New species of Telenominae (Hymenoptera,Scelionidae) from the palaearctic fauna

Four new species of Telenominae of the genera Telenomus and Platytelenomus, collected in the territory of the Ukraine, Hungary, and Japan, were described: Telenomus (T.) bicolorus Kononova, T. (T.) ardens Kononova, (T.) michaylovi Kononova, and Platytelenomus mirabilis Kononova. Brief morphological characteristics of the genera Telenomus and Platytelenomus are given, and some notes concerning biology and geographical distribution of the species are presented. Telenomus (T.) bicolorus differs from all the known species of the genus Telenomus in the two-colored body: head and thorax yellow with brownish tint ventrally, mesothorax and abdomen black. The main distinguishing feature of T. (T.) ardens is its smooth shining body, T. (T.) michaylovi is similar to T. (T.) rudis Kozlov. These species can be distinguished by the structure of their antenna. The second to fourth segments of the antennal clava are transverse in T. (T.) michaylovi and are as long as wide in T. (T.) rudis. In addition, the abdominal stem and abdominal tergite II are smooth and shining, while the abdominal stem in T. (T.) rudis is striate along the entire length, and tergite II is finely striate along half of its length. Platytelenomus mirabilis is closely related to P. danubialis Szelényi, but differs in the strongly flattened body, sculpture of the abdominal stem and tergite II, and coloration of the legs. The thorax of P. mirabilis is 4–5 times as wide as high, the abdominal stem is striate along the entire length, tergite II is striate at the base, and the legs, including coxae, are yellow. The thorax of P. danubialis is 4 times as wide as high, the abdominal stem and tergite II are smooth and shining, and the legs are brown.     

New species of scelionids (Hymenoptera,Scelionidae) of the Israel fauna

Four new species of Scelionidae of the genera Telenomus (subgenus Telenomus) and Macroteleia (Telenomus (T.) ordanus Kononova, T. (T.) lunatus Kononova, Macroteleia israiliensis Kononova, and M. simutniki Kononova) from Israel are described. T. (T.) ordanus differs from the species of the subgenus Telenomus in the presence of short rugae on abdominal tergite II, smooth and shiny abdominal stem, and yellow legs. T. (T.) lunatus, similar to T. (T.) clavatus Kozlov et Kononova, can be distinguished by the smaller size, finer body sculpture, and sculpture of abdominal tergite II. Macroteleia israiliensis differs from M. rufa Szelényi in the more slender body and its coloration, as well as in the structure of the propodeum. M. simutniki differs from M. aurea Kozlov et Kononova in the wider abdomen and in the antennal structure (the 2nd antennal segment is wider, segments of the antennal club are as long as wide).     

The Psilostomidae Looss, 1900 (<Emphasis Type="Italic">sensu stricto</Emphasis>) (Digenea: Echinostomatoidea): description of three new genera and a key to the genera of the family

