Aplopsora corni sp. nov. onCornus controversa from Hokkaido,Japan

Aplopsora corni sp. nov. is proposed for a rust fungus whose uredinial and basidial stage occurs onCornus controversa (Cornaceae) in Hokkaido. This new species is separated by its larger urediniospores and probasidia from the morphologically closely relatedA. nyssae onNyssa aquatica andN. sylvatica (Cornaceae) distributed in southern North America.     

Mycosphaerella chaenomelis sp. nov.: The teleomorph ofCercosporella sp., the causal fungus of frosty mildew inChaenomeles sinensis, and its role as the primary infection source

A leaf spot disease called frosty mildew was observed onChaenomeles sinensis throughout Japan. Small brown spots with white tufts occurred followed by successive defoliation. On the fallen leaves, minute black dots are formed. The causal fungus was regarded as a new species ofMycosphaerella, M. chaenomelis, andCercosporella chaenomelis in anamorph. Pathogenicity of the fungus was confirmed only inC. sinensis by inoculation experiments. Colonies of the fungus grew well on potato sucrose agar, and grew at 10–30°C with an optimum temperature of 25°C. The fungus overwintered on the fallen diseased leaves in the form of pseudothecia, and ascospores served as the primary infection source from April to June.     

Life cycle and morphology ofMelampsora yezoensis onSalix serissaefolia

Uredinial and telial states of aMelampsora species occurring on the leaves ofSalix serissaefolia were for the first time recorded. Field observations and inoculation experiments showed that the spermogonial and aecial states of the fungus were formed onChelidonium majus var.asiaticum andCorydalis incisa. The fungus was identified asMelampsora yezoensis based on the morphological observation of all the spore states. Urediniospores were able to infectS. erocarpa andS. pierotii as well asS. serissaefolia andS. jessoensis. Salix serissaefolia, S. eriocarpa, andS. pierotii are new uredinial and telial hosts ofM. yezoensis, andC. majus var.asiaticum andC. incisa are new spermogonial and aecial hosts of the fungus. Contribution No. 124, Laboratories of Plant Pathology and Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry University of Tsukuba.     

New records of the carabidicolous Laboulbeniales (Ascomycetes) of Japan (II)

Six carabidicolous species of Laboulbeniales are reported as new for the Japanese mycoflora. They areLaboulbenia finitima, L. separata, L. borneensis, L. manubriolata, Dimeromyces caribaeus, andDixomyces ornatus. In Japan, the former three species are parasitic onMochtherus luctuosus and the latter three species onPerigona nigriceps. Laboulbenia finitima occurs on the left legs (tarsi and tibiae);L. separata on the left elytral margin:L. borneensis on the pronotum;L. manubriolata on the pronotum and elytra;Dimeromyces caribaeus on the right inferior posterior surface of the prothorax (pronotal hypomeron); andDixomyces ornatus on the outer margin of the right elytron. Comments and photographs are given for each fungus.     

Notes on new and noteworthy plant-inhabiting fungi from Japan (1)

Six fungi isolated from plant materials in Japan are described. The first isPseudohalonectria aomoriensis sp. nov. (Lasiosphaeriaceae). It differs from other known species of the genusPseudohalonectria in the dimensions of its asci and ascospores. The second,Monodictys abuensis, is newly added to the mycoflora of Japan. Its host,Zelkova serrata, is also newly recorded. Three others found on new host plants areDictyochaeta simplex onQuercus myrsinaefolia andBladhia crispa, Colletotrichum dematium onAucuba japonica var.borealis, andNectria mammoidea var.rubi onCercidiphyllum japonicum. The sixth,Trochophora fasciculata, aDaphniphyllum sooty leaf spot fungus renamed by Goos fromT. simplex, is reported with a full list of synonyms.     

