Carbon isotope ratios in ear parts of triticale : influence of grain filling

Four triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) genotypes were grown under rainfed conditions with limited irrigation support in Lleida in northeast Spain. For each variety, samples consisting of 10 tillers with half-sterilized spikes were taken three times from anthesis to maturity. Carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C) were then determined in water extracts from ear bracts (glumes, paleas, and lemmas), awns and flag leaves, and in powdered kernels. For the half-sterilized spikes, carbon isotope analysis was carried out separately in bracts and awns from fertile and nonfertile spikelets. The δ¹³C in the water-soluble fraction of awns, glumes, and glumells from fruitless spikelets was significantly higher than that from fertile spikelets sampled at mid-grain filling. Differences in δ¹³C among sterile and fertile spikelets were not significant in samples taken a few days after anthesis or at maturity. These results are in accordance with some degree of refixation by awns and ear bracts of the CO₂ respired by grains during grain filling. There was progressively higher δ¹³C from flag leaf blades to awns, glumes, and glumells. This variation in δ¹³C along plant parts may be caused by differences in the ratio of assimilation rate to CO₂-diffusive conductance. Values of δ¹³C of mature kernels were between the values at anthesis and mid-grain filling for the water-soluble fraction of flag leaves and inner bracts and were fairly similar to those of glumes and awns.     

Taxonomic notes on Gaudinia (Poaceae) based upon morphological characters and the first record of G. maroccana for Portugal

Gaudinia maroccana is considered a Moroccan endemism. After a qualitative and quantitative study of 13 morphological characters of Gaudinia based upon 43 specimens from western Iberian Peninsula, northwestern Morocco and Azores Islands, with statistical analyses (correspondence analysis, box-plots and cluster), we can conclude that this species also occurs on the coast of Portugal. Some taxonomic remarks on G. fragilis, G. coarctata, G. hispanica and G. valdesii and a key for determination are presented.     

Die systematische Stellung von Melica uniflora Retz. und Melica rectiflora Boiss. er Heldr. (Melica L. Subgen. Bulbimelica,subgen. nov.) (Vorarbeiten zu einer Revision der Gattung Melica L.–I)

This work presents an investigation of the author on the systematical position of Melica uniflora Retz. and Melica rectiflora Boiss. et Heldr. The author proves the affinity of these Melica-species to those of the pacific-northamerican territories. The usefulness of striking characteristic features or signs (e. g.: the cilia (fringes) and the awns of the glumelles) is examined in respect to their taxonomic value; and the corresponding literature is discussed. The author proves that certain characteristic signs, hardly or not yet being noticed till now, play a decisive role in respect to the explanation of the affinity between the species Melica L.; the probative force of these features will not become evident but by comparison of the taxa of all continents. Following the author, the storage internodes, the formation of antiligula in front of the leaf-base, and the dynamics in the ontogeny of the elements of the spikelets (glumes) are thought to be very important characteristics of organization. The author compares these features these with their formation within the range of sub-genus Melica. As a result of this research, the new sub-genus Bulbimelica is described and its systematical classification is given. The new subgenus is furthermore more exactly separated from the subgenus Melica. The classification is followed by chorological interpretation as well as by indications to the ecology of the taxa and the distribution of diagnostically important signs within the whole generic distribution-area.     

Combining geometric morphometrics with pattern recognition for the investigation of species complexes

The parasitoid Hymenoptera contain a large number of species complexes that are as yet unresolved by traditional taxonomic studies. Evolutionary studies as well as biological control programmes often require further investigations which cannot rely on simple qualitative morphological characters; in many cases, particularly with dried specimens housed in museums, molecular approaches cannot be used. Recent developments in geometric morphometrics and statistical exploratory approaches open new perspectives for the objective evaluation of morphological characters in this taxonomic context. In this study, geometric morphometrics and pattern recognition approaches were applied to the wing shape and venation of two closely related braconid species considered to differ by subtle qualitative morphological head characters. Exploratory analyses such as kernel density estimates and Gaussian mixture analyses were used to explore the structure of the data in the multivariate morphometric space. Discrimination techniques (linear discriminant functions and neural networks combined with cross‐validations) were used to estimate the taxonomic value of qualitative characters. Gaussian mixtures highlighted the existence of two non‐overlapping groups. A good congruence was found between one of the two groups and the a priori defined Bassus tumidulus. The misclassification rate was higher for B. tegularis specimens, which also appeared morphometrically heterogeneous. Discrimination between the two a priori defined species was incomplete with misclassification rates higher than, or equal to, 6%. In most cases, the lack of congruence between species and morphometrically defined subgroups could be related to specimens that exhibited ambiguous qualitative character states. In summary, if two entities are present, they still need to be defined morphologically, while B. tegularis heterogeneity calls for further investigation of specimens of known origin and hosts. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 80, 89–98.     

