Relationships amongOmphalotus species (Paxillaceae) based on restriction sites in the ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region

Genetic relationships for several species of the fungusOmphalotus were estimated by comparing the presence or absence of restriction sites in the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Results placeO. olearius, O. subilludens andO. olivascens in a single clade.Omphalotus illudens, usually thought to be related toO. subilludens, was placed in a second clade, more closely related toO. nidiformis. Omphalotus mexicana is distinct from all other examinedOmphalotus species.     

Mating systems inOmphalotus (Paxillaceae, Agaricales)

Pairings of monokaryon cultures representingOmphalotus illudens (eastern North America),O. nidiformis (southeastern Australia),O. olearius (southern Europe),O. olivascens (North American Pacific coast), andO. subilludens (southern North America) showed widely variable compatibility patterns.Omphalotus olearius ×O. subilludens ×O. olivascens showed high compatibility, whileO. illudens was significantly less compatible with all other taxa. Isolates ofOmphalotus nidiformis represented an almost genetically isolated biological species. The role of partial compatibility in nomenclatural ranking is discussed.     

Prenylflavonoid variation in Humulus lupulus: distribution and taxonomic significance of xanthogalenol and 4'-O-methylxanthohumol

The resins produced by either lupulin or leaf glands of over 120 plants of Humulus lupulus and one plant of H. japonicus (Cannabinaceae) were analyzed for the presence of prenylated flavonoids. The H. lupulus taxa investigated were H. lupulus var. lupulus from Europe, H. lupulus var. cordifolius from Japan, and H. lupulus from North America. Fifty-two of the plants examined were cultivars of European, American, and Japanese origin. Twenty-two flavonoids were detected in the glandular exudates of H. lupulus by HPLC-MS MS. Xanthohumol (3'-prenyl-6'-O-methylchalconaringenin) was the principal prenylflavonoid in all H. lupulus plants and was accompanied by 11 structurally similar chalcones. Ten flavonoids were identified as the flavanone isomers of these chalcones. Three other prenylchalcones were isolated from H. lupulus cv. 'Galena', one of which was identified as 3'-prenyl-4'-O-methylchalconaringenin (named 'xanthogalenol'). The distribution of three 4'-O-methylchalcones, i.e. xanthogalenol, 4'-O-methylxanthohumol, and 4',6'-di-O-methylchalconaringenin, was found to be limited to wild American plants from the Missouri-Mississippi river basin, H. lupulus var. cordifolius, and most of their descendents. These 4'-O-methylchalcones were absent from cultivars of European origin, and from wild hops from Europe and southwestern USA. The flavonoid dichotomy (presence versus absence of 4'-O-methylchalcones) indicates that there are at least two evolutionary lineages within H. lupulus (European and Japanese American), which is in agreement with morphological, molecular, and phytogeographical evidence. Leaf glands of H. japonicus from eastern Asia did not produce the H. lupulus prenylflavonoids.     

中国类脐菇属(类脐菇科)的分类(英文)

作者对国产类脐菇属Omphalotus(含亮菌属Lampteromyces)标本进行了研究,报道4种,即鞭囊类脐菇O.flagelliformis、日本类脐菇O.guepiniformis、莽山类脐菇O.mangensis和亮耳菌Lampteromyces luminescens,其中鞭囊类脐菇为新种。作者对亮耳菌的模式标本进行了研究,发现它与日本类脐菇即使不是同一物种也是很近缘的,但由于没有亮耳菌模式产地或其附近地区的更多标本用于形态和分子系统发育的比较,故不对其进行分类处理。利用新近采自我国东北的标本,作者对日本类脐菇的显微特征进行了较为详细地研究,发现日本类脐菇、莽山类脐菇和亮耳菌都具有厚壁担孢子,厚壁担孢子的孢子壁外表在显微镜下看上去粗糙至不平滑,这可能是因为孢子壁不同区域的密度不同所致。云南桩菇Paxillus yunnanensis曾被猜测为类脐菇属的物种,作者对该种的模式标本进行了研究,发现模式标本具有巨大的褶缘囊状体,应是假白蘑属Tricholomopsis的成员。     

