Development and characterization of twelve microsatellite markers for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porphyra linearis</Emphasis> Greville

The genus Porphyra (and its sister genus Pyropia) contains important red algal species that are cultivated and/or harvested for human consumption, sustaining a billion-dollar aquaculture industry. A vast amount of research has been focused on species of this genus, including studies on genetics and genomics among other areas. Twelve novel microsatellite markers were developed here for Porphyra linearis. Markers were characterized using 32 individuals collected from four natural populations of P. linearis with total heterozygosity varying from 0.098 to 0.916. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 18. All markers showed cross amplification with Porphyra umbilicalis and/or Porphyra dioica. These polymorphic microsatellite markers are useful for investigating population genetic diversity and differentiation in P. linearis and may become useful for other genetic research on the reproductive biology of this important species.     

Chromosome number variability in central european members of the<Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca ovina</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">F. pallens</Emphasis> groups (sect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca</Emphasis>)

Chromosome numbers for 98 plants ofF. pallens, 19 ofF. psammophila, F. belensis andF. vaginata, and 44 ofF. ovina (originating from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia and Latvia) are given. In addition to theF. ovina andF. pallens groups, chromosome counts for the following taxa are also reported:F. alpestris (2n=14) reported for the first time in this work,F. amethystina subsp.amethystina (2n=28),F. brevipila (2n=42),F. cinerea (2n=28),F. rupicola subsp.rupicola (2n=42) andF. versicolor subsp.versicolor (2n=14).InF. pallens, two ploidy levels (2n=2x=14+0-1B, 2n=4x=28+0-1B) as well as two natural triploid plants (2n=21+0-1B), were found. In addition to the fourF. pallens types that have been distinguished in Austria, one new tetraploid type (F. pallens “scabrifolia”) from the Czech Republic and Germany is reported and its taxonomy is discussed. The distributions of the Oberösterreich-Niederösterreich and Pannonisches-HügellandF. pallens types outside of Austria are documented.Only the diploid chromosome number (2n=14) was found inF. psammophila andF. vaginata. Chromosome numbers forF. psammophila subsp.muellerstollii andF. belensis (both 2n=14) were determined here for the first time. Two ploidy levels, 2n=14+0-5B corresponding toF. ovina subsp.ovina and 2n=28 corresponding toF. ovina subsp.guestphalica andF. cf.duernsteinensis were confirmed inF. ovina. Differences in chromosome structure (simple and multiple secondary constrictions) betweenF. pallens as opposed toF. psammophila andF. vaginata are discussed. A complete survey of published chromosome counts for Central European species from theF. ovina andF. pallens groups is included.     

Hybridization between Arctostaphylos viscida and A. canescens in Oregon

Evidence of natural hybridization betweenArctostaphylos viscida andA. canescens in southwestern Oregon was obtained from morphological studies of field populations. Hybridization occurs where populations ofA. viscida andA. canescens meet in areas where serpentine and nonserpentine soils abut. At these contacts,A. viscida forms large populations only on serpentine andA. canescens only on nonserpentine. Most of the indentifiable hybrids survive on either transitional or nonserpentine soils. The small proportion that are found on serpentine are considered to be backcrosses toA. viscida. The hybrid plants are similar to several putative species maintained in the standard floras, and it is suggested that these no longer be given taxonomic recognition.     

Correlations between the ages of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus</Emphasis> host species and the genetic diversity of associated endosymbiotic<Emphasis Type="Italic">Frankia</Emphasis> strains from nodules

Nodule samples were collected from four alder species:Alnus nepalensis, A. sibirica, A. tinctoria andA. mandshurica growing in different environments on Gaoligong Mountains, Yunnan Province of Southwest China and on Changbai Mountains, Jilin Province of Northeast China. PCR-RFLP analysis of the IGS betweennifD andnifK genes was directly applied to unculturedFrankia strains in the nodules. A total of 21 restriction patterns were obtained. TheFrankia population in the nodules ofA. nepalensis had the highest genetic diversity among all fourFrankia populations; by contrast, the population in the nodules ofA. mandshurica had the lowest degree of divergence; the ones in the nodules ofA. sibirica andA. tinctoria were intermediate. A dendrogram, which was constructed based on the genetic distance between the restriction patterns, indicated thatFrankia strains fromA. sibirica andA. tinctoria had a close genetic relationship.Frankia strains fromA. nepalensis might be the ancestor ofFrankia strains infecting otherAlnus species. From these results and the inference of the ages ofAlnus host species, it is deduced that there was a co-evolution betweenAlnus and its microsymbiontFrankia in China.     

