Differentiation of pathogenic species of Candida by their recovery characteristics following ultraviolet irradiation

Each of seven pathogenic species of Candida exhibits a unique pattern of light and dark recovery responses to ultraviolet irradiation. C. guilliermondii, C. parapsilosis and C. pseudotropicalis photoreactivate whereas C. albicans, C. krusei, C. stellatoidea and C. tropicalis do not. Within eachof these groups, individual species are distinguishable by whether or not they express differential dark recovery during postirradiation growth at 25 C or 37 C on oxidative vs fermentative carbon sources, on inorganic vs amino acid nitrogen sources or in the presence rather than absence of ergosterol. Equivalent recovery patterns are obtained for species of Candida and the ascosporogenous species which are their corresponding perfect forms. These observations indicate strongly that the postirradation recovery is a reliable, species-specific characteristic of yeasts.These studies were added in part by a contract (AT11-1)-1772 with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.     

Interference interactions and nest usurpation between two subordinate ant species

Camponotus foreli (Emery) and Cataglyphis iberica (Emery) are two sympatric, subordinate ant species that have been found to fight in attacks that usually conclude with the death of many workers of both species and with nest abandonment by C. iberica. These harassment episodes have been observed in two different areas and over many years of study. No such attacks of C. foreli were observed in the study areas against any other ant species, nor did any other ants attack C. iberica nests, and laboratory confrontations confirmed this specificity. These attacks neither eliminated C. iberica colonies, nor distanced them from C. foreli nests. Moreover, there was no real competition for food between the species: in an experiment where all C. iberica colonies were eliminated from an area, rates of prey and liquid food collection by C. foreli nests in the exclusion zone were similar to those found in the control zone with C. iberica, and the activity rhythms of C. foreli did not change in the absence of C. iberica. The hypothesis of competition for a nest site is more consistent. Both in the laboratory and the field, the most frequent outcome of these aggressive interactions was the occupation of the C. iberica nest by C. foreli. This behavior may be advantageous for C. foreli, because it is much less skilful at excavating than C. iberica. One of the chief concerns of this study is to show that such interference interactions, typical especially of dominant, very aggressive species, are also found between subordinate, apparently nonaggressive species. Received: 20 March 1997 / Accepted: 29 September 1997     

Morphological and molecular analyses support the existence of host-specific Peronospora species infecting Chenopodium

About 20 species of Peronospora have been reported to cause downy mildew on Chenopodium, but, particularly in plant pathology literature, only one species, P. farinosa, is considered to be involved. We performed sequence analysis of the ITS rDNA to reveal the phylogenetic relationships of Peronospora specimens from five species of Chenopodium, viz. C. album, C. ambrosioides, C. bonus-henricus, C. hybridum, and C. polyspermum. The five clades corresponded to particular Chenopodium species, and showed a high level of sequence divergence. Differences in the morphology of the conidia and ultimate branchlets also supported the separation of the five groups at the host species level. These results suggest that the names P. variabilis, P. boni-henrici, P. chenopodii, and P. chenopodii-polyspermi should be used for the four downy mildew pathogens specific to C. album, C. bonus-henricus, C. hybridum, and C. polyspermum, respectively. The Peronospora on C. ambrosioides was found to be an independent species.     

A repeated sequence probe for the C genome in Avena (Oats)

Summary The genus Avena consists of at least 23 species composed of three ploidy levels. Cytogenetic analysis has characterised four distinct karyotypes. These are the A, B, C and D genomes. We have isolated a repeated sequence clone that can be used for the detection of the C genome in Avena by filter hybridization techniques. This clone, termed RS-1, is a genomic DNA clone containing at least one highly repeated sequence that is abundant in Avena species containing the C genome. This sequence or a related sequence is also present, but at much reduced levels, in species that do not contain the C genome. Because of its abundance and the characteristic Southern blot pattern, we have termed this clone a C genome specific clone. We have also done similar analysis of the Avena genus using a rDNA clone from wheat. The results of these experiments demonstrate that clearly definable C genome-specific markers can be identified with both probes. These molecular probes can be useful in studying the genomic relationships of Avena and can provide some clues as to the origin of the cultivated Avena species. These results can, therefore, provide breeders with directions for the efficient transfer of desirable traits of wild Avena species into commencal varieties.     