Distinctions betweenHordeum bulbosum andH. murinum s.l. in seed and herbarium collections

It is sometimes necessary to identify eitherH. bulbosum orH. murinum on the basis of the inflorescence or seeds alone. The majority of taxonomic keys use the presence of swollen basal culms for the former against the annual habit for the latter. Confusion is due to similarities in inflorescences and spikelet morphology. Lodicules which always persist and are present beside the fruit in a mature caryopsis, and other characters such as the awns of the lemmas of the lateral spikelets enable conclusive distinction.     

The varieties of Bauhinia pottsii G. Don in Thailand (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae)

 Bauhinia pottsii G. Don, B. subsessilis Craib, B. velutina (Wall. ex Benth.) Baker, B. mollissima (Wall.) Prain, and B. decipiens Craib were recently recognized as five varieties of Bauhinia pottsii G. Don. They grow naturally in southern Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina and the Malay Peninsula. Bauhinia pottsii var. decipiens (Craib) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen is endemic to Thailand and known only from the type collection, so it was omitted from this study. Quantitative and qualitative morphological characters were examined in 200 specimens using multivariate and univariate analyses to determine the taxonomic relationship among the four. Some variation in qualitative characters was found between the varieties which separated them as previously defined in Flora of Thailand. Forty-three quantitative characters were subjected to cluster analysis to allow an objective classification into groups. The groups were subsequently evaluated by a canonical discriminant analysis. It was found that these characters collectively support the four varieties as defined by qualitative characters. However, the close relationship of varieties mollissima (Wall. ex Prain) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen and velutina (Wall. ex Benth.) K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen is observed. The linear discriminant function has an overall rate of 98.5% correct classification and is useful for variety classification. Among quantitative characters, petal-claw length and ovarystalk length together with some qualitative characters are useful for key construction to separate the four varieties. Received April 24, 2001 Accepted December 11, 2001     

Re‐evaluation of the taxonomic status of Hackelochloa (Poaceae) based on anatomical and phenetic analyses

Hackelochloa is a pantropical genus of plant in the Poaceae, in which only two species have been included, H. granularis and H. porifera. Despite several morphological differences, notably the more prominent sculpturing of the lower glume and the larger dimensions of several quantitative traits, H. porifera has been reduced to the synonymy of H. granularis. Moreover, the status of the genus itself has been questioned, with a regional revision of the genus proposing inclusion of its members in the genus Mnesithea. In the present study, we investigated a range of morphological and anatomical attributes to assess critically the generic delimitation between Hackelochloa and Mnesithea. In clustering analysis, H. granularis, H. porifera and Mnesithea species were clearly resolved as three distinct groups with an R‐value of 0.98114. Likewise, three clusters representing these taxonomic units were revealed using principal component analysis (PCA), with the first two principal components highlighting key qualitative and quantitative characters. Scanning electron microscopy was used to reveal different patterns of sculpturing on the lower glumes in the two putative species and the ecological significance of these differences is inferred. The outline of leaf transverse sections, presence of parenchymatous tissue in the midrib region, number of adjacent bundles and number of chlorenchyma layers in the culm were also found to be diagnostic anatomical characters. This study supports the recognition of H. porifera as distinct from H. granularis and provides evidence that the genus Hackelochloa should be maintained.     