Three new psilostomid genera, Byrdtrema n. g., Longisaccus n. g. and Macracetabulum n. g., each with a single species, are described from ducks, Aix sponsa (L.) and Bucephala albeola (L.) in North America. Byrdtrema n. g. and Macracetabulum n. g. possess a bipartite seminal vesicle and share this character with four psilostomid genera, Grysoma Byrd, Bogitsh & Maples, 1961, Neopsilotrema Kudlai, Pulis, Kostadinova & Tkach, 2016, Psilostomum Looss, 1899 and Psilotornus Byrd & Prestwood, 1969. Byrdtrema n. g. differs from Macracetabulum n. g. in the shape of the body (elongate vs elongate-oval); the position of the ventral sucker (in first third of body vs just pre-equatorial); the shorter forebody; as well as in the smaller size of the eggs in relation to body length. Both new genera differ from (i) Grysoma by the nature of the vitellarium (large, compact follicles with small vitelline cells vs weakly defined follicles with large vitelline cells, respectively) and the smaller size of the eggs in relation to body length; (ii) Psilostomum in the posterior extend of the cirrus-sac in relation to ventral sucker (slightly posterior vs more posterior), the location of the genital pore (at the level of oesophagus vs just postbifurcal), the shorter length of uterine and longer post-testicular fields in relation to body length, and the anterior limits of vitellarium (at the level of ventral sucker vs posterior to ventral sucker); (iii) Psilotornus by the presence of a muscular pharynx (vs absent or rudimentary) and the location of the cirrus-sac (antero-dorsal to ventral sucker or more posterior vs entirely anterior to ventral sucker) and ovary (in hindbody vs in forebody). Byrdtrema n. g. differs from Neopsilotrema in the shape of the body (elongate vs subspherical to elongate-oval) and ventral sucker (elongate-oval vs subspherical to transversely oval), the shorter forebody and smaller eggs in relation to body length. Macracetabulum n. g. differs from Neopsilotrema by the shape of the ventral sucker (elongate-oval vs subspherical to transversely oval), the anterior limits of vitellarium (level of middle of ventral sucker vs level of intestinal bifurcation or anterior testis); and the slightly smaller size of eggs in relation to body length. Among the psilostomid genera, Longisaccus n. g. shows close affinities to Psilochasmus Lühe, 1909 in the presence of the long cirrus-sac and tubular internal seminal vesicle but can be clearly distinguished from the latter by the absence of the retractile tail-like process. In combination with molecular data, the above differences justify the recognition of three new genera. A key to the genera of the Psilostomidae is provided.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isospora</Emphasis> Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the twist-necked turtle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platemys platycephala</Emphasis> (Schneider) (Testudines: Chelidae) in Brazil

A new coccidian species of the genus Isospora Schneider 1881 (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) is reported from a single specimen of chelid turtle, Platemys platycephala (Schneider, 1792), obtained in a flooded area of the Amazonian municipality of Altamira, in Pará State, northern Brazil. The oöcysts of Isospora platemysi n. sp. are subspheroidal, 19.0–24.0 × 22.5–18.5 (22.6 × 20.8) µm in size [length/width ratio 1.0–1.1 (1.1)], with a colourless wall, 1.0–1.9 (1.4) wide, with two smooth layers; polar granule is present, oöcyst residuum and micropyle are both absent. The sporocyst is ovoidal, 10.0–12.1 × 8.0–10.0 (11.0 × 9.1) µm [length/width ratio 1.1–1.3 (1.2), with a knob-like Stieda body. Sub-Stieda body is present, rounded irregular-trapezoidal; para-Stieda body is absent. Sporocyst residuum is dispersed and composed of granules of differing sizes. This is only the fifth record of Isospora in chelonians, and the first report of a coccidian parasite of the genus Platemys.     

New species of the bristletail genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allopsontus</Emphasis> Silv. (Microcoryphia,Machilidae) from Southeastern Kazakhstan and Abkhazia

Two new bristletail species, Allopsontus (Anisoptinus) nigrus sp. n. from Southeastern Kazakhstan and A. (Kaplinilis) abkhazicus sp. n. from Abkhazia, are described. A. nigrus sp. n. differs from the only other known species of the subgenus Anisoptinus, A. borgustani Kaplin 2015, in a number of characters, namely, in more rounded paired ocelli, an extended apical segment of the labial palpus, a long articulated ovipositor, and in the absence of short appressed pigmented setulae on the maxillary and labial palpi in males. A. abkhazicus sp. n. can be easily distinguished from all the other known species of the subgenus Kaplinilis by the absence of short appressed pigmented setulae on the maxillary and labial palpi in the males, the absence of a projection with numerous spiniform setae on the male fore femur, and in shorter male genital appendages. The ocellus of the male and female is 2.8-2.9 times as wide as long; the length to width ratio of the eye is 0.9-1.0; the ovipositor consists of 60 divisions.     

Taxonomy of Soldier Flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) of Sunderban Biosphere Reserve,India

The present communication deals with recording of nine species of soldier flies (Insecta: Diptera: Stratiomyidae) from Sunderban Biosphere Reserve of India, of which, Tinda indica (Walker, 1851), Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758), Odontomyia kashmirensis Brunetti, 1920, Odontomyia viridana (Wiedemann, 1824), Prosopochrysa vitripennis (Doleschall, 1856) are being reported for the first time from this unique and globally acclaimed mangrove ecosystem. Odontomyia kashmirensis Brunetti, 1920 is reported for the first time from the state of West Bengal. A key to identify these species is provided with taxonomic notes.     

