Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellites in the groundnut seed beetle,Caryedon serratus (Coleoptera,Bruchidae)

Caryedon serratus feeds on the seeds of four genera of wild Caesalpinioideae. It recently became a major pest of groundnut in Africa. To determine the extent of gene flow and isolation between wild and groundnut‐feeding populations, we isolated and characterized 10 microsatellite loci in this species. Polymorphism ranged from three to 15 alleles in the 80 individuals collected in four localities in Senegal on five host plants.     

Phylogeny of West AfricanCaryedon(Coleoptera: Bruchidae): Congruence between Molecular and Morphological Data

Seed beetles belonging to the Old World genusCaryedonfeed in the seeds of various Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Combretaceae. In an attempt to resolve broad phylogenetic relationships within the genus, we obtained 332 base pair sequences of mitochondrial 12S ribosomal DNA and morphological data for the 16 West AfricanCaryedonspecies. Morphological characters were analyzed under maximum parsimony and sequences were compared under maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and neighbor joining. Using a partition homogeneity test, we determined that morphological and molecular data sets were combinable. Combined data were analyzed under maximum parsimony. Morphological and molecular trees were congruent at the species group level and total evidence analyses yielded the same topologies as molecular data with each of the three outgroups used. Four main terminal clades are recognized, each corresponding with a group of species generally feeding on the same host plant family, subfamily, genus, or species. The monophyly of legume feedingCaryedonis supported by both data sets, and Combretaceae feeders split in two monophyletic assemblages.     

Effect of agro-ecological zones and contiguous basin crops of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) on the structuring and genetic diversity of Caryedon serratus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae,Bruchinae) in the sub-region of West Africa

Caryedon serratus is found in different agro-ecological and agro-climatic zones, and its damage to groundnuts can vary up to an 80% quantitative loss of yield. This study seeks to demonstrate the effects of different agro-ecological refer to so as to very quickly process the content zones and the presence or absence of groundnut cultivation on the structure and genetic distribution of C. serratus in West Africa. Portions of the cytochrome b and 28S ribosomal genes of C. serratus were sequenced, using samples from four countries that represent different agro-ecological and agro-climatic sub-regions of West Africa. The results showed 37 haplotypes for the cytochrome b and 7 haplotypes for the 28S ribosomal gene. Although genetic diversity was different between agro-ecological zones tests show no significant differences in structuring according to agro-ecological zone. These tests, as well as the phylogenetic relationships that our results imply, indicate that there is a genetic differentiation between individuals from groundnut culturing areas compared to those from areas where the cultivation of groundnuts is absent or low.     

Pollen morphology of the Dimorphandra group (Leguminosae,Caesalpinioideae)

The Dimorphandra group, as traditionally circumscribed, is a rather diverse assemblage of genera in Leguminosae subfamily Caesalpinioideae that share certain morphological characteristics with the basally branching lineages of subfamily Mimosoideae. It currently comprises 51 species in seven genera: Burkea (1 species), Dimorphandra (26 species), Erythrophleum (10 species), Mora (6 species), Pachyelasma (1 species), Stachyothyrsus (2 species) and Sympetalandra (5 species). This study investigates the pollen morphology of 25 samples from 19 species of all seven genera. Pollen of the Dimorphandra group is small, isopolar, trizonocolporate and released in monads. Apertures are almost equal to polar length, with correspondingly small apocolpial areas. The shape of the aperture apices varies from acute to wide and rounded. Surface ornamentation is psilate, perforate, microreticulate, or perforate‐rugulate. The wall structure is usually columellate with a well developed foot layer. The pollen is small and unspecialised, agreeing with a previously noted pattern of more fixed and homogenous pollen structure in the more derived clades in subfamily Caesalpinioideae, compared with the great diversity of pollen types found in the basally branching lineages.     