Variation in the spectrum of Fusarium species on winter wheat

In 1998–2000 a monitoring of the spectrum of Fusarium species on winter wheat was carried out in the Rhineland. The epidemic spread ofFusarium spp. on wheat plants during growing season was investigated as well as the grain contamination after harvest.F avenaceum was the Fusarium species isolated most frequently followed byF culmorum, F poae andF graminearum. Microdochium nivale occurred considerably only in 1998. Both, susceptibility and plant height of the cultivars were correlated to the incidence of Fusarium species /M nivale on harvested kernels; interactions with cropping intensities were detected. The incidence ofF poae seemed to be independent of the cultivar-specific Fusarium susceptibility. Despite the lack of disease symptoms, between growth stages 45–85 mycelium ofFusarium spp. was detectable in the leaves as well as conidia on the leaf surfaces.     

Notes on Bletia (Orchidaceae)

New species ofBletia from Mexico are described and illustrated:B. concolor, B. similis, andB. urbana. The identity ofB. campanulata Llave & Lex. is discussed, andB. reflexa Lindl. is considered to be a distinct species. Several South American epithets are treated as synonyms ofB. campanulata. A key to the recognized species ofBletia is given.     

Karyo-taxonomic study of the genus<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudolysimachion</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Scrophulariaceae</Emphasis>) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Flow cytometry was used to determine ploidy levels in the Czech and Slovak taxa of the genusPseudolysimachion (W.D.J. Koch)Opiz (=Veronica auct. p.p.,Scrophulariaceae). In total, 123 populations from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine (one locality), Austria (one locality) and Hungary (one locality) were analyzed. InP. maritimum (L.)Á. Löve etD. Löve andP. spicatum (L.)Opiz, two cytotypes were found: diploid (2n=2x=34) and tetraploid (2n=4x=68). In both species the tetraploid cytotype predominated (P. maritimum: 41 tetraploid populations out of 45;P. spicatum: 57 tetraploid populations out of 58). The two cytotypes ofP. maritimum have no taxonomic significance because ploidy level is not obviously correlated with morphology, distribution pattern or ecology. Tetraploid populations ofP. spicatum belong to two morphologically different subspecies, subsp.spicatum and subsp.fischeri Trávní?ek. The diploid cytotype (one population only) should be provisionally classified as a third subspecies ofP. spicatum, which is morphologically similar to the Asian subsp.porphyrianum (Pavlov)Trávní?ek. Only diploid plants (2n=2x=34) ofP. orchideum (Crantz)Wraber were found; all 13 populations that were analyzed belong toP. orchideum s.str. One diploid population sample ofP. spurium subsp.foliosum (Waldst. etKit.)Holub (2n=2x=34) and one tetraploid sample ofP. incanum subsp.pallens (Host)Trávní?ek (2n=4x=68) were also analyzed. In addition, three tetraploid populations of hybrid origin were investigated:P. maritimum ×P. spicatum subsp.spicatum (one population) andP. maritimum ×P. spurium subsp.foliosum (two populations). While hybrid plants ofP. maritimum ×P. spicatum arose from tetraploid parental species, plants ofP. maritimum ×P. spurium probably resulted from a cross between tetraploidP. maritimum and diploidP. spurium. The putative origin and evolutionary importance of polyploids in thePseudolysimachion are discussed.     

Biosystematic evidence for hybridization between Arctostaphylos nissenana and A. viscida

Arctostaphylos viscida Parry andA. nissenana Merriam were studied in Eldorado County, California, to check reports in the literature of hybridization between the two. Population samples were collected near Diamond Springs, where they occur sympatrically. A population sample of pureA. viscida, collected else-where, and miscellaneous herbarium specimens ofA. nissenana, were used for comparison. Data from analysis of six character differences, presented as pictorialized scatter diagrams and histograms, clearly indicate hybridization and back-crossing in the Diamond Springs populations; but we do not agree with Knight (1966) that theA. nissenana populations of this area are hybridized as a whole. Our data do not support Jepson’s (1939) opinion that the type ofA. nissenana may be of hybrid origin betweenA. viscida andA. nissenana var.arcana Jeps.     

Some new taxa ofPotentilla L.

Five new species and two varieties from the sectionMultifidae are described from the Sino-Himalayan region. They are referred to the affinity ofP. multifida L. andP. griffithii Hook. f.; one of the new species is probably related toP. gerardiana Lindl. and one is intermediate between the species of the sectionsMultifidae andNiveae.     