Two new species of poecilostomatoid copepods symbiotic on the venomous echinoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxopneustes pileolus</Emphasis> (Lamarck) (Echinodermata) from Vietnam

Two new coexisting species of crustacean copepods (Poecilostomatoida) belonging to the echinoid-specific genera Mecomerinx Humes, 1977 (Pseudanthessiidae) and Clavisodalis Humes, 1970 (Taeniacanthidae) found associated with the venomous flower urchin Toxopneustes pileolus (Lamarck) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea: Toxopneustidae) in the South China Sea (Vietnam) are described. The diagnostic features of Mecomerinx ohtsukai n. sp. are: (i) three setae and one aesthetasc on the first segment of antennules; (ii) relatively long caudal ramus; (iii) elongated terminal segment of the antenna; and (iv) two claws on the terminal segment of antenna slightly unequal in length. The taeniacanthid copepod Clavisodalis toxopneusti n. sp. is distinguished from all seven known congeners by having two-segmented endopod of the legs 2–4 and four setae on the distal endopodal segment of the leg 1. This is the first report on copepods associated with echinoids of the genus Toxopneustes Agassiz and the first finding of Mecomerinx as well as taeniacanthid copepods in the South China Sea associated with echinoids.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichodina</Emphasis> Ehrenberg, 1830 (Ciliophora: Trichodinidae) infecting farmed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clarias gariepinus</Emphasis> (Burchell) (Siluriformes: Clariidae) in Cuba

A new species of Trichodina Ehrenberg, 1830 collected from the skin and fins of farmed North African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) fingerlings, is described. The new species can be distinguished from other trichodinids by the characteristics of the adhesive disc, especially by the great number of denticles. Trichodina merciae n. sp. is morphologically similar to T. renicola (Mueller, 1931) and T. marplatensis Martorelli, Marcotegui & Alda, 2008, in the number of denticles, but differs in the morphometric data, denticle morphology, environment and location. Trichodina merciae n. sp. has broad sickle-shaped blades and thin, straight rays, while T. marplatensis has broad club-shaped blades and wide S-shaped rays. Besides, denticle length, blade length, ray length, width of central part and denticle span of the new species are greater than T. marplatensis. However, the diameter of denticle ring and the diameter of the central area in T. marplatensis is larger than the ones in T. merciae n. sp. This is the first record of freshwater ectoparasite trichodinid with an average number of denticles greater than 50.     

Genetic dissection and validation of candidate genes for flag leaf size in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

Key message

Two major loci with functional candidate genes were identified and validated affecting flag leaf size, which offer desirable genes to improve leaf architecture and photosynthetic capacity in rice.

Abstract

Leaf size is a major determinant of plant architecture and yield potential in crops. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms regulating leaf size remain largely elusive. In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for flag leaf length and flag leaf width in rice were detected with high-density single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping of a chromosomal segment substitution line (CSSL) population, in which each line carries one or a few chromosomal segments from the japonica cultivar Nipponbare in a common background of the indica variety Zhenshan 97. In total, 14 QTLs for flag leaf length and nine QTLs for flag leaf width were identified in the CSSL population. Among them, qFW4-2 for flag leaf width was mapped to a 37-kb interval, with the most likely candidate gene being the previously characterized NAL1. Another major QTL for both flag leaf width and length was delimited by substitution mapping to a small region of 13.5 kb that contains a single gene, Ghd7.1. Mutants of Ghd7.1 generated using CRISPR/CAS9 approach showed reduced leaf size. Allelic variation analyses also validated Ghd7.1 as a functional candidate gene for leaf size, photosynthetic capacity and other yield-related traits. These results provide useful genetic information for the improvement of leaf size and yield in rice breeding programs.