Taxonomic separation ofKengyilia (Poaceae: Triticeae) in relation to nearest relatedRoegneria,Elymus, andAgropyron,based on some morphological characters

Based on 100 species representative of the four genera, we scored 290 herbarium specimens for a number of morphological characters. The data were subjected to canonical discriminant analysis using characters different from those in the identification key to these genera byBaum, Yen, andYang (1991). These characters collectively support the four groupsAgropyron, Kengyilia, Roegneria, andElymus as previously defined. The four groups are also supported by the linear discriminant function with an overall rate of 83% correct classification. Length of lemma awn was found to be an additional diagnostic character asAgropyron andKengyilia have lemma awns shorter than 5 mm, whereasRoegneria andElymus have longer lemma awns with very few exceptions. Length of glume awns is also a useful supplementary generic diagnostic.Agropyron andElymus have glume awns, whereas the majority of species ofKengyilia and more than half of the species ofRoegneria lack them. If a glume awn is present it is usually not longer than 1 mm.     

Studies in African Cyperaceae 38: Cyperus inselbergensis sp. nov. from inselbergs in Gabon and Cameroun

Cyperus inselbergensis Lye is described from northern Gabon and adjacent Cameroun. It has a very characteristic ecology as it grows in seasonally wet, shallow soils on or close to inselbergs. The species belongs to Cyperus subgen. Kyllinga and is most similar to C. triceps, but differs in its hemispherical inflorescence, smaller spikelets, different glumes with scabrid midrib, and smaller fruits. The species is widespread and locally common in its restricted habitat.     

Stipa adamii sp. nov. (Poaceae) from the western Tian‐Shan,and some remarks on the taxa of the section Smirnovia occurring in Kazakhstan

Stipa adamii M. Nobis sp. nov. (Poaceae), endemic to Kazakhstan, is described and illustrated. The species belongs to the section Smirnovia Tzvel. and is distributed in the central Karatau Mountains (western Tian‐Shan). It is morphologically close to Stipa karataviensis Roshev. but is easily distinguishable by longer glumes, lemmas, awns and the callus. The awn is scabrous in the lower part and the callus is bearded in S. adamii whereas both organs are glabrous in S. karataviensis. Characters distinguishing S. karataviensis and S. adamii are presented in a table, together with photographs of the callus. The analysis of morphological characters of the taxa provides new information on their variability. A key to the species of Stipa sect. Smirnovia occurring in Kazakhstan, typification of the name S. manrakica and synonymization of the name S. saurica as a syn. nov. are included.     

Photosynthesis and Transpiration in Leaves and Ears of Wheat and Barley Varieties

Carbon exchange rate (CER) and transpiration were measured inflag leaves, whole ears, glumes (referring to the total areaof glumes and lemmas) and awns, in six hexaploid spring wheats(Triticum aestivum L.), three cultivated tetraploid spring wheats(T. turgidum L.), four wild tetraploid wheats (T. dicoccoides),eight six-rowed barleys (Hordeum vulgare L.) and five two-rowedbarleys (H. vulgare L.). Differences between varieties and between species in total earCER and transpiration were associated largely with differencesin ear surface area rather than with rates per unit area. Ratesof CER and transpiration per unit area of ears were 40–80%of those of flag leaves, depending on the species. However, since ear surface area was greater than flag leaf areaby a factor of 1.1, 3.9, 5.5 and 4.4, in hexaploid wheat, tetraploidwheat, six-rowed barley, and two-rowed barley, respectively,total ear CER reached up to 90% of that of the flag leaf. The contribution of awns to total ear CER depended largely ontotal awn surface area per ear, rather than on CER per unitawn area. Awns contributed about 40–80% of total spikeCER, depending on the species, but only 10–20% of spiketranspiration. The disproportionately small contribution ofawns to ear transpiration was caused by the very low rate oftranspiration per unit area of awns. Thus, while transpirationratio (CER/transpiration) was about the same in flag leavesand glumes, it was higher by several orders of magnitude inthe awns. A large amount of awns in the ear is therefore a drought adaptiveattribute in these cereals, for which tetraploid wheat exceededhexaploid wheat and six-rowed barley exceeded two-rowed barley. Key words: Carbon exchange rate, Transpiration, Barley, Wheat     

Morphological analysis ofAlouatta seniculus species group (Primates,Cebidae). A comparison with biochemical and karyological data

Fifteen cranial measurements were taken from wild caught specimens ofAlouatta seniculus seniculus, A. s. stramineus andA. s. macconnelli. A morphological analysis showed sex dimorphism in these three groups. A multivariate analysis discriminated among these taxa; males being more clearly discriminated than females. Our data showed that these taxa can be separated on the basis of quantitative cranial traits, biogeographic distribution, karyological differences, and biochemical characters. We therefore propose a new taxonomic arrangement, changing their taxonomic status to the species level (Alouatta seniculus, A. macconnelli, andA. stramineus).     

