Notes on the Diatomaceae from Ahmedabad and its environs — II

Synopsis In these notes the Diatom community of fountain-reservoirs of the Victoria garden is systematically examined and some remarks on their ecology, occurrence and distribution are given. From the observations and the halobion data available, due to extensive and valuable researches done by Hustedt, Petersen, Foged and others, it is concluded here from the occurrence of Diatom-floral types that the water of these reservoirs have a high chloride-contents. This fact is also corroborated from the water-analysis-data available from the Asstt. Officer-in-charge Public Health Laboratory, Municipal Corporation, Ahmedabad.     

STEROLS OF 14 SPECIES OF MARINE DIATOMS (BACILLARIOPHYTA)1

The sterol compositions of 14 species of marine diatoms were determined by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A variety of sterol profiles were found. The sterols 24-methylcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol, cholest-5-en-3β-ol, and 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol, previously described as the most common sterols found in diatoms, were major sterols in only a few of the species. In light of this and other recent data, it is clear that these three sterols are not typical constituents of many diatom species. Most of the centric species examined had 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol and 24-methylcholest-5-en-3β-ol as two of their major sterols. The exception was Rhizosolenia setigera, which possessed cholesta-5,24-dien-3β-ol as its single major sterol. In contrast to the centric species, the pennate diatoms examined did not have any particular sterols common to most species. Minor levels ofΔ⁷-sterols, rarely found in large amounts in diatoms, were found in four species. C₂₉sterols were found in many species; seven contained 24-ethylcholest-5-en-3β-ol and three contained 24-ethylcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol, reinforcing previous suggestions that C₂₉ sterols are not restricted to higher plants and macroalgae. 24-Ethylcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol may prove to be useful for taxonomy of the genus Amphora and the order Thalassiophysales. A major sterol of Fragilaria pinnata was the uncommon algal sterol 23,24-dimethylcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol. Cholesta-5,24-dien-3β-ol was the only sterol found in the culture of Nitzschia closterium. This differed from previous reports of 24-methylcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol as the single major sterol in N. closterium. Two C₂₈ sterols possessing an unusual side chain were found in Thalassi-onema nitzschioides, a C_28:2 sterol (16%) and a C_28:1 sterol in lower abundance (2.5%), which may be 23-methylcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol and 23-methyl-5α-cholest-22E-en-3β-ol, respectively. The species Cylindrotheca fusiformis, T. nitzschioides, and Skeletonema sp. may be useful as direct sources of cholesterol in mariculture feeds due to their moderate to high content of this sterol.     

The special Golgi-ER-mitochondrium unit in the diatom genusCoscinodiscus

As an exception among diatoms, dictyosomes inCoscinodiscus wailesii andC. centralis form throughout the vegetative cell cycle a complex functional unit with a mitochondrium via an ER-cisterna. Ultrathin sections of spermatogonangia ofC. wailesii revealed that these G-ER-M (Golgi-ER-Mitochondrium) associations are maintained also during spermatogenesis. A dissociation of the G-ER-M-unit occurred however, whenC. wailesii cells formed protoplasts under the influence of the antimicrotubular herbicide APM, leading also to the dissociation of the Golgi stack itself. Lamellar membrane profiles, resembling Golgi membranes were seen to align with the plasmalemma of the protoplasts. These observations are discussed in comparison to the G-ER-M-units found in the xanthophyte algaVaucheria and the oomyceteSaprolegnia. Dedicated to Prof. DrElisabeth Tschermak-Woess on the occasion of her 70th birthday.     

New species of the subtribe Goodyerinae (Orchidaceae) from Colombia

Seven new species of the subtribe Goodyerinae, six of Microchilus and one of Aspidogyne, are described and illustrated based on Colombian material. The information about the distribution and ecology of the new entities as well as brief taxonomic notes are provided.     