Caryedon serratus and its parasitoids in the Savanna around Lamto,Ivory Coast

In the savanna around Lamto,Caryedon serratus develops, in the beginning of the dry season, on maturing seeds ofPiliostigma thonningii (Caesalpinioideae). A 2^nd generation, and sometimes a 3^nd one, develops in dry seeds. There is no pupal diapause during the rainy season and adults seems to spend this period in a semi-lethargic state. The parasitoid complex ofC. serratus is a chalcid-dominated one. It includes 5 species: one oophagous (Uscana caryedoni) and 4 larvo-nymphal parasitoids. Three species are regular (Anisopteromalus caryedophagus, Bracon sp. andU. caryedoni), the others are sporadic species (Proconura serratocida, Eurytoma caryedocida). Biological data are given for each species.      

Diverse patterns of cell wall mannan/galactomannan occurrence in seeds of the Leguminosae

Endosperms from seeds of different subfamilies of Leguminosae were submitted to sequential aqueous and alkaline aqueous extractions. The extractions from species belonging to the Mimosoideae and Faboideae subfamilies yielded galactomannans with constant Man:Gal ratios, whereas the extractions from Caesalpinioideae seeds gave rise to galactomannans with increasing values of the Man:Gal ratio. The presence of a family of galactomannans within the same species may be a trait found only in Caesalpinioideae subfamily. The final insoluble residues that were obtained after the removal of galactomannans from the Caesalpinioideae and Faboideae subfamilies are composed of pure mannans and do not contain cellulose, while those from the Mimosoideae subfamily are composed of cellulose. A mannan was isolated from the unripe endosperm of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, suggesting no developmental relationship between galactomannan and mannan. These results are consistent with the presence of a distinctive cell wall pattern in the endosperms of Leguminosae species.     

The comparative efficacy of some botanicals for the control of the seed weevil Caryedon serratus Olivier (Col., Bruchidae) in seeds of Acacia seyal Del.

A comparative study on the efficacy of powder and oil extracts from leaves and seed kernels of Azadirachta indica Juss. and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. against the seed weevil Caryedon serratus Olivier infesting seeds of Acacia seyal Del. was carried out. EO 1, EO 5 and NSKO5% were comparable to BHC 3% in significantly reducing egg laying by C. serratus. With the exception of ELP and NLP, all botanicals significantly reduced egg hatching. Botanicals significantly reduced larval development with the exception of ELP and NLP. EO and NSKO at 3 and 5% were significantly more effective than BHC in reducing larval development by 95–97%. All botanicals had no significant effect on adult emergence which was only affected by BHC. Botanicals caused 4.3–43% mortality of C. serratus adults and the maximum mortality occurred in EO 3% as compared to BHC. It is apparent that oils extracted from E. camaldulensis had a fumigant and knock down effect on adult C. serratus. Extracted oils were more effective than leaf or seed powder. Oils extracted from leaves of E. camaldulensis were volatile and had a knock down effect on adult C. serratus indicating the possibility of using them as alternative fumigants in seed stores.     

我国豆科树种结瘤调查(续)

据国内资料报道,我国豆科树种约94属763种,已调查过结瘤状况的有含羞草亚科的123种(包括近几年来从国外引种的54种)、蝶形花亚科的211种和苏木亚科的70种,其中可以结瘤的有含羞草亚科的116种、蝶形花亚科的207种和苏木亚科的18种。含羞草亚科中的2种、蝶形花亚科中的3种均有结瘤和不结瘤的报道。     

我国豆科树种结瘤调查

据国内资料报道,我国豆科树种约94属763种,已调查过结瘤状况的有含羞草亚科的123种(包括近几年来从国外引种的54种)、蝶形花亚科的211种和苏木亚科的70种,其中可以结瘤的有含羞草亚科的116种、蝶形花亚科的207种和苏木亚科的18种。含羞草亚科中的2种、蝶形花亚科中的3种均有结瘤和不结瘤的报道。     

Implications of the changing phylogenetic relationships of Acacia s.l. on the biological control of Vachellia nilotica ssp. indica in Australia