中国鹅膏菌属(担子菌)的物种多样性

鹅膏菌属（Ａｍａｎｉｔａ）是一个近世界性广布的大属,全球已被描述而又被承认的有近５００种。在文献中,我国此属已记载约２００种。然而,许多种都是原初描述于欧洲或北美的种类。近来的研究表明,东亚的鹅膏菌独特且有其自身的分布范围。东亚的有些种虽与产于欧洲或北美的某些种相似,但仔细的野外观察,详尽的形态解剖学和分子进化生物学研究结果表明,东亚的鹅膏菌是独立的分类群。在欧洲,人们有采集著名食菌恺撒鹅膏菌的习     

Statistical optimization of lovastatin production by Omphalotus olearius (DC.) singer in submerged fermentation

In this study, culture conditions were optimized to improve lovastatin production by Omphalotus olearius, isolate OBCC 2002, using statistical experimental designs. The Plackett–Burman design was used to select important variables affecting lovastatin production. Accordingly, glucose, peptone, and agitation speed were determined as the variables that have influence on lovastatin production. In a further experiment, these variables were optimized with a Box–Behnken design and applied in a submerged process; this resulted in 12.51 mg/L lovastatin production on a medium containing glucose (10 g/L), peptone (5 g/L), thiamine (1 mg/L), and NaCl (0.4 g/L) under static conditions. This level of lovastatin production is eight times higher than that produced under unoptimized media and growth conditions by Omphalotus olearius. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to optimize submerged fermentation process for lovastatin production by Omphalotus olearius.     

Five new combinations in the yeast genus Zygofabospora Kudriavzev emend. G. Naumov (pro parte Kluyveromyces) based on genetic data

The rDNA sequencing data obtained during the last 5 years in several laboratories clearly demonstrate that within the heterogeneous genus Kluyveromyces there is a group of highly related species, which we refer to as the genus Zygofabospora Kudriavzev 1960 emend. G. Naumov 2002. This genus includes four hybridizing species, Zf. marxiana, Zf. dobzhanskii, Zf. lactis, Zf. wickerhamii (Zygofabospora sensu stricto), and two taxonomically related species, Zf. aestuarii, Zf. nonfermentans (Nagahama et al.) G. Naumov comb. nov. (Zygofabospora sensu lato). We studied the relationships of the yeasts composing the Zf. lactis complex. Genetic hybridization analysis and molecular karyotyping revealed partial genetic-isolation varieties, Zf. lactis var. drosophilarum (Shehata et al.) G. Naumov comb. nov. and Zf. lactis var. phaseolospora (Shehata et al.) G. Naumov comb. nov. from North America, and Zf. lactis var. krassilnikovii (Kudriavzev) G. Naumov comb. nov. from Europe. The dairy yeast Zf. lactis var. lactis G. Naumov comb. nov. yields highly fertile hybrids with its wild ancestor Zf. lactis var. krassilnikovii and semi-sterile hybrids with North American taxa. Besides, Zf. lactis var. lactis and Zf. lactis var. krassilnikovii formed fertile hybrids with the South African yeast Zf. lactis var. vanudenii (van der Walt et Nel) G. Naumov comb. nov. The reinstatement of the latter yeast at the variety level has been done taking into account the results of the present study and the literature data on its geographic isolation, high divergence of the karyotype and mitochondrial DNA.     