Ascospore formation and morphology in two species of the genusErysiphe remaining immature on the living host plant

Erysiphe cumminsiana andE. galeopsidis, which have immature asci in the current season, have been recorded from Japan, but the ascospores of both fungi have not been described. In the present experiments, some observations before and after overwintering were made on the cleistothecia ofE. cumminsiana on three species ofCacalia and two species ofLigularia, andE. galeopsidis onGeranium thunbergii. After overwintering, the former fungus developed six to eight, rarely four spores in an ascus and the latter fungus always four spores in an ascus. Their teleomorphic characteristics including those of ascospores are also described.     

Karyological notes onCentaurea sect.Acrocentron (Asteraceae)

The karyology ofCentaurea sect.Acrocentron is surveyed. 19 chromosome counts on 8 species are reported; those onC. acaulis, C. crocata, C. galianoi, C. pubescens, andC. malinvaldiana are new. The basic chromosome numbers of the section are x = 11 and x = 10. Karyological arguments have been used to show that evolution was from x = 11 to x = 10. This is supported by biogeographical data. Two main centres of diversification of sect.Acrocentron were studied from that point of view: the East and the Southwest Mediterranean region.     

Standard karyotypes ofAegilops uniaristata,Ae. mutica,Ae. comosa subspeciescomosa andheldreichii (Poaceae)

C-banding patterns and polymorphisms were analyzed in several accessions of the diploidAegilops speciesAe. uniaristata, Ae. mutica, andAe. comosa subsp.comosa and subsp.heldreichii, and standard karyotypes of these species were established. Variation in C-band size and location was observed between different accessions, but did not prevent chromosome identification. One accession ofAe. uniaristata was homozygous for whole-arm translocations involving chromosomes 1N and 5N. The homoeologous relationships of these chromosomes were established by comparison of chromosome morphologies and C-banding patterns to other diploidAegilops species with known chromosome homoeology. In addition, in situ hybridization analysis with a 5S rDNA probe was used to identify homoeologous groups 1 and 5 chromosomes. The present analysis permitted the assignment of allAe. mutica, comosa subsp.comosa, andAe. comosa subsp.heldreichii chromosomes, and three of the sevenAe. uniaristata chromosomes according to their homoeologous groups. The data presented will be useful analyzing genome differentiation in polyploidAegilops species.     

Insect natural enemies of coffee green scales [Hemiptera: Coccidae] in Kenya and their potential for biological control ofCoccus celatus andC. viridis in Papua New Guinea

Coffee green scales,Coccus celatus De Lotto andC. viridis (Green), are major pests of coffee in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Surveys for insect natural enemies of coffee green scales were conducted in Kenya to find species suitable for introduction to PNG. Natural enemy communities in Kenya were found to be diverse, particularly those located in the central highlands where 3 primary parasitoids,Metaphycus stanleyi Compere,M. baruensis Noyes andDiversinervus stramineus Compere (Encyrtidae), were dominant onC. celatus andC. alpinus De Lotto. It is suggested that these 3 parasitoids may be potential biological control agents forC. celatus. Several insect predators were found associated withC. celatus in the central highlands but most were only common in ant-free scale populations. An aphelinid primary parasitoid,Coccophagus rusti Compere, was the only natural enemy ofC. viridis located. This species, however, could be of potential as a biological control agent, especially in view of its previous use in biological control against soft scales.      

Electrophoretic study and genetic affinity in theCampanula elatines andC. fragilis (Campanulaceae) rock-plants group from Italy and W. Jugoslavia

Variability and genetic divergence of 11 field populations of seven species of theCampanula elatines andC. fragilis rock-plants group from the Mediterranean and pre-Alpine areas have been studied by starch-gel electrophoretic techniques.Campanula isophylla, C. elatines, C. elatinoides, C. fragilis subsp.fragilis and subs.cavolinii, C. garganica were collected in Italy, whilstC. fenestrellata subsp.istriaca andC. portenschlagiana came from W. Jugoslavia. Twelve enzymatic loci for each population were genetically analysed: PGI-1 and 2, PGM-2, IDH-1 and -2, SKDH, ME, ADH, GOT-2, MPI-1 and -2, SOD-1. The genetic distances among the above mentioned entities have been calculated by Nei's index and depicted in a dendrogram.     