Ecotypic response to ultramafic soils by some plant species of northwestern United States

Soils high in magnesium derived from ultramafic rocks (serpentine, peridotite, and dunite) in northwestern United States support endemic as well as wide-ranging but edaphically indifferent(bodenvag) species. The latter occur widely on diverse rock formations of the region. Severalbodenvag species are shown to respond ecotypically to ultramafic soils. Of 18 species tested, all but three are differentiated into strains either tolerant or intolerant of ultramafic soils. Tests for edaphic preferences were conducted with seedlings and mature transplants on ultramafic soils. Growth performances were determined in greenhouse pot tests, outdoor soil bins, and by transplants in the wild. Herbaceous perennials (e.g.,Achillea millefolium, Fragaria virginiana, Prunella vulgaris, Rumex acetosella) gave the clearest ecotypic differences. Woody species either showed only slight ecotypic response(Spiraea douglasii var.menziesii andGaultheria shallon) or delayed the expression of their genotypic adaptability(Pinus contorta). Where ultramafic abut non-ultramafic soils, those populations ofbodenvag species that grow in non-ultramafic habitats can have a significant proportion of individuals tolerant to ferromagnesian soils (e.g.,Achillea millefolium). This suggests gene flow between populations of contrasting edaphic sites and possibly preadaptedness for the ultramafic habitat. Strains of two introduced weeds(Prunella vulgaris andRumex acetosella) have become ecotypically tolerant to ultramafic soils, probably within the last 75 years.     

Moniliformin and the European Corn Borer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ostrinia nubilalis</Emphasis>)

A representative survey was made of maize ears of the 1988 and 1989 crop in Austria to establish the influence of corn borer injuries onFusarium species involved in ear fusariosis andFusarium toxin production.TheFusarium species most frequently isolated from rot-damaged ears wereFsacchari var. subglutinans (about 50 %) andF. graminearum (about 30 %). There was a striking difference between theFusarium species of the Liseola and the Discolor section concerning their occurrence on corn borer-damaged ears. More than 80 % of the ears infected withF. sacchari var. subglutinans andF. verticillioides, but less than 15 % of the ears infected withF. graminearum, F. crookwellense andF. culmorum showed corn borer injuries.Toxin analyses of the infected ears corresponded to the known toxigenicity of the respectiveFusarium species. Ears infected withF. sacchari var. subglutinans contained moniliformin (up to 20 mg/kg), those infected withF. verticillioides fumonisin B₁ and B₂ (up to 15 mg/kg). In ears infected withF. graminearum, F. culmorum andF. crookwellense zearalenone (up to 40 mg/kg) and deoxynivalenol (up to 500 mg/kg) or nivalenol (up to 10 mg/kg), respectively, could be detected. Hence measures to combat the European corn borer will mainly reduce moniliformin and fumonisin contamination, but will affect zearalenone, deoxynivalenol and nivalenol contents of the ears to a much lesser extent.     

Differentiation of species in Gonioloboceras

The type specimen ofGonioloboceras goniolobum (Meek), rediscovered by Spath in the British Museum, is the foundation for a more accurate comparative study of this and other species ofGonioloboceras.Gonioloboceras described asG. goniolobum byElias in 1938 is differentiated asGonioloboceras schmidti, new species. Suture sets (new term) for several growth stages inG. goniolobum (Meek),G. welleriSmith,G. schmidtiElias, G.eliasiMiller &Owen, andG. asiaticumLibrovitch are assembled and used for differentiation of the species.The Kazakhstan goniatite faunule containingG. asiaticum is considered of very late Pennsylvanian age.     

Investigation of stored wheat mycoflora,reporting the<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> cf.<Emphasis Type="Italic">langsethiae</Emphasis> in three provinces of Iran during 2007

Wheat is the most important cereal produced in Iran. A mycological survey was carried out for the first time, on the stored wheat samples in Tehran, East Azarbayejan and Mazandaran provinces in 2007. Exogenous and endogenous fungi, were isolated by the method of flotation with Malachite green agar (MGA 0.25) and Freeze blotter techniques respectively. In this study, 46 species belonging to 23 different genera were isolated.Cladosporium spp. (57.1–89.2%) andAlternaria spp. (82.4–100%) species were the predominant fungal species identified as endogenous mycoflora. The predominant exogenous fungi werePenicillium spp. (78.4–92.8%) andAspergillus spp. (71.4–85.7%) species.Fusarium proliferatum was the most prevalent species ofFusarium isolates.Aspergillus niger (39.4%) andAspergillus flavus (36.7%) were the predominantAspergillus species identified as exogenous mycoflora.Aspergillus flavus (26.6%) was the predominantAspergillus species identified as endogenous mycoflora. Flotation method with MGA 0.25 recommended for isolating of hyaline fungi from wheat cereals. In this study one isolate fromFusarium species was isolated on the basis of morphology and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer classified asFusarium langsethiae but on the basis of partial translation elongation factor-1alpha gene grouped withFusarium sporotrichioides. To our knowledge, this is the first report aboutF. cf.langsethiae in Iran and Asia.     