Molecular evidence for an Asian origin and a unique westward migration of species in the genus Castanea via Europe to North America

The genus Castanea (Fagaceae) is widely distributed in the deciduous forests of the Northern Hemisphere. The striking similarity between the floras of eastern Asia and those of eastern North America and the difference in chestnut blight resistance among species has been of interest to botanists for a century. To infer the biogeographical history of the genus, the phylogeny of Castanea was estimated using DNA sequence data from different regions of the chloroplast genome. Sequencing results support the genus Castanea as a monophyletic group with Castanea crenata as basal. The three Chinese species form a strongly supported sister clade to the North American and European clade. A unique westward expansion of extant Castanea species is hypothesized with Castanea originating in eastern Asia, an initial diversification within Asia during the Eocene followed by intercontinental dispersion and divergence between the Chinese and the European/North American species during the middle Eocene and a split between the European and the North American species in the late Eocene. The differentiation within North America and China might have occurred in early or late Miocene. The North America species are supported as a clade with C. pumila var. ozarkensis, the Ozark chinkapin, as the basal lineage, sister to the group comprising C. pumila var. pumila, the Allegheny chinkapin, and Castanea dentata, the American chestnut. Morphological evolution of one nut per bur in the genus may have occurred independently on two continents.     

Historical biogeography of Hexabathynella , a cosmopolitan genus of groundwater Syncarida (Crustacea, Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae)

Hexabathynella is the only cosmopolitan genus of the order Bathynellacea (Crustacea). The known species number 18, found in Europe (9), Africa (1), South America (2), North America (3) and Australia and New Zealand (3). Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the least derived species are those from South America and the most derived those from the Iberian Peninsula, North America and Australia. The five species with the most plesiomorphic characters occur in salt or brackish water, which supports a marine origin for the genus. Phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses suggest that the distribution of the genus can be explained by dispersion and a double vicariant biogeographical model based on plate tectonics and the evolution of the Tethys during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 78 , 457–466.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the genus Hoplia Illiger (Scarabaeidae: Hopliinae)

Results of phylogenetic analysis based on 34 morphological characters of 24 species of 11 genera of Hopliinae from Europe, Japan, South Africa, Madagascar, North and Central America, indicates that the genus Hoplia is a monophyletic group with species distributed in Europe, Japan and America. Based in this analysis the Asiatic genus Ectinohoplia is the closest relative of the genus Hoplia, and the South American genus Barybas (Melolonthinae: Macrodactylini) is the sister group of Hopliinae.     

Two new species of Gyrodactylus von Nordmann, 1832 (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) parasitizing Girardinichthys multiradiatus (Cyprinodontiformes: Goodeidae), an endemic freshwater fish from central Mexico

Gyrodactylus mexicanus n. sp. and Gyrodactylus lamothei n. sp. are described from the fins and skin of Girardinichthys multiradiatus, an endemic freshwater fish from central Mexico. Gyrodactylus mexicanus is compared to other Gyrodactylus species that parasitize Fundulus spp., the phylogenetically closest group to the Goodeidae from North America. Gyrodactylus mexicanus is distinguished by having large anchors with well-developed superficial roots, enlarged hooks with a proximally disrupted shank (ligament), and a ventral bar with 2 poorly developed anterolateral projections and a small medial process. Gyrodactylus lamothei is distinguished from G. mexicanus and from other species of Gyrodactylus on the North American continent by having anchors with a sclerite on the superficial root and robust hooks with a straight shaft and a recurved point.     

原端齿鲨在中国的发现

原端齿鲨 (Protacrodus) 以往只见于德国和美国的上泥盆统中,这次从苏北油田钻孔岩样中发现的一枚牙齿具有该属之主要形态特征,经比较,确定其为—新种——Protacrodus orientalis sp. nov. 此新种在齿冠各齿头的嵴突数、齿冠的高宽比以及齿根表面血管神经通孔的排列形式等方面均有别于欧美的已定种.     