Notes onLaboulbenia stenolophi andLaboulbenia anoplogenii (Ascomycetes, Laboulbeniales)

Laboulbenia stenolophi is reported for the first time from Japan.Stenolophus iridicolor andS. propinquus are added as new hosts. The crowded antheridia and the protruding (bulging) cell IV are characteristic of this fungus, although thalli with an almost normal cell IV sometimes occur.Laboulbenia anoplogenii onAnoplogenius is easily distinguished from what has been calledL. anoplogenii onStenolophus, Astigis, Abacetus andChlaeminus by the following characters: 1) no crowded antheridia can be observed throughout thallus development, but many sterile long branches can be observed instead; 2) cell IV starts to undergo cell division early in thallus development; 3) cell V extends downward to the level of cell VII, rather than extending only as far as the perithecial basal cells; and 4) cell VI is usually longer and extends farther distally than cell III.Anoplogenius is the host genus ofL. anoplogenii and the records from other hosts represent misapplied names.     

Puccinia carici-adenocauli, a new rust fungus onCarex, and its anamorph,Aecidium adenocauli

Field observations and inoculation experiments showed thatAecidium adenocauli onAdenocaulon himalaicum was an anamorph of aPuccinia onCarex hakonensis andC. uda. From comparative morphology with caricicolous puccinias, the rust on theseCarex species was considered as a new species and was named asPuccinia carici-adenocauli. Contribution No. 142, Laboratory of Plant Pathology and Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba     

Cytology ofCrocus sativus and its allies (Iridaceae)

Populations ofC. cartwrightianus, C. hadriaticus andC. thomasii from the Balkans have 2n = 16 as has the Middle EasternC. pallasii subsp.haussknechtii. C. dispathaceus andC. pallasii subsp.pallasii have 2n = 14 whileC. pallasii subsp.turcicus has 2n = 12.C. niveus has 2n = 28 andC. sativus is an autotriploid with 2n = 24. Karyotype variation was found between populations ofC. pallasii subsp.pallasii in Central Turkey and also inC. pallasii subsp.turcicus.     

Leptographium pini-densiflorae sp. nov. from Japanese red pine

ALeptographium species was isolated from deadPinus densiflora at six sites in Japan. The fungus is morphologically most similar toL. lundbergii but could be distinguished from that species by its short stipes, primary branches of conidiophores, and conidia with a rounded to sub-truncate base. In addition, the colony morphology, growth rate and tolerance to the antibiotic cycloheximide of theLeptographium species andL. lundbergii differed markedly. Here we describe the fungus as a new species,Leptographium pini-densiflorae. Contribution No. 144, Laboratory of Plant Pathology and Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba.     

A revision of European taxa ofHyacinthoides sectionSomera (Hyacinthaceae) on the basis of multivariate analysis

Cluster analysis and principal components analysis were used to investigate patterns of morphological variation among specimens of European species of sect.Somera of the genusHyacinthoides (Hyacinthaceae). The results are clearly consistent with the existence of four species (H. italica, H. paivae, H. reverchonii andH. mauritanica). It is proposed that the latter be considered to comprise two subspecies,H. mauritanica subsp.mauritanica andH. mauritanica subsp.vincentina (comb. nov.). A key is presented, together with distribution maps for the five taxa.     