Cytomorphological studies in the familySolanaceae from West Pakistan

A project on the chromosome survey of the flora of West Pakistan is in progress and chromosome counts of a large number of species from this region have been reported earlier (Baquar et al. 1965, 1966, 1967). The present paper is a part of this project. Morphological and cytological behaviour of 29 species distributed over 12 genera of the familySolanaceae have been investigated for the first time from West Pakistan. The present investigation shows that the cytological behaviour of the plants of this region is almost similar to those of the other parts of the world. Besides the confirmation of the earlier findings, this report includes four new records namely:solanum albicaule Kotschy n=12;Solanum gracilipes Decne n=12;Withania coagulans Dunal n=24;Datura metel L.n=12.     

Taxonomy and phylogeny of the tribePlucheeae (Asteraceae)

The tribePlucheeae (Benth.)A. Anderb., has been analysed cladistically by means of a computerized parsimony program (Hennig 86), using theArctotideae as outgroup. The results of the analysis are presented in a consensus tree and one cladogram. Four major monophyletic subgroups can be recognized: TheColeocoma group (3 genera), thePterocaulon group (3 genera), theLaggera group (6 genera), and thePluchea group (12 genera). All recognized genera are described and most genera are supplied with taxonomical notes including comments on their taxonomic status. Genera such asBlumea, Pluchea, andEpaltes are demonstrated to be unnatural assemblages.Monarrhenus andTessaria are both closely related to thePluchea complex. The old generic nameLitogyne Harv. has been taken up for one species ofEpaltes, the genusRhodogeron is reduced to a synonym ofSachsia, and the following new combinations are made;Litogyne gariepina (DC.)A. Anderb., andSachsia coronopifolia (Griseb.)A. Anderb.     

Drei neue Blattlaus-Parasiten aus Hongkong

Summary Two new species of the genusBinodoxys Mackauer 1960 and one new species of the genusLipolexis Foerster 1862 (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) from the Oriental region are described. All parasites have been reared from aphids onCitrus. A key is given for the known species of the genusLipolexis Foerster.

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22. Beitrag zur Kenntnis derAphidiidae.     

Systematische und phylogenetische studie über die GattungenThienemanniola Kieffer undCorynocera Zetterstedt (Diptera,Chironomidae)

Summary In the preceding paper, a revision of the species of the genusThienemanniola Kieffer is presented. The speciesTh. longipennis Kieffer andTh. brevitarsis Kieffer are declared to be synonymous toTh. ploenensis Kieffer.All three stages of the metamorphosis ofTh. ploenensis are described and figured; ecological notes are also given.The speciesCorynocera ambigua Zetterstedt andCorynocera oliveri Lindeberg are briefly characterized and figured.Finally, the systematical classification of the generaCorynocera andThienemanniola into the familyChironomidae and the degree of relationship between the generaCorynocera andThienemanniola are discussed.     

Primo contributo alla conoscenza dei laghi appenninici meridionali di alta quota. Il fitoplancton dei laghi del massiccio del Monte Sirino (Appennino Lucano)

Abstract

A preliminary account on some mountain lakes of the Southern Apennines. Phytoplankton investigation on three ponds of the Monte Sirino (Basilicata).—Phytoplankton standing crop and species composition have been studied in three ponds of the Southern Apennines. The observations carried out throughout ten months in 1975, showed a great number of species present in the Remmo pond, mainly diatoms, desmids, green algae, and blue-green algae. In the Sirino pond only diatoms and Chrysophyceae were present.

In comparison, in the Zapano pond, the phytoplankton was scarcely represented but the occurrence of some species of green algae may suggest a eutrophic water condition. On the basis of the peculiarities both of species composition and biomass, the major water bodies may be considered oligotrophic.     

Cytotaxonomical studies on AsianAnnonaceae

Chromosome numbers of 42 species and 3 varieties from 24 genera of theAnnonaceae have been determined (Table 1); reports for 15 of the genera are new. Among Asian genera 2n = 14 occurs only in the specializedMezzettia, while 2n = 16 is wide-spread and also has been found inAnaxagorea with some primitive characters. 2n = 18 is reported for 11 genera, and tetraploidy (2n = 36) has been observed inPolyalthia. Therefore, an original basic number of x = 8 or x = 9 is suggested at least for the Asian genera of theAnnonaceae.—Cytotaxonomical notes on the critical speciesPolyalthia rumphii andP. affinis are given, and the new combinationNeouvaria parallelivenia (Boerl.)Okada & Ueda is proposed.     