     

New species of the aphid tribe Macrosiphini (Homoptera,Aphididae, Aphidinae) from Kazakhstan

Two new species of the genera Uroleucon Mordvilko, 1914 and Pleotrichophorus Börner, 1930 are described from Kazakhstan. Uroleucon dzhungaricum sp. n. feeding on Senecio nemorensis L. (Asteraceae) in the Dzhungar Ala Tau is closely related to U. minor (Börner, 1940). Both these species differ from the closely related U. solidaginis (Fabricius, 1794) in a smaller length ratio between the processus terminalis and the 3rd antennal segment (0.8–1.0 versus 1.0–1.5). The new species differs from U. minor (Born.) in a greater number of the secondary rhinaria on the 3rd antennal segment of the apterous viviparous females (21–37 versus 15–21), in a fewer number of hairs on the cauda (10–16 and 15–23), and in the host plant. Pleotrichophorus ugamicus Kadyrbekov, sp. n. feeding on Artemisia santolinifolia Turcz. is described from the Sairam-Ugam Natural Park (Southern Kazakhstan). The new species is similar to P. glandulosus (Kaltenbach, 1846) and P. achilleae Holman, 1965. Pleotrichophorus ugamicus sp. n. differs from these species in the length ratio of the processus terminalis to the base of the 6th antennal segment (4.1–5.0 versus 5.0–9.0 and 5.1–6.2), in that of the ultimate rostral segment to the 2nd segment of the hind tarsus (0.68–0.76 versus 0.80–0.97 and 0.80–0.90), and in the host plant. This species differs from P. glandulosus in the ratio of the length of dorsal hairs on tergites I–V to the basal diameter of the 3rd antennal segment (1.0–1.2 and 1.4–1.7). In addition, the new species differs from P. achilleae in the length ratio of the 3rd antennal segment to the 6th segment (0.56–0.66 versus 0.70–0.87) and to the processus terminalis (0.67-0.82 versus 1.39–1.80), as well as in the shape of the dorsal hairs. A key to the Palaearctic species of the genus Pleotrichophorus is presented.     

VeA of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> increases spore dispersing capacity by impacting conidiophore architecture

Aspergillus species are highly abundant fungi worldwide. Their conidia are among the most dominant fungal spores in the air. Conidia are formed in chains on the vesicle of the asexual reproductive structure called the conidiophore. Here, it is shown that the velvet protein VeA of Aspergillus niger maximizes the diameter of the vesicle and the spore chain length. The length and width of the conidiophore stalk and vesicle were reduced nearly twofold in a ΔveA strain. The latter implies a fourfold reduced surface area to develop chains of spores. Over and above this, the conidial chain length was approximately fivefold reduced. The calculated 20-fold reduction in formation of conidia by ΔveA fits the 8- to 17-fold decrease in counted spore numbers. Notably, morphology of the ΔveA conidiophores of A. niger was very similar to that of wild-type Aspergillus sydowii. This suggests that VeA is key in conidiophore architecture diversity in the fungal kingdom. The finding that biomass formation of the A. niger ΔveA strain was reduced twofold shows that VeA not only impacts dispersion capacity but also colonization capacity of A. niger.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> spp. increases root biomass and tropane alkaloid yields in transgenic hairy roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Datura</Emphasis> spp.

Transgenic hairy roots of Datura spp., established using strain A4 of Agrobacterium rhizogenes, are genetically stable and produce high levels of tropane alkaloids. To increase biomass and tropane alkaloid content of this plant tissue, four Pseudomonas strains, Pseudomonas fluorescens P64, P66, C7R12, and Pseudomonas putida PP01 were assayed as biotic elicitors on transgenic hairy roots of Datura stramonium, Datura tatula, and Datura innoxia. Alkaloids were extracted from dried biomass, and hyoscyamine and scopolamine were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. D. stramonium and D. innoxia biomass production was stimulated by all Pseudomonas spp. strains after a 5-d treatment. All strains of P. fluorescens increased hyoscyamine yields compared to untreated cultures after both 5 and 10 d of treatment. Hyoscyamine yields were highest in D. tatula cultures exposed to a 5-d treatment with C7R12 (16.633 + 0.456 mg g^?1 dry weight, a 431% increase) although the highest yield increases compared to the control were observed in D. stramonium cultures exposed to strains P64 (511% increase) and C7R12 (583% increase) for 10 d. D. innoxia showed the highest scopolamine yields after elicitation with P. fluorescens strains P64 for 5 d (0.653 + 0.021 mg g^?1 dry weight, a 265% increase) and P66 for 5 and 10 d (5 d, 0.754 + 0.0.031 mg g^?1 dry weight, a 321% increase; 10 d 0.634 + 0.046 mg g^?1 dry weight, a 277% increase). These results show that the Pseudomonas strains studied here can positively and significantly affect biomass and the yields of hyoscyamine and scopolamine from transgenic roots of the three Datura species.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scytonema</Emphasis> isolated from Bilaspur,Chhattisgarh, India using the polyphasic approach