Plant relationships have implications for many fields including weed biological control. The use of DNA sequencing and new tree building algorithms since the late 1980s and early 1990s have revolutionised plant classification and has resulted in many changes to previously accepted taxonomic relationships. It is critical that biological control researchers stay abreast of changes to plant phylogenies. One of the largest plant genera, Acacia, has undergone great change over the past 20 years and these changes have ramifications for weed biological control projects in a number of countries. Vachellia nilotica (prickly acacia) is a major weed in Australia, originating from the Indian subcontinent and Asia, and it has been a target for biological control since 1980. Once a member of Acacia, a large (>1,000 spp.) and iconic group in Australia, prickly acacia is now part of the genus Vachellia. Current knowledge suggests that Vachellia is more closely related to mimosoid genera than it is to Acacia s.s. There has also been a recent reclassification of legume subfamilies with subfamily Mimosoideae now part of subfamily Caesalpinioideae, and four new subfamilies. In this paper we review the changes that have occurred to this group since the prickly acacia biological control project began and discuss the implications for the project. A new host test list for quarantine testing is proposed. Developed following the modernisation of the centrifugal‐phylogenetic method, it is shorter than past lists, containing 46 species, although still lengthy because of the expectations of regulatory bodies, which are slower to accept advances in scientific knowledge. The list includes five Vachellia species, six “Mimoseae” species and 26 Acacia species. The number species from legume subfamilies other than the new Caesalpinioideae is greatly reduced.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN THE LEGUMINOSAE II: AFRICAN SPECIES,INCLUDING PHYLETIC INTERPRETATIONS

Turner , B. L., and O. S. Fearing . (U. Texas, Austin.) Chromosome numbers in the Leguminosae. II. African species, including phyletic interpretations. Amer. Jour. Bot. 46(1) : 49-57. Illus. 1959.—Chromosome numbers for 30 African legume species have been reported. These include first reports for 28 taxa, including 12 genera (Bolusanthus, Calpurnia, Melolobium, Lessertia, Sulherlandia, Colophospermum, Guibourtia, Burkea, Julbernardia, Schotia, Piliostigma and Swartzia). The counts are discussed with respect to those previously reported for related groups, and this chromosomal information was used to construct hypothetical phyletic lines at the tribal level within the subfamilies Papilionoideae and Caesalpinioideae. A phyletic scheme for the Leguminosae (excluding the Mimosoideae) based on this evidence from chromosome studies is presented. Notable departures from previously suggested phyletic treatments include: (1) Suggestion for inclusion of genera of the Galegeae and Hedysareae with base numbers of x = 10 and 11 with the Phaseoleae and Dalbergieae. (2) Derivation of the Papilionoideae through caesalpinoid prototypes, possibly from Swartzia-like ancestors. (3) Recognition of several very old chromosomal lines stemming from the subfamily Caesalpinioideae, and the suggestion that parts of the tribes Sclerolobieae, Cynometreae, Swartzieae and Sophoreae are, perhaps, more closely related to each other and to the Papilionoideae than they are to the remaining caesalpinoid tribal lines.     

Global diversity of fishlice (Crustacea: Branchiura: Argulidae) in freshwater

The Branchiura of freshwater habitats, consisting of the valid genera Argulus, Chonopeltis, Dipteropeltis, and Dolops, presently contains 113 valid species and 12 undescribed species. The entire group is composed of ectoparasitic species that usually live on fishes. The highest diversity of genera and species occurs in the Afrotropical and Neotropical regions. The diversity of the freshwater species surpasses that of species in marine and brackish waters, but this could be due to inadequate study of the fauna of the latter habitats. One species, Argulus japonicus, has been introduced from east/southeast Asia to all other continents, except Antarctica. Studies of higher level relationships place the Branchiura with either Pentastomida or Ostracoda. Hypotheses about phylogenetic relationships of either the genera or species in this group have not been proposed. Guest editors: E. V. Balian, C. Lévêque, H. Segers & K. Martens Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment The present paper was intended as a very brief overview of the known diversity of the Branchiura in freshwaters only, and regrettably is deficient in mention of much information and many relevant citations pertaining to the group.     