CHLOROPLAST DNA RESTRICTION SITE VARIATION AND THE PHYLOGENY OF COREOPSIS SECTION COREOPSIS (ASTERACEAE)

Restriction site variation in chloroplast DNAs (cpDNAs) of Coreopsis section Coreopsis was employed to assess divergence and phylogenetic relationships among the nine species of the section. A total of fourteen restriction site mutations and one length mutation was detected. Cladistic analysis of the cpDNA data produced a phylogeny that is different in several respects from previous hypotheses. CpDNA mutations divide the section into two groups, with the two perennial species C. auriculata and C. pubescens lacking any derived restriction site changes. The other seven species are united by five synapomorphic restriction site mutations and the one length mutation. These seven species fall into three unresolved clades consisting of 1) the remaining three perennial species, C. grandiflora, C. intermedia, and C. lanceolata; 2) three annual species, C. basalis, C. nuecensoides, and C. nuecensis; and 3) the remaining annual, C. wrightii. The cpDNA data suggest that, although the perennial habit is primitive within the section, the annual species of section Coreopsis have likely not originated from an extant perennial species. The estimated proportion of nucleotide differences per site (given as 100p) for the cpDNAs of species in the section ranges from 0.00 to 0.20, which is comparable to or lower than values reported for other congeneric species. The low level of cpDNA divergence is concordant with other data, including cross compatibility, interfertility and allozymes, in suggesting that species of the section are not highly divergent genetically.     

两种本地植物种子萌发对飞机草的化感耐受性及其相互竞争

为探讨本地物种假地豆和白饭树对入侵植物飞机草的替代控制潜力,利用培养皿法和同质园种植实验分别研究了两个本地物种种子萌发对飞机草的化感耐受性及其与飞机草的竞争关系。结果显示:除了假地豆的萌发率在高浓度(2.5%)的飞机草叶提取液下受到显著抑制外,两个本地种的萌发在不同浓度飞机草根、茎、叶提取液下均不受抑制。飞机草与假地豆混种时,飞机草的株高、地下生物量比及根冠比显著降低,假地豆的株高无显著变化,但生物量显著增加;飞机草的竞争参数相对产量(RY)显著小于1,竞争攻击力系数显著小于零,表明其竞争力弱于假地豆。飞机草与白饭树混种时,飞机草的根冠比也显著降低,但株高和生物量均显著增加,而白饭树的株高和生物量却显著降低;飞机草的相对产量(RY)显著大于1,竞争攻击力系数显著大于零,表明其竞争力强于白饭树。结合以上结果,本地植物假地豆可以一定程度上竞争抑制飞机草的生长,具有替代控制飞机草的潜力,而白饭树可以在清除飞机草后的入侵地辅助植被修复。实验结果为飞机草替代控制的目标物种的筛选提供了科学依据,对被飞机草入侵生境生物多样性的恢复和重建具有一定指导意义。     

Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Citrus (Rutaceae) and related genera as revealed by RFLP and RAPD analysis

 Relationships among 88 accessions representing 45 Citrus species, three man-made hybrids, and six related genera were examined for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP). Thirty-two Citrus and three Microcitrus accessions were also examined by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. A measure of relative heterozygosity was estimated based on the mean of the number of fragments per individual per probe-enzyme combination (PEC) divided by total number of fragments per PEC for all non-hybrid Citrus individuals. The presence in a Citrus species of a rare band found also in a related genus was taken as an indication of possible introgression, while the presence of several fragments unique to 1 species was used to indicate non-involvement of that species in hybridization events. Most species that have been described in the literature as hybrids had high heterozygosity indices and no unique fragments. Distance matrices and dendrograms were generated using simple matching coefficient and neighbor-joining cluster analysis. RFLP and RAPD data gave approximately the same results. These data showed C. maxima was affiliated with the papedas C. hongheensis and C. latipes. C. medica clustered with C. indica when only non-hybrid taxa were examined, or among limes, lemons, and relatives when all species were considered. Mandarins did not show strongly supported groupings among themselves, nor with other species. These data showed that several accessions were probably assigned to the wrong species. Received: 30 September 1997 / Accepted: 29 October 1997     

THE USE OF A NEW CLEARING TECHNIQUE FOR THE STUDY OF EARLY OVULE DEVELOPMENT,MEGASPOROGENESIS, AND MEGAGAMETOGENESIS IN FIVE SPECIES OF CORNUS L.