Extended phylogeny of Aquilegia: the biogeographical and ecological patterns of two simultaneous but contrasting radiations

Studies of the North American columbines (Aquilegia, Ranunculaceae) have supported the view that adaptive radiations in animal-pollinated plants proceed through pollinator specialisation and floral differentiation. However, although the diversity of pollinators and floral morphology is much lower in Europe and Asia than in North America, the number of columbine species is similar in the three continents. This supports the hypothesis that habitat and pollinator specialisation have contributed differently to the radiation of columbines in different continents. To establish the basic background to test this hypothesis, we expanded the molecular phylogeny of the genus to include a representative set of species from each continent. Our results suggest that the diversity of the genus is the result of two independent events of radiation, one involving Asiatic and North American species and the other involving Asiatic and European species. The ancestors of both lineages probably occupied the mountains of south-central Siberia. North American and European columbines are monophyletic within their respective lineages. The genus originated between 6.18 and 6.57 million years (Myr) ago, with the main pulses of diversification starting around 3 Myr ago both in Europe (1.25–3.96 Myr ago) and North America (1.42–5.01 Myr ago). The type of habitat occupied shifted more often in the Euroasiatic lineage, while pollination vectors shifted more often in the Asiatic-North American lineage. Moreover, while allopatric speciation predominated in the European lineage, sympatric speciation acted in the North American one. In conclusion, the radiation of columbines in Europe and North America involved similar rates of diversification and took place simultaneously and independently. However, the ecological drivers of radiation were different: geographic isolation and shifts in habitat use were more important in Europe while reproductive isolation linked to shifts in pollinator specialisation additionally acted in North America.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Ganoderma based on nearly complete mitochondrial small-subunit ribosomal DNA sequences

Characteristics and structures of mt SSU rDNA were investigated for the phylogenetic study of Ganoderma. Phylogenetic information was concentrated mostly in the V1, V4, V5, V6 and V9 variable domains, but informative sites in conserved domains also significantly contributed in resolving phylogenetic relationships between Ganoderma groups. Secondary structure information of variable domains was found to be a useful marker in delineation of phylogenetic groups. Strains of Ganoderma species used in this study were divided into six monophyletic groups. Ganoderma colossus made a distinct basal lineage from other Ganoderma species and Tomophagus, created for G. colosuss, appeared to be a valid genus. Ganoderma applanatum and G. lobatum classified in subgenus Elfvingia made a monophyletic group. Ganoderma tsugae from North America and G. valesiacum from Europe, both living on conifers, were closely related. Ganoderma oregonense and strains labeled G. lucidum from Europe and Canada were grouped with G. tsugae and G. valesiacum. Strains labeled G. lucidum living on hardwoods from the United States and Taiwan were grouped with G. resinaceum, G. pfeifferi and G. subamboinense var. laevisporum, and they all produced chlamydospores. Two strains labeled G. lucidum and three strains labeled G. resinaceum from America were concluded to be conspecific. Strains labeled G. lucidum from Korea and Japan were monophyletic and were distinguished from strains labeled G. lucidum from Europe and North America. Host relationships and the presence of chlamydospores in culture proved to be important characteristics in the systematics as well as the phylogenetic relationships of Ganoderma.     

Phylogeny and Phytogeography of Eupatorium (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae): Insights from Sequence Data of the nrDNA ITS Regions and cpDNA RFLP

Eupatorium were examined by sequencing the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and restriction site analysis of chloroplast DNA. Molecular data provided strong evidence that (1) this genus originated in North America, (2) the genus diverged into three morphological species groups, Eutrochium, Traganthes and Uncasia in North America, and (3) one of the North American Uncasia lineages migrated into temperate Europe and eastern Asia over the Bering land bridge. The estimated divergence times support a late Miocene to early Pliocene migration from North America to Eurasia via the Bering land bridge. A European species was sister to all of the eastern Asian species examined. The disjunct distribution pattern of the genus Eupatorium is incongruent with the classical Arcto-Tertiary geoflora concept. Received 13 September 1999/ Accepted in revised form 4 January 2000     

Conjugates of the fungal cytotoxin illudin M with improved tumour specificity

A simplified procedure for the isolation of gram quantities of illudin M from culture broths of basidiomycete Omphalotus olearius is described. Esters of illudin M with docosahexaenoic acid, chlorambucil, demethylcantharidinic acid (endothall) and 2,2'-bipyridyl-5,5'-dicarboxylic acid were synthesised and tested for cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis in two clinically relevant tumour cell lines (Panc-1 pancreas carcinoma and HT-29 colon carcinoma) and in non-malignant human foreskin fibroblasts. The demethylcantharidin and the bipyridine conjugates retained the cytotoxicity of the parent illudin M while displaying an improved specificity for the tumour cells over the fibroblasts.     

Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of the Holarctic wetland leaf beetle of the genus Plateumaris

Leaf beetles of the genus Plateumaris inhabit wetlands across the temperate zone of the Holarctic region. To explore the phylogeographic relationships among North American, East Asian, and European members of this genus and the origin of the species endemic to Japan, we studied the molecular phylogeny of 20 of the 27 species in this genus using partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and the 16S and nuclear 28S rRNA genes. The molecular phylogeny revealed that three species endemic to Europe are monophyletic and sister to the remaining 11 North American and six Asian species. Within the latter clade, North American and Asian species did not show reciprocal monophyly. Dispersal-vicariance analysis and divergence time estimation revealed that the European and North America-Asian lineages diverged during the Eocene. Moreover, subsequent differentiation occurred repeatedly between North American and Asian species, which was facilitated by three dispersal events from North America to Asia and one in the opposite direction during the late Eocene through the late Miocene. Two Japanese endemics originated from different divergence events; one differentiated from the mainland lineage after differentiation from the North American lineage, whereas the other showed a deep coalescence from the North American lineage with no present-day sister species on the East Asian mainland. This study of extant insects provides molecular phylogenetic evidence for ancient vicariance between Europe and East Asia-North America, and for more recent (but pre-Pleistocene) faunal exchanges between East Asia and North America.     

New finds ofOmphalosaurus and a review of Triassic ichthyosaur paleobiogeography

Triassic ichthyosaurs are very widespread and diverse but most taxa are poorly known. New discoveries, such as described in this paper, underscore the first statement but only slowy invalidate the second. The first associated skeleton of the unusual durophagous ichthyosaurOmphalosaurus (O. wolfi) is reported from the Middle Triassic (earliest Ladinian) of the northern Alps. The vertebrae are of the ichthyosaurian type, firmly establishing the ichthyosaurian affinities of the genus. A round bone from the Muschelkalk of Franconia, Germany, is identified and described as a left humerus ofOmphalosaurus sp. These finds greatly extend the paleogeographic and temporal range ofOmphalosaurus which previously was only known from the western cratonic margin of North America and from Spitsbergen. The new records ofOmphalosaurus allow a revised differential diagnosis of the genus and a revision of its species. Valid species ofOmphalosaurus areO. nettarhynchus, O. nevadanus, andO. wolfi. In conjunction with such new insights into Triassic ichthyosaur distribution, it is necessary to address the validity of the poorly known genera such as the Middle TriassicPessosaurus. This taxon must be considered invalid because it lacks diagnostic characters. In assessing progress in research on Triassic ichthyosaurs and their paleobiogeography, it becomes apparent that supra-specific diversity appears largely known, at least for the pre-Norian record of North America, Europe, and East Asia.     

The Triterpenoid Saponins of Rhizomes of Panax laponicus C.A. Meyer var. angustifolius(Burk.) Cheng et Chu

From the rhizome of Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer var. angustifolius (Burk.) Cheng et Chu collected in Yunnan, 10 triterpenoid saponins were isolated with SiO2 chromatograph and reversed phase chromatograph. The saponins were identified as ginsenoside Ro (1), Rd (7), Rg1 (8), Rhl (9), notoginsenoside R1 (6), chikusetsusaponin Ⅳ(4), Ⅳa(2), zingibroside R1(3), oleanolic acid 28-β-D-glucoside (10) and oleanolic acid 3-β-D-glucuronoside (5) respectively, by means of 13C-NMR, MS of acetate, and chemical methods, as well as compared with authentic samples. Among the rest, (5), a prosaponin of ginsenoside Ro (1) was firstly isolation from species of genus Panax. The fact that saponin constituents of rhizome of var. angustifolius was similar to P. japonicus and var. major, further supported the view that three taxes belonged to a variational limit of one species.