Root nodules of some tropical legumes in Singapore

Summary A survey of 35 legume species comprising 25 of Papilionoideae, 7 of Mimosoideae and 3 of Caesalpinioideae was made. Nodulation was found in all the species except for 2 (Caesalpinnia pulcherrima and Cassia siamea) of Caesalpinioideae, both of which possessed dark coloured roots. Nodulation is reported for the first time for Adenanthera pavonina and Delonix regia. Nodule shapes were described and classified into different types. The isolates of rhizobia obtained belonged largely to the slow growing group (17 isolates) isolated mainly from members of Papilionoideae; some belonged to the fast growing group (14 isolates), and only 3 isolates belonged to the very slow growing group. The slow growing group isolates were confirmed to be cowpea type rhizobia on the basis of positive nodulation with cowpea plants. re]19750829     

Mechanisms affecting the fate of Prosopis flexuosa (Fabaceae,Mimosoideae) seeds during early secondary dispersal in the Monte Desert,Argentina

Abstract The fate of seeds during secondary dispersal is largely unknown for most species in most ecosystems. This paper deals with sources of seed output of Prosopis flexuosa D.C. (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) from the surface soil seed‐bank. Prosopis flexuosa is the main tree species in the central Monte Desert, Argentina. In spite of occasional high fruit production, P. flexuosa seeds are not usually found in the soil, suggesting that this species does not form a persistent soil seed‐bank. The magnitude of removal by animals and germination of P. flexuosa seeds was experimentally analysed during the first stage of secondary dispersal (early autumn). The proportion of seeds removed by granivores was assessed by offering different types of diaspores: free seeds, seeds inside intact endocarps, pod segments consisting of 2–3 seeds, and seeds from faeces of one herbivorous hystricognath rodent, the mara (Dolichotis patagonum). The proportion of seeds lost through germination was measured for seeds inside intact endocarps, seeds inside artificially broken endocarps, and free seeds. Removal by ants and mammals is the main factor limiting the formation of a persistent soil seed‐bank of P. flexuosa: >90% of the offered seeds were removed within 24 h of exposure to granivores in three of four treatments. Seeds from the faeces of maras, on the other hand, were less vulnerable to granivory than were other types of diaspores. These results suggest that herbivory might be an indirect mechanism promoting seed longevity in the soil (and likely germination) by discouraging granivore attack. On the other hand, germination did not seem to have an important postdispersal impact on the persistence of P. flexuosa seeds in the soil. Both direct and indirect interactions between vertebrate herbivores and plants may foster P. flexuosa's seed germination in some South American arid zones.     

Endopolyploidy, Cell Volume and Nuclear Volume Interrelationships in Cotyledons of the Leguminosae

Cotyledon nuclei of most legume species did not stain adequatelywith the Feulgen reaction and so an indirect method based onthe relationship between DNA content, nuclear volume and cellvolume was used for the detection of endopolyploidy. Cotyledonendopolyploidy was not found in the Caesalpinioideae and wasinfrequent in the Mimosoideae. In the Papilionoideae it wasfound in taxa at several levels. It probably occurs throughoutthe tribes Vicieae and Cicereae and in most genera of the Phaseoleae;elsewhere it is confined to particular genera within tribes,such as Arachis in the Aeschynomeneae and Lupinus in the Genisteae.Endopolyploidy shows correlation with cotyledon anatomy aridfunction in that it is confined to cotyledons whose main oronly function is storage, and has so far not been found in foliarcotyledons. Endopolyploidy, cell volume, nuclear volume, cotyledon, Leguminosae     

The features of cotyledon areoles in Leguminosae and their systematic utility

The cotyledon areole, which is a spot with granular projections of epidermal cells, appears on the abaxial surface and on the midvein of some legume seed cotyledons. The distribution and systematic utility of cotyledon areoles were studied by observation of 132 legume species, which represent 100 genera and are classified into 34 tribes of three subfamilies, i.e., Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Papilionoideae. The cotyledon areole is found in many species of Papilionoideae but not in the other two subfamilies. Presence of a cotyledon areole is presumed to be an apomorphic character state in Papilionoideae from the outgroup rule.     