The application of a new clearing technique proved successful for the study of ovule development, megasporogenesis, and megagametogenesis in Cornus asperifolia Michaux., C. stricta Lam., C. amomum Miller, C. florida L., and C. alternifolia L. These were the first studies of embryological features in C. asperifolia and C. stricta. Consistent features for both species include: slightly crassinucellate nucelli, megaspore mother cells, and equal dyads with the upper member obliquely aligned to the parietal cell. Alignment of nucelli of the 4-nucleate megagametophyte is not the same for both species. More than one mature 8-nucleate megagametophyte per nucellus was recorded for C. asperifolia. Embryological features not revealed in previous investigations of the other three species include: equal dyad cells for C. alternifolia and C. amomum, although disintegration of defunct megaspores is variable for both species; vacuole formation at the micropylar end at the 2-nucleate stage of C. amomum; a 4-nucleate stage in C. amomum and C. alternifolia with different alignments of nuclei; synergids that disintegrate rapidly in both species although antipodal shapes vary for each; and fusion of polar nuclei at varying locations within different species. A prominent hypostase is formed in all five species. Because of embryological features, it is recommended that C. forida be separated from the genus Cornus.     

Proton-NMR study of the interaction of trans-dichloro-diamine-platinum(II) with poly(I) and poly(I).poly(C)

The fixation of trans-(NH₃)₂Cl₂ Pt(II) to poly(I)·poly(C) at low r_b (< 0.05) leads to the formation of two complexed species. The major species (ca. 82% of bound platinum) involves coordination of platinum to a single hypoxanthine base, while the other species involves coordination of two hypoxanthine bases, which are either far apart on the same strand or on separate poly(I) strands, to the platinum. These same two species are found after reaction with poly(I), as are two other species throughout the entire r_b range studied (r_b = 0–0.30). The latter two species are assigned to trans-Pt bound to two bases on a poly(I) strand with (a) one or (b) two free bases between the two bound bases. These two species, (a) and (b), account for ca. 35% of the bound platinum, although the 1:1 species remains dominant (ca. 55%). These two additional species are observed at high r_b (>0.075) after reaction with poly(I)·poly(C) but as very minor species. They are formed by reaction with melted poly(I) loops. Also at high r_b, we have observed a shifted cytidine H⁵ resonance arising from interaction of trans-Pt with a melted loop of poly(C). Most probably, this arises from an intramolecular poly(I) to poly(C) crosslink. Results from the reaction of trans-Pt with poly(C) are presented for comparison.     

New microsatellite loci for Carcharhinid sharks (Carcharhinus tilstoni and C. sorrah) and their cross‐amplification in other shark species

Twelve microsatellite DNA markers were isolated in the spot‐tail shark (Carcharhinus sorrah) and nine were isolated in Australian black‐tip shark (Carcharhinus tilstoni). These loci plus 18 others developed for sharks from the genera Negaprion, Ginglymostoma, Carcharodon and Isurus were tested for amplification success on four species of Carcharhinus (including C. sorrah and C. tilstoni) and four other species representing three diverse families. Cross‐amplification was most common within families. Five loci were subsequently tested for polymorphism on 50 C. sorrah and 60 C. tilstoni. The number of alleles per locus was two to 24 and the average heterozygosity was 0.54 (range 0.16–0.87) for C. sorrah and 0.64 (range 0.44–0.78) for C. tilstoni. These loci may be useful tools for genetic analyses of the Carcharhinidae.     

Indonesian Kickxellales: two species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coemansia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linderina</Emphasis>

Four species belonging to Kickxellales (Kickxellomycotina) isolated from soil of Indonesia are described and illustrated. Two new species of Coemansia, C. asiatica and C. javaensis, were discovered in South Sulawesi and West Java, and two known species of Linderina, L. pennispora and L. macrospora, were discovered in East Kalimantan and South Sulawesi, respectively. These four species are newly added to the Indonesian mycobiota. A technique for inducing sporulation of C. javaensis and L. macrospora by adding substances derived from invertebrates such as aphids, nereids, or cladocerans to culture media is described.     