On the taxonomy ofPuccinia sieversiae Arth. and some remarks on the phylogeny of the rusts onGeeae

Puccinia tatrensis Urban onGeum reptans in Czechoslovakia is recognized as a subspecies ofPuccinia sieversiae Arth.Puccinia waldsteiniae, P. gei andP. gei-parviflori appear to be the most ancient rusts known on the tribeGeeae and it is assumed that their common ancestral form was already present in the Cretaceous period.Puccinia sieversiae is more advanced and has its centre of origin and spread in Central Asia. Phylogenetically most advanced and at the same time most differentiated from each other are species ofPhragmidium, i.e.P. circumvallatum andP. miyabeanum.     

Supplementary notes on American Labiatae. X

Notes on the taxonomy and distribution of various species of Labiatae of Mexico, and Central and South America, are presented, as part of a continuing series of supplements to the authors’ earlier monographs. Eight new species are described in the generaHyptis, Salvia, Satureja, andScutellaria. Two new combinations are made, one each inHarlanlewisia andSatureja. A key and revision are given for the six species ofLepechinia sect.Parviflorae.     

The maritime species of Abronia (Nyctaginaceae)

An analysis of the variation patterns in the three Pacific Coast maritime species ofAbronia (Nyctaginaceae) based on 95 population studies, is presented in the form of scatter diagrams. The relationship of this group of species to other members of the genus, such asA. gracilis Benth., is considered. Despite widespread evidence of hybridization and introgression, the three maritime species (A. latifolia Eschsch.,A. maritima Nutt. ex S. Wats., andA. umbellata Lam.) maintain their distinctness. Most of the taxonomic segregants in this group have been based on what appear to be hybrid or introgressed individuals, many of which closely resemble members of a series of artificial hybrids made in the greenhouse. The chromosome number of all three species is estimated as 2n = ca. 46. The species are shown to differ markedly in ecological preference:A. latifolia competing successfully on stable areas of dunes from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to Santa Barbara Co., California;A. maritima being the major foredune former along the strand from San Luis Obispo Co., California, south to Nayarit, Mexico; andA. umbellata occurring on more stable dunes from San Luis Obispo to San Diego Co., California, and sporadically north and south of this area. The latter species is pollinated chiefly by nocturnal insects and is fragrant in the evening, whereas the other two have diurnal flowers. One widespread and two rarer, more northern subspecies ofA. umbellata are recognized in the taxonomic revision, while the other two species are not subdivided taxonomically.     

Quantification of Reproductive Isolating Barriers Between Two Naturally Hybridizing Killifish Species

Understanding the relative importance of various reproductive barriers to the early stages of speciation is an essential question in evolutionary biology. The closely related killifishes Fundulus heteroclitus and F. grandis occasionally hybridize in a small region in coastal Northeastern Florida showing that while barriers to reproduction exist, they are incomplete. The objective of this study was to elucidate barriers to reproduction between F. heteroclitus and F. grandis in the lab, as well as to quantify their strengths and relative contributions to reproductive isolation. Pre-zygotic (mating and fertilization) and post-zygotic (hatching) barriers were investigated by performing a variety of choice and no-choice laboratory mating experiments. Under no-choice conditions, barriers to mating had the greatest influence on hybrid production in F. grandis, whereas hatching barriers contributed to the majority of reproductive isolation in F. heteroclitus. Under choice conditions, however, pre-zygotic barriers had the greatest influence on hybrid production in both species. The total reproductive isolation that was observed in females of each species was stronger in F. heteroclitus than in F. grandis, and was nearly complete in F. heteroclitus females under choice conditions and was of moderate strength in F. grandis females. These results reveal an asymmetry in the potential gene flow between these two species, with F. grandis being more likely to hybridize than F. heteroclitus in the absence of environmental influences. No-choice backcrosses were also conducted and showed that at least some F1 hybrids are fertile. The observation that pre-zygotic barriers tend to be stronger than post-zygotic barriers in the early stages of speciation is consistent with similar studies in other organisms.     

Kearnemalvastrum,a new genus of Malvaceae

Reevaluation of the generic limits ofMalvastrum A. Gray requires the transfer of several species. Among these,M. lacteum (Ait.) Garcke andM. subtriflorum (Lag.) Hemsley of Central America and Colombia form a natural alliance differing fromMalvastrum in morphological, cytological, and ecological characteristics and are recognized as a new genus,Kearnemalvastrum. The affinities ofKearnemalvastrum within the tribe Malveae are uncertain. Despite the fact thatK. lacteum andK. subtriflorum occupy similar ecological situations, are fully interfertile, and apparently hybridize to some degree in nature, they do maintain their identity and, therefore, are recognized as species.