Uscana caryedoni [Hym.: Trichogrammatidae]: Possibilités d'utilisation en lutte biologique contre la bruche de l'arachide,Caryedon serratus [Col.: Bruchidae]

Résumé Le trichogrammeUscana caryedoni Viggiani se développe aux dépens des œufs deCaryedon congense Decelle et de ceux de la bruche de l'arachide,Caryedon serratus (Olivier), sur les fruits d'une légumineuse arbustive commune au Congo,Poliostigma thonningii (Schum.). Dans la région de la Bouenza, dans le sud du pays, les taux de parasitisme dus àU. caryedoni s'accroissent au cours de l'année, à mesure que m?rissent les gousses, pour atteindre en novembre près de 40% (taux cumulé). La biologie du parasito?de a été étudiée au laboratoire sur œufs deC. serratus. A 30°C, la femelle pond en moyenne 66 œufs et vit un peu plus de 5 jours. Le développement préimaginal s'effectue en 16 jours à 26° et 12 jours à 30°. L'effet de la densité de l'h?te sur divers paramètres biologiques du parasite a été étudié. Un essai réalisé dans les conditions du laboratoire a révélé chezU. caryedoni de très faibles potentialités comme agent de limitation des populations deC. serratus dans les stocks d'arachide.      

Assessment of the Biological Control Impact of Seed Predators on the Invasive Shrub Acacia nilotica (Prickly Acacia) in Australia

An impact assessment study was undertaken to determine seed predation rates by two bruchid beetles, Bruchidus sahlbergi Schilsky and Caryedon serratus Olivier, on the invasive shrub Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del. The former bruchid was released as a biological control agent for A. nilotica, whereas the latter is naturalized in Australia. We attempted to determine the dynamics and magnitude of bruchid predation, following a number of differing reports of their effectiveness. To investigate the importance of seed availability on bruchid numbers, we compared seed death in high- and low-seed-density habitats, both before and after pods had dropped from tree branches. Bruchid predation was initially low (<2%) in pods on tree branches in both habitats, but increased abruptly to 12% in riparian and 32% in nonriparian exclosures by the third collection date. Bruchid numbers then crashed to below 2% in both habitats, when pods dropped to the ground. B. sahlbergi predation later increased markedly (up to 65%) again at high-pod-density sites. No further increase in predation took place beyond this level. Seed predation by C. serratus was found to be minimal (<5% of seeds infested) throughout the monitoring period. We suggest that seed predation by the bruchids, prior to pod drop and removal by cattle, is insufficient to cause major impacts on A. nilotica populations. Bruchid seed damage is likely to be significant only in situations with low cattle numbers, where cattle cannot remove the majority of fallen seed pods or where cattle are excluded. Exclusion of cattle from some areas within A. nilotica-invaded landscapes to potentially increase bruchid effectiveness is proposed. The demographic impact of optimal A. nilotica seed losses is discussed.     

Phylogeny reconstruction in the Caesalpinieae grade (Leguminosae) based on duplicated copies of the sucrose synthase gene and plastid markers

The Caesalpinieae grade (Leguminosae) forms a morphologically and ecologically diverse group of mostly tropical tree species with a complex evolutionary history. This grade comprises several distinct lineages, but the exact delimitation of the group relative to subfamily Mimosoideae and other members of subfamily Caesalpinioideae, as well as phylogenetic relationships among the lineages are uncertain. With the aim of better resolving phylogenetic relationships within the Caesalpinieae grade, we investigated the utility of several nuclear markers developed from genomic studies in the Papilionoideae. We cloned and sequenced the low copy nuclear gene sucrose synthase (SUSY) and combined the data with plastid trnL and matK sequences. SUSY has two paralogs in the Caesalpinieae grade and in the Mimosoideae, but occurs as a single copy in all other legumes tested. Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses suggest the two nuclear markers are congruent with plastid DNA data. The Caesalpinieae grade is divided into four well-supported clades (Cassia, Caesalpinia, Tachigali and Peltophorum clades), a poorly supported clade of Dimorphandra Group genera, and two paraphyletic groups, one with other Dimorphandra Group genera and the other comprising genera previously recognized as the Umtiza clade. A selection analysis of the paralogs, using selection models from PAML, suggests that SUSY genes are subjected to a purifying selection. One of the SUSY paralogs, under slightly stronger positive selection, may be undergoing subfunctionalization. The low copy SUSY gene is useful for phylogeny reconstruction in the Caesalpinieae despite the presence of duplicate copies. This study confirms that the Caesalpinieae grade is an artificial group, and highlights the need for further analyses of lineages at the base of the Mimosoideae.