Sterol composition of steryl chlorin esters (SCEs) formed through grazing of algae by freshwater crustaceans: relevance to the composition of sedimentary SCEs

In a laboratory experiment, we studied the composition of sterols in steryl chlorin esters (SCEs) egested in fecal pellets of freshwater crustaceans (Daphnia magna and Asellus hilgendorfi) fed on a single green algae (Chlorella, Scendesmus, or Stigeoclonium) or on phytoplankton collected from a shallow pond abundant in diatoms. Both unaltered sterols present in dietary phytoplankton and sterols formed by metabolism in crustaceans were incorporated in the SCEs. C₂₇ sterols except for cholesterol (C₂₇⁵) and C₂₈ sterols, major sterols in diatoms, were scarce in the SCEs compared with those in the dietary algae, whereas cholesterol, which could be formed by crustacean metabolism, was relatively abundant in the SCEs. Therefore, the contribution of diatoms to the total phytoplankton population would be underestimated if diatom-specific C₂₇ and C₂₈ sterols in sedimentary SCEs were used in estimations as biomarkers of diatoms.     

Acidiphilium aminolytica sp. nov.: An acidophilic chemoorganotrophic bacterium isolated from acidic mineral environment

Acidiphilium aminolytica is proposed for a species of the genusAcidiphilium. Acidiphilium aminolytica can be phenotypically differentiated from all other species of the genusAcidiphilium. The seven strains of this species that have been studied are Gram-negative, aerobic, mesophilic, non-sporeforming, motile, and rod-shaped bacteria. They grow between pH 3.0 and 6.0, but not at pH 6.5. They yield positive results in tests for hippuric acid hydrolysis, catalase and urease production. Oxidase, esculin hydrolysis, and -galactosidase tests are negative. They can used-glucose,d-galactose, inositol, sorbitol,l-lysine,l-glutamate,l-arginine, -alanine,dl-4-aminobutyrate,dl-5-aminovalerate, sperimine, or diaminobutane as a sole carbon source, but cannot use elemental sulfur and ferrous iron as an energy source. The DNA base composition is 58.7–59.2 G+C mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone is ubiquinone with ten isoprene unit (Q-10). The major fatty acid is the C_18:1 fatty acid. Two ornithine amide lipids, the C_18:1 fatty acid esters of -N-3-hydroxystearylornithyltaurine and -N-3-hydroxystearylornithine, are detected as the polar aminolipid. DNA relatedness between this species and the other species ofAcidiphilium, the generaAcidomonas, andAcidobacterium was 29 to 2%. These results indicate, that this new species should be placed in the genusAcidiphilium. The type strain (strain 101) ofA. aminolytica is JCM 8796.     

A comparative study of the chromosomes in the incipient species of the Drosophila paulistorum complex

Summary Drosophila paulistorum Dobzhansky et Pavan is a complex of six races or incipient species. The races are mostly allopatric, but they are reproductively isolated sufficiently to permit them to exist also sympatrically in some places. The gene arrangements in the chromosomes of the races have been compared by means of examination of the giant chromosomes in the larval salivary glands; 28 strains of all races, and about an equal number of interracial hybrids have been studied.Chromosomal inversion polymorphism has been discovered in all races, even in the Guianan race of which only a single strain is available. Inversion heterozygotes are found in every one of the five chromosomal strands which the species has. Interracial hybrids tend to be heterozygous for more inversions than are present in the strains of the parental races. The Transitional race has however much the same gene arrangements as the widespread Andean — South Brazilian race.With the exception of the Transitional race, and of three other possible exceptions, each race has a collection of its own race-specific inversion polymorphs, not found in the other races. This very striking finding is discussed in connection with the hypothesis which envisages the origin of new species from marginal colonies at the periphery of the geographic distribution area of the ancestral species.The work reported in this article has been carried under Contract No. AT-(30-1)-1151, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, mostly at the Department of Zoology, Columbia University, New York.     