Giemsa karyotypes and their evolutionary significance inScilla bifolia,S. drunensis,andS. vindobonensis (Liliaceae)

Quantitatively evaluated C-banded and conventional karyograms are presented for the related speciesScilla bifolia subsp.danubialis Speta,S. drunensis (Speta)Speta, andS. vindobonensis Speta. On the basis of banding patterns and karyotype structureS. bifolia subsp.danubialis (2n = 18, 2×) andS. drunensis (2n = 36, 4×) are quite similar, whileS. vindobonensis (2n = 18, 2×) is entirely different. There is a moderate degree of karyotypic variation withinS. bifolia subsp.danubialis andS. drunensis. However, inS. vindobonensis karyotypes and banding patterns are almost completely stable over a geographical range of about 500 km. The present results confirm the recent taxonomic separation ofS. vindobonensis fromS. bifolia, and suggest a considerable phylogenetic distance between these two diploid species. The results are discussed with reference to the morphological characters of the species and their geographical distribution.Evolution ofScilla and Related Genera, II.Dedicated to Univ.-Prof. Dr.Elisabeth Tschermak-Woess on the occasion of her 60th birthday.     

The chromosomes ofCunninghamia konishii,C. lanceolata,andTaiwania cryptomerioides (Taxodiaceae)

Karyotype analyses were conducted onCunninghamia konishii, Cunninghamia lanceolata, andTaiwania cryptomerioides, all members ofTaxodiaceae. The somatic chromosome number was found to be 2n = 2x = 22 in all species which concurrs with previous reports. The karyotypes are generally asymmetrical with the smaller chromosomes being more submedian than the larger ones. Chromosomes with unusual or specific structures, thought to be associated with the nucleolar organizing region, were found in each species.Cunninghamia species have a marker chromosome pair with an unusually long secondary constriction.Taiwania has an unusually long kinetochore region present in a submedian chromosome pair.     

Heteroecious life cycle of two graminicolouspuccinia (Uredinales)

Puccinia erythropus, whose uredinial-telial stage occurs onMiscanthus andEularia spp. (Gramineae), was found to have a heteroecious macrocyclic life cycle with the spermogonial-aecial stage onCynanchum sublanceolatum var.obtusum (Asclepiadaceae).Puccinia miyoshiana, which forms the uredinial-telial stage onBothriochloa, Capillipedium, Eccoilopus, andSpodiopogon (Gramineae), is known to form its spermogonial-aecial stage onBuplerum spp. (Umbelliferae). By field observations and artificial inoculations,Bupleurum komarovianum was proved to serve as an additional spermgonial-aecial host of this fungus.     

Identification of a rust fungus onPinus pumila collected in the North Kurils, Russia

Morphological examination and PCR-RFLP analysis of the D1/D2 region in nuclear LSU rDNA were carried out to identify a rust fungus onPinus pumila collected in the North Kurils, Russia. Morphologically, the rust from the North Kurils was similar toPeridermium kurilense andEndocronartium sahoanum var.hokkaidoense in the spore surface structure, dimension and shape. In the RFLPs of the D1/D2 region it was identical toE. sahoanum var.hokkaidoense andE. sahoanum var.sahoanum, but distinct fromCronartium ribicola. Therefore, the rust fungus onP. pumila collected in the North Kurils was identified asE. sahoanum var.hokkaidoense. It was also clarified that a rust reported previously asP. kurilense was also identical withE. sahoanum var.hokkaidoense.     

Using the Tools at Hand: Manual Laterality and Elementary Technology in Cebus spp. and Pan spp.

Cebus and Pan appear to be a remarkable example of evolutionary convergence in behavioral ecology. We examine their apparently analogous solutions to problems posed by laterality of hand function and elementary technology. We scrutinize appropriate published data in a meta-analysis, focusing on Cebus apella and C. capucinus and on Pan paniscus and P. troglodytes. We compare behavioral data in terms of captive versus wild, and tool use versus non-tool use, but notable gaps exist in the data, especially for bonobos. Cebus and Pan spp. are equivalent tool users in captivity, but chimpanzees are notably more extensively so in nature. For hand preference, captive bonobos and wild and captive chimpanzees show ambipreference for non-tool-use patterns. For both Cebus spp. and Pan spp., there is a tendency for individuals to be committed exclusively to one hand or the other for tool use. The data for laterality of hand function fit consistently into the five-level model proposed by McGrew and Marchant (1996).