Cytogenetics of Alismatales s.s.: chromosomal evolution and C-banding

Ten species of Alismatales, five of Alismataceae, four of Limnocharitaceae and one of Hydrocharitaceae were studied with regard to chromosome number, chromosome morphology, and pattern of Giemsa C-bands. The genus Echinodorus had a diploid chromosome number of 22 for all species that were analyzed and a karyotypic formula of 2m + 20a. For the family Limnocharitaceae, Hydrocleys nymphoides had a diploid chromosome number of 16, Hydrocleys martii (4m + 2sm + 10a) had a diploid chromosome number of 16, Limnocharis flava had a diploid chromosome number of 20 and L. laforestii (4m + 16a) had a diploid chromosome number of 20. The only species of Hydrocharitaceae that was studied exhibited a karyotype that consisted of a diploid chromosome number of 28 and a karyotypic formula of 4m + 6sm + 4a. The distribution pattern of the C-banded karyotype in Echinodorus showed four blocks of constitutive heterochromatin in two smaller acrocentric pairs that corresponded to the heterochromatic NORs. In E. lanceolatus, 14 bands in the termini of the arms beyond the heterochromatic NORs of seven acrocentric pairs were also observed. Idiograms are presented and the karyotypic evolution patterns for the studied groups are discussed.     

Phylogeny and classification of the Elachistidae s.s. (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea)

Abstract. The classification of the gelechioid family Elachistidae (Lepidoptera) is revised on the basis of a phylogenetic analysis. Pee-Wee analysis of 131 characters of adult and pupal morphology and larval mode of life, coded for seventy elachistid species, results in a classification with three recognized genera: Perittia, Stephensia and Elachista. Elachista is further divided into four subgenera. The phylogenetic relationships of the genera and subgenera are (Perittia (Stephensia ((E. sg. Dibrachia (E. sg. Hemiprosopa, E. sg. Aphelosetia)) (E. sg. Elachista)))). Twenty-four new generic synonyms and thirty-eight new generic combinations of species are proposed. A checklist is given for the species of Elachistidae in their revised generic combinations, including nine new synonymies. Due to secondary homonymy, Elachista dasycara nom. n. is proposed as a new name for Eurynome albella Chambers.     

Comparison of reproductive success in two orchids: the nectarless Dactylorhiza majalis s.s. and the nectar-producing Gymnadenia conopsea s.l.

Differences in reproductive biology between two orchid species were examined: Eight Danish populations of the nectarless Dactylorhiza majalis ssp. majalis and six Swedish populations of the nectar-producing Gymnadenia conopsea ssp. densiflora . Population size varied from 24 to 1700 flowering individuals in D. majalis and from 100 to 1200 in G. conopsea. Dactylorhiza majalis had only half as many flowers per spike as G. conopsea . Fruit-set of D. majalis ranged from 16 to 39%, much lower than the fruit-set of G. conopsea (78–91%). Thus in the species with a few flowers and no nectar a lower fruit-set was observed than in the species with many flowers and presence of nectar. The low fruit-set of D. majalis was pollen-limited and fruit-set was positively correlated with pollinia removal and the latter was negatively correlated with population size. In both species, fruit-set and population size were uncorrelated.     

广义金钱菌属真菌研究概况

广义金钱菌属分布广泛,物种多样性丰富,包括了许多具有食药用价值的种类,具有较高的经济、生态和科研价值,但我国对该类真菌的关注较少。本文回顾了金钱菌属的建立与发展历程,以及分子生物学研究方法应用于该类真菌后其系统学的变化过程;介绍了欧洲与北美地区对栎裸脚伞复合群物种的区分过程;总结了广义金钱菌属真菌在生物防治和药用功效及化学成分研究等方面的研究进展。同时,还发现了各地对广义金钱菌属真菌的分类学研究水平差异较大,各地区研究水平不均衡和分子系统学研究不完善等问题,所以我国亟需对该类真菌资源调查与挖掘,以期为后续研究提供参考依据。     

Scanning electron microscopic studies of Centaurea L. s.s. pollen

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyse, by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the validity of the typification of the pollen of Centaurea L. s.s., carried out by Wagenitz (1955) with light microscopy and based on the exine structure and sculpturing. The pollen of six species have been analyzed: one species for every type of pollen present in Italy: C. sempervirens L., C. alpina L., C. scabiosa L., C. alba L., C. montana L., C. cyanus L.

The validity of the pollen typification suggested by Wagenitz has been confirmed also at the ultramicroscopic level. The ultrastructure and the sculturing of the sporoderm are described in detail and some discrepancies, mainly due to the different potentialities offered by the two methods, are pointed out.     

Phylogeny of Orthotrichum s.l. and Ulota s.l. (Orthotrichaceae,Bryophyta): Insights into stomatal evolution

Orthotrichum Hedw. s.l. and Ulota Mohr s.l. are two of the most speciose genera of the xerophytic moss family Orthotrichaceae. We reconstructed the phylogeny of these two genera using three data matrices: (i) organellar genomes and 33 taxa; (ii) six loci from three genomes and 144 taxa; and (iii) two plastid loci and 163 taxa. The present phylogeny, based on the maximum sampling of genes or taxa to date, generally confirms the new classification of Orthotrichum and Ulota, and indicated that all Ulota species, except Ulota phyllantha Brid., form a clade and three lineages comprise the cryptoporous Orthotrichum clade. We provided new morphological characters that support the present division of the two genera. Ancestral state reconstruction of stoma indicates that superficial stomata in Orthotrichum represent a plesiomorphic character and semi-immersed stomata were derived from immersed stomata. The results also suggest that immersed stomata independently arose once in Orthotrichum, whereas semi-immersed stomata probably arose more than once. Molecular dating analysis reveals that the occurrence of immersed stomata is probably related to arid environments during the early Oligocene to late Miocene, whereas the appearance of semi-immersed stomata might be associated with the mesic–xeric or semiarid environments during the middle Miocene to Pliocene. Ancestral state reconstruction of habitat indicates that the saxicolous habitat is apomorphic and independently evolved multiple times in Orthotrichum and Ulota, which supports the former hypothesis. Considering morphological statistics, the development of the cryptopore in Orthotrichum could provide increased resilience to dry habitats, and might promote their habitat shift during evolution.     