Morphological study of alar androconia in Celastrina butterflies

Morphological studies of androconia were performed for 13 Celastrina species using a digital microscope with Z‐stacking mode. Whereas C. ladon lacked androconia, the remaining 12 species were found to possess fan‐shaped androconia on the dorsal wing surfaces. The androconia of these species shared the following common features: smaller size than standard color‐producing scales, absence of dentate termini and presence of crossrib perforations. In addition, some species were characterized by unique microstructures in their androconia. The androconia of C. argiolus iynteana possessed a rounded lamellar contour, while those of C. lavendularis himilcon and C. echo cinerea were tapered on the basal end. The average number of longitudinal ridges of C. argiolus ladonides and C. filipjevi (17.1) were greater than the average number of 12 species (14.3). These results suggest that the morphological traits of androconia in microdomain, such as the shape of the lamellar form and the average number of longitudinal ridges, are useful to identify species in the genus Celastrina.     

Variation in mate recognition specificities among four Callosobruchus seed beetles

Differentiation of mate recognition systems is one of the important steps for speciation in animals. For some insects, a contact sex pheromone present on the cuticular surface is indispensable in discriminating reproductive partners. In Callosobruchus species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), contact sex pheromones have been found in two species, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) and Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius). It was suggested, however, that these two species lacked the ability to discriminate their conspecific and/or heterosexual partners. To elucidate this inconsistency, we verified the existence of contact sex pheromones from two other species, Callosobruchus rhodesianus (Pic) and Callosobruchus analis (Fabricius). As a result, unlike C. chinensis and C. maculatus, the males of C. rhodesianus and C. analis were able to discriminate their heterosexual partners. Comparing cross‐copulation behavior, i.e., copulation behavior between two species, against these four species indicated that the mate recognition specificities were quite different. Males of C. rhodesianus and C. analis had highly species‐specific mating behavior, whereas males of C. chinensis and C. maculatus were much less specific. These results indicate that variation in mate recognition can arise even among congeneric species living in a sympatric environment, and this variation might have arisen during species differentiation. Based on our results in combination with previous reports on interspecific competition, we suggest that the observed asymmetric cross‐copulation behavior might be, at least partially, an adaptation for surviving interspecific competition.     

The seashore sedges of the Russian Kola Peninsula: How many species?

A necessary basis for environmental protection is thorough knowledge of the biodiversity to be protected. Setting conservation priorities in taxonomically complex groups is an especially difficult task. The seashore sedges of the Carex salina group (Cyperaceae) of the Russian White and Barents Seas form important parts of the coastal ecosystems and include species listed as rare and endangered. However, their taxonomy is poorly understood and supposed to be blurred by hybridization, also including the closely related C. aquatilis and possibly other species of sect. Phacocystis (C. bigelowii, C. nigra s. lat.). We address the taxonomic situation in the C. salina group in the Kola Peninsula with emphasis on taxa of supposed hybrid origin (C. salina and C. recta coll.). We analyzed 92 plants from 28 sites for 101 amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and 10 morphological characters. The plants referred to three supposedly “pure” species (C. aquatilis, C. paleacea and C. subspathacea) formed different extreme parts of the morphological and molecular variation. These species could be discriminated by a combination of morphological characters. The two taxa of proposed hybrid origin had extremely variable morphology and could not be clearly distinguished from each other or from the supposedly “pure” species. Our results demonstrate extensive gene flow between all taxa, suggesting that the entire C. salina group including C. aquatilis acts as a single large biological species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cobitis faridpaki</Emphasis> sp. nova—a New spined loach species (Cobitidae) from the southern Caspian Sea basin (Iran)

Spined loaches from the Siahrud River of the southern coast of the Caspian Sea in the province of Mazandaran, north of Iran, are described as a new species Cobitis faridpaki. This species belongs to Cobitis species group with a single lamina Canestrini at the base of the second pectoral-fin ray in males and subdorsal scales with reduced eccentric focal zone. These characters differentiate C. faridpaki from both southern Iranian species C. linea and C. melanoleuca distributed in the northern Caspian Sea basin. The stout body, small and numerous (25–30) lateral spots and the presence of 14–16 branched caudal-fin rays separate C. faridpaki from Caucasian species C. satunini.     

A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MEGAGAMETOPHYTE OF FIVE SPECIES OF CORNUS L.