Some observations on the mode of division of somatic nuclei of Mucor and Allomyces

Summary A series of successive photographs of the division of the living nucleus in a germinating sporangiospore of Mucor fragilis has been obtained. In this sequence the nucleus is seen to divide directly by elongation and constriction. The nucleolus divides at the same time and in the same way. These observations agree with the finding, first made by Léger (1896) and several times confirmed since then, that the nuclei of Mucorales apparently divide without first arranging their chromosomes in a metaphase plate and without the help of a spindle apparatus.In stained preparations of Mucor chromosomes are not normally visible as separate entities but they can be clearly seen in Feulgen preparations of dividing somatic nuclei of Allomyces arbuscula. In contrast to Mucor the nucleolus of Allomyces is dissolved during division. The chromosomes seem to sort themselves out on their own and form new nucleoli. Metaphase plates and spindles have not been encountered.To Professor Dr. E. G. Pringsheim, teacher and friend, on his 80th bithday.     

Amorphophallus nicolsonianus (Araceae), a new species from India

Amorphophallus nicolsonianus species nova, with cylindrical or napiform corms, is the only representative of the sect.Rapyogkos in India. All the other hitherto known species of this region have globose or depressed globose corms. The new species is related to some Indochinese species and toA. hildebrandtii ( Engl.)Engl. & Gehrm. from Madagascar.     

Photosynthetic pathways inChenopodiaceae from Africa, Asia and Europe with their ecological, phytogeographical and taxonomical importance

Photosynthetic pathways are reported for 305 species ofChenopodiaceae from Africa, Asia and Europe. Ecological characteristics, phytogeography and life forms of all species are given, and their correlation with relevant CO₂-fixation types are discussed. 205 species (67.2%) exhibit the C₄-pathway and 100 species (32.8%) the C₃-pathway of CO₂-fixation. Most of the C₄ species are of Irano-Turanian origin. The diversity of C₄ species of the Irano-Turanian phytochoria, with very harsh winters, are interpreted by the active period of Chenopods in summer. There is a close relationship between some special morphotypes and respective photosynthetic type. Halophytes and xerophytes with articulated stems and stem succulents ofAnabasis-type are exclusively C₄. Leaf succulent halophytes and xerohalophytes are predominantly C₄. Hygrohalophytes with leaf or stem succulence are often C₃. Probably many C₄ Salsoleae have been evolved in the Afroasiatic arid zone after the climatic changes of the Miocene. Among them there is a high proportion of annuals that have a younger origin. There is some evidence that the present Chenopods of the subfamily Salsoloideae may have their ancient stock in NW Africa. We found close taxonomic relationships between photosynthetic pathways and infrageneric classification in genera with both types of C₃ and C₄, likeAtriplex andSuaeda. Dedicated to emer. Univ.-Prof. DrFriedrich Ehrendorfer, Wien, on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Zoosporic marine fungi from the Pacific Northwest (U.S.A.)

Summary An investigation of the zoosporic fungi in the vicinity of the Friday Harbor Laboratory, San Juan Is., Washington, revealed the presence of great numbers of fungi. With one exception (Olpidium sp.) these were all biflagellate organisms. Predominating were species (11) of Thraustochytriaceae which abounded in water, in association with seaweeds, intertidal sands, and particularly on the surface of bottom samples down to depths of 298 m. A twelfth species of this group has several peculiarities and needs further investigation. Of the algal parasites, one on Polysiphonia and Pterosiphonia is considered new and termed Eurychasma joycei n. sp.The assistance of Drs. R. E. Norris and G. J. Hollenberg in calling my attention to certain algal parasites is gratefully acknowledged. I am also indebted to my colleague Dr. H. C. Whisler, and to Dr. C. Anastasiou for assistance in photographic work.     

The species of Pareromene Osthelder (Pyralidae: Crambinae: Diptychophorini) from the western South Pacific,with further notes on the New Zealand species

Six species of Crambinae described by Meyrick, and three by Tarns, from western South Pacific islands between the Louisiade Archipelago and Samoa, are redescribed and transferred from Diptychophora Zeller to Pareromene Osthelder. Five new species and one new subspecies of Pareromene are described. The zoogeography and phylogeny of the genus in this region are briefly described, and some additional notes on New Zealand species are given.