Molecular Phylogeny and Species Speciation of Adoxaceae. s. s

It remains unclear about the speciation and phylogeny of Adoxaceae s. s ., a small family with 3 genera and 4 species . In this paper , ITS ( nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer) regions of Adoxa orientalis and Sambucus adnata were firstly sequenced . Phylogenetic trees were constructed for all species of Adoxaceae (four species ) , Sambucus, Viburnum and four genera of Caprifoliaceae . The divergences among four species of this family were further calculated based on the calibration of the fossil records of the Caprifoliaceae and the general evolutionary rate of herbs for ITS . The phylogenetic analyses did not support the previous assumptions on the phylogeny and species divergence of Adoxaceae s. s . based on the morphological evidence : Tetradoxa is not the firstly diverged and it clustered with two species of Adoxa as a monophylogenetic group , paralleling to the other lineage comprising of monotypic Sinadoxa . The allopatric speciation at the diploid level might have contributed to the differentiation among Sinadoxa corydalifolia, Tetradoxa omeiensis and Adoxa moschatellina and the polyploidy to the origin of A. orientalis . The crude timing based on ITS sequence differentiation suggested a recent divergence among all four species probably between the late Miocene and the Tertiary and this speciation process might be closely correlated with habitat fragmentation and change due to the extensive uplifts of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and climatic oscillation during the glacial and interglacial ages occurred at this stage .     

狭义五福花科的分子系统学和物种分化

狭义五福花科(Adoxaceae.s.s)仅含3属4种,但该科的物种分化、系统发育和分类一直存在争议。本文通过测定东方五福花和血满草的ITS(核糖体DNA内转录间隔区)序列,构建了包括狭义五福花科(4种)、广义忍冬科接骨木属、荚属以及其余4属植物在内的系统发育树。研究结果不支持狭义五福花科内根据形态学证据做出的系统发育假设四福花不是该科中最早分化出来的种;该物种与五福花属的两个物种形成一个单系群,与另一分支华福花属相对应。该科中3个物种,四福花、五福花和华福花之间的分化主要是在二倍体水平上的异域分化,而东方五福花则是通过多倍化形成的。粗略的时间估算表明这些物种之间的分化较晚,可能在第三纪末至第四纪早中期,与青池高原近期强烈隆升以及冰期气候反复变化形成的环境变迁密切相关。     

A new taxonomic system of the Campanulaceae s.s.

The Campanulaceae s.s. have been proved to be monophyletic, but the subdivision of the family is still controversial among authors. To investigate the intrafamilial structure of the Campanulaceae s.s., four chloroplast DNA fragments, atpB, matK, rbcL, and petD with the petB-petD spacer region, were chosen for molecular phylogenetic analysis, and 90 taxa representing 36 genera of this family were sampled. The result shows that the Campanulaceae s.s. consist of three strongly supported monophyletic clades. This result is highly correlated with the data from palynology and external morphology. Therefore, we propose to establish a new three tribal classification system of Campanulaceae s.s. The Cyanantheae is characterized by colpate or colporate pollen with elongate apertures and a loculicidal capsule which is dehiscent by apical valves, or a berry. The other two tribes have porate pollen with poroid apertures, but the Campanuleae possesses a poricidal capsule which is dehiscent by lateral pores or valves, or a dry indehiscent fruit, whereas the Wahlenbergieae possesses a loculicidal capsule which is dehiscent by apical valves, pores, or opercula. In the Cyanantheae, we recognize 6 subtribes and 10 genera. In addition, keys to tribes of Campanulaceae s.s. and to subtribes and genera of the Cyanantheae are presented.     

Multiple origins of congested inflorescences in Cyperus s.s. (Cyperaceae): Developmental and structural evidence

? Premise of the study: The understanding of homoplasic structures becomes more relevant when they are complex and define large angiosperm taxa. Inflorescence architecture usually fulfills both features, as happens with Cyperus, a genus with two taxonomical subdivisions characterized either by alternative expressions of Kranz anatomy (C(3) or C(4)) or inflorescence shape (condensed or lax). Those subdivisions are not completely congruent because at least one of these presumed characters has evolved several times. We focused a SEM study on the inflorescence development in species with condensed inflorescences and different photosynthetic anatomy to test the possibility that condensed inflorescences of subgen. Anosporum (C(3) anatomy) have evolved independently from those of subgen. Cyperus (C(4) anatomy). ? Methods: Freshly collected inflorescences of C. entrerianus, C. eragrostis, C. oxylepis, and C. incomtus were studied using stereoscopic and scanning electron microscopy. ? Key results: Condensed inflorescences of Cyperus species with C(3) and C(4) anatomy had differences in structure and development: (1) mature structure, (2) position of second-order branching initiation in the first developmental stage of the inflorescence, (3) main axis development and elongation, and branching development, (4) types of ramifications, (5) phyllotaxis and symmetry. ? Conclusions: Results support multiple origins of condensed inflorescences in Cyperus, based especially on differences in timing during development and elongation of the main axis and branches, branching pattern and phyllotaxis. Structure and development may be the key to using inflorescence morphology as an external feature to distinguish large natural groups within Cyperus based on vegetative anatomy.