Comparisons of variations of morphological features, treated quantitatively, of the megagametophytic stages in Cornus asperifolia Michaux., C. stricta Lam., C. amomum Miller, C. florida L., and C. alternifolia L. suggest differences in growth patterns of their megagametophytes. The successful application of the clearing fluid 41/2 (Herr Fluid) affords adequate data for assessment of quantitative features of such minute plants. This method, less time consuming than traditional paraffin sectioning techniques, allows for statistical treatment of a sufficient number of species for valid inferences of angiospermous embryological features. An investigation of megagametophytic size was directed both to successive stages within each species and to each stage among all five species. In both instances, means, confidence intervals (CI), and growth increments (GI) were compared. Without exception, the largest means for length and width occurred in the 8-nucleate stage for all species. The greatest GI for length occurred in the 8-nucleate stage for C. stricta, C. alternifolia, and C. asperifolia and in the 4-nucleate stage for C. florida. The 4- and 8-nucleate GI were nearly equal for C. amomum. Overlapping of 95 % CI between successive stages indicated uniform growth between stages for the megagametophyte. Only C. asperifolia had CI overlapping between all successive stages for length and width. These five species are clearly separated on the basis not only of variations in qualitative features but also on megagametophytic growth patterns among species.     

Molecular Characterization of Parabasalian Symbionts Coronympha clevelandii and Trichonympha subquasilla from the Hawaiian Lowland Tree Termite Incisitermes immigrans

An important and undervalued challenge in characterizing symbiotic protists is the accurate identification of their host species. Here, we use DNA barcoding to resolve one confusing case involving parabasalian symbionts in the hindgut of the Hawaiian lowland tree termite, Incisitermes immigrans, which is host to several parabasalians, including the type species for the genus Coronympha, C. clevelandii. We collected I. immigrans from its type locality (Hawaii), confirmed its identity by DNA barcoding, and characterized the phylogenetic position of two symbionts, C. clevelandii and Trichonympha subquasilla. These data show that previous molecular surveys of “I. immigrans” are, in fact, mainly derived from the Caribbean termite I. schwarzi, and perhaps also another related species. These results emphasize the need for host barcoding, clarify the relationship between morphologically distinct Coronympha species, and also suggest some interesting distribution patterns of nonendemic termite species and their symbionts.     

Evolutionary chromosomal differentiation among four species of Conoderus Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Agrypninae, Conoderini) detected by standard staining, C-banding, silver nitrate impregnation, and CMA3/DA/DAPI staining

The speciose Brazilian Elateridae fauna is characterized by high karyotypic diversity, including one species (Chalcolepidius zonatus Eschscholtz, 1829) with the lowest diploid number within any Coleoptera order. Cytogenetic analysis of Conoderus dimidiatus Germar, 1839, C. scalaris (Germar, 1824,) C. ternarius Germar, 1839, and C. stigmosus Germar, 1839 by standard and differential staining was performed with the aim of establishing mechanisms of karyotypic differentiation in these species. Conoderus dimidiatus, C. scalaris, and C. ternarius have diploid numbers of 2n(♂) = 17 and 2n(♀) = 18, and a X0/XX sex determination system, similar to that encountered in the majority of Conoderini species. The karyotype of C. stigmosus was characterized by a diploid number of 2n=16 and a neoXY/neoXX sex determination system that was highly differentiated from other species of the genus. Some features of the mitotic and meiotic chromosomes suggest an autosome/ancestral X chromosome fusion as the cause of the neoXY system origin in C. stigmosus. C-banding and silver impregnation techniques showed that the four Conoderus species possess similar chromosomal characteristics to those registered in most Polyphaga species, including pericentromeric C band and autosomal NORs. Triple staining techniques including CMA₃/DA/DAPI also provided useful information for differentiating these Conoderus species. These techniques revealed unique GC-rich heterochromatin associated with NORs in C. scalaris and C. stigmosus and CMA₃-heteromorphism in C. scalaris and C. ternarius.     

Development of Genus/Species-Specific PCR Analysis for Identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carnobacterium</Emphasis> Strains

Heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria belonging to the genus Carnobacterium are currently divided into seven different species, C. piscicola, C. mobile, C. gallinarum, C. inhibens, C. divergens, C. funditum, and C. alterfunditum. 16S rDNA-targeted PCR assay was carried out for the identification of the genus Carnobacterium. In addition, type strains of all Carnobacterium species were analyzed by 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer analysis in comparison with type strains of phylogenetically related lactic acid bacteria. These methods enabled the identification and the discrimination among Carnobacterium species and the other phylogenetically related lactic acid bacteria. Likewise, analogous results were obtained by restriction analysis of amplified 16S rDNA performed with HaeIII and HinfI as restriction enzymes. Received: 25 July 2001 / Accepted: 19 October 2001