A false branching cyanobacterium (strain 1F-PS) isolated from a fresh water body of Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh, India) is described here as a new species of the polyphyletic genus Scytonema. Morphological, ecological, molecular and phylogenetic evidence validated the strain as a new species. Observations of the filaments in different phases of growth, different levels of microscopic studies, the presence of a textured thin sheath throughout the length of the trichome, differences in the shape and dimensions of the vegetative cells and heterocytes and ecological attributes show that the strain differed from the rest of the closely related species. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene resulted in 99% similarity with Scytonema bilaspurensis and 97.07% sequence similarity with Scytonema hofmannii PCC 7110, while rbcl and psbA sequences showed 99 and 97% similarities with S. bilaspurensis, respectively. Phylogenetic assessments indicated a large phylogenetic distance and separate clustering of the strain 1F-PS for all the molecular markers.     

Blood Feeding Status,Gonotrophic Cycle and Survivorship of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti</Emphasis> (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) Caught in Churches from Merida,Yucatan, Mexico

Blood-feeding status, gonotrophic cycle, and survival rates of Aedes (Stegmyia) aegypti (L.) was investigated in catholic churches from Merida, Yucatan. Female Ae. aegypti were caught using backpack aspirator during 25 consecutive days in rainy (2015) and dry season (2016). Blood-feeding status was determined by external examination of the abdomen and classified as unfed, fed, and gravid. Daily changes in the parous–nulliparous ratio were recorded, and the gonotrophic cycle length was estimated by a time series analysis. Also, was observed the vitellogenesis to monitoring egg maturity. In total, 408 females Ae. aegypti were caught, and there was a significant difference in the number of females collected per season (Z = ?6.729, P ≤ 0.05). A great number was caught in the rainy season (n = 329). In the dry season, 79 females were caught, which the fed females were twice greatest than the unfed. The length of gonotrophic cycle was estimated on the base of a high correlation coefficient value appearing every 4 days in rainy at 26.7 ± 1.22°C, and 3 days in dry season at 29.8 ± 1.47°C. The daily survival rate of the Ae. aegypti population was higher in both seasons, 0.94 and 0.93 for the rainy and dry season, respectively. The minimum time estimated for developing mature eggs after blood feeding was similar in both seasons (3.5 days in rainy versus 3.25 days in dry). The measurement of the vectorial capacity of Ae. aegypti in catholic churches could help to understand the dynamics of transmission of arboviruses in sites with high human aggregation.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bothriocephalus</Emphasis> Rudolphi, 1808 (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidea) from marine fish off Australia and New Caledonia

Two new species of bothriocephalidean tapeworms, Bothriocephalus australis n. sp. from the flatheads Platycephalus bassensis Cuvier (type host) and P. aurimaculatus Knapp off southern Australia and B. celineae n. sp. from a hybrid serranid Cephalopholis aurantia (Val.) × C. spiloparaea (Val.) from off New Caledonia, are described. B. australis is unique in the possession of the combination of the three characters: an elongate, obliquely situated cirrus-sac; a wide genital atrium surrounded by chromophilic cells; and a well-developed apical disc. B. celineae is typified by the presence of a low number of testes per segment (14–26), forming one or two incomplete longitudinal bands on each side of segment, and the small size of the strobila (total length 24 mm) which consists of less than 100 segments.