene encoding acetaldehyde dehydrogenase involved in the synthesis of ethanol. After fed-batch fermentation, the production of 1,3-PD from glycerol was enhanced and the concentrations of byproducts were reduced compared with the original strain K. pneumonia 2-1. The maximum yields of 1,3-PD were 85.7, 82.5 and 87.5 g/l in the respective mutant strains.

Conclusion

Deletion of either aldH or ldhA promoted 1,3-PD production in K. pneumonia.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cantharellus</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amethystini</Emphasis> in Asia

In this contribution on the genus Cantharellus in Asia, C. subvaginatus is described from the Republic of Korea as a close relative to the Chinese C. vaginatus, which is here reported for the first time from India. Both species are here placed in Cantharellus subg. Cantharellus sect. Amethystini, together with the Indian C. pseudoformosus (syn.: C. umbonatus) and the Malayan C. subamethysteus. As such, Asia has suddenly become the continent with the highest diversity for Amethystini. Species delimitation in sect. Amethystini is molecularly supported by a combined phylogenetic analysis of rDNA sequences obtained for LSU and ITS and additionally suggests the existence of a still undescribed species in North America. Character variability is discussed for all known members of Amethystini, including atypical specimens of the North American C. lewisii that are morphologically more reminiscent of the South Korean C. subvaginatus.     

Heterologous expression of a novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Poa pratensis</Emphasis> gibberellin 2-oxidase gene, <Emphasis Type="Italic">PpGA2ox</Emphasis>, caused dwarfism,late flowering,and increased chlorophyll accumulation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis>

Gibberellin 2-oxidases (GA2oxs) irreversibly convert bioactive gibberellins (GAs) and their immediate precursors into inactive GAs via 2-β hydroxylation and so regulate gibberellin content in plants. However, to the best of our knowledge, little has been known about the GA2oxs and its function in cool season turfgrass Poa pratensis. In this study, rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) was employed to isolate PpGA2ox from P. pratensis. The open reading frame of PpGA2ox was 1 047 bp in length, corresponding to 348 amino acids. PpGA2ox was localized in both nucleus and cytoplasm. The expression of PpGA2ox could be up-regulated by 10 μM gibberellic acid, 5 μM methyl jasmonate, or 10 μM indole-3-acetic acid. In addition, its native promoter could drive GUS expression in both leaf apex and shoot apical region. Moreover, overexpression of PpGA2ox in Arabidopsis led to GA-deficiency leading to dwarf phenotype, delayed flowering time, and increased chlorophyll content. Our study suggests that PpGA2ox could be a candidate gene for breeding new cultivars of P. pratensis.