The rudist bivalve genus Gorjanovicia (Radiolitidae,Hippuritoidea) a revision of species based on quantitative analysis of morphological characters

Abstract: The rudist bivalve genus Gorjanovicia Pol?ak, 1967 from Istria, Croatia, is currently known from the Coniacian/Maastrichtian of the peri‐Adriatic and Balkan regions and includes 23 nominal species, defined mainly on shell ornamentation and radial bands. However, a re‐appraisal of ‘Radiolites’endrissi Boehm, 1927 shows the type species of the genus Gorjanovicia, G. costata Pol?ak, 1967, to be a junior synonym of Boehm’s species, which thus takes priority as the type species of Gorjanovicia. Our revision of the 24 species thus described from the literature is based on analysis of a set of 21 characters that include the dimensions, shape and ornamentation of the right valve. Sixteen variables are defined from combinations of these 21 characters and subjected to multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and Hill and Smith analysis (HSA), with cluster analysis, which has allowed us to distinguish three taxonomic groups, each defined by a key species: Gorjanovicia endrissi (Boehm), G. ugarensis Sli?kovi? and G. kvarneri Pol?ak. Cluster analysis identifies three groups of associated variables and suggests that a limited number of characters may be used to recognize the foregoing three taxonomic entities. MCA performed on four variables (the shapes of the anterior radial band, posterior radial band and interband and the width of the anterior band relative to the posterior band) reveals the same three taxonomic groups as in the MCA based on 16 variables. We conclude that the four variables in question may thus be used as specific diagnostic characters and that the genus Gorjanovicia is thereby represented by just three species, Gorjanovicia endrissi, G. ugarensis and G. kvarneri, instead of the 24 described in the literature. Specific assemblages from the peri‐Adriatic, pre‐Apulian and Western Pontides regions are nearly identical, a pattern that suggests free faunal exchanges within the distributional area of the genus Gorjanovicia. The palaeobiogeographical distribution of species corresponds with a relatively narrow palaeolatitudinal range in the subtropical portion of the eastern Mediterranean Tethys.     

Geographical origin of Leucobryum boninense Sull. & Lesq. (Leucobryaceae,Musci) endemic to the Bonin Islands,Japan

Leucobryum boninense is endemic to the Bonin Islands, Japan, and its related species are widely distributed in Asia and the Pacific. We aimed to clarify the phylogenetic relationships among Leucobryum species and infer the origin of L. boninense. We also describe the utility of the chloroplast trnK intron including matK for resolving the phylogenetic relationships among Leucobryum species, as phylogenetic analyses using trnK intron and/or matK have not been performed well in bryophytes to date. Fifty samples containing 15 species of Leucobryum from Asia and the Pacific were examined for six chloroplast DNA regions including rbcL, rps4, partial 5′ trnK intron, matK, partial 3′ trnK intron, and trnL‐F intergenic spacer plus one nuclear DNA region including ITS. A molecular phylogenetic tree showed that L. boninense made a clade with L. scabrum from Japan, Taiwan and, Hong Kong; L. javense which is widely distributed in East and Southeast Asia, and L. pachyphyllum and L. seemannii restricted to the Hawaii Islands, as well as with L. scaberulum from the Ryukyus, Japan, Taiwan, and southeastern China. Leucobryum boninense from various islands of the Bonin Islands made a monophylic group that was closely related to L. scabrum and L. javense from Japan. Therefore, L. boninense may have evolved from L. scabrum from Japan, Taiwan, or Hong Kong, or L. javense from Japan. We also described the utility of trnK intron including matK. A percentage of the parsimony‐informative characters in trnK intron sequence data (5.8%) was significantly higher than that from other chloroplast regions, rbcL (2.4%) and rps4 (3.2%) sequence data. Nucleotide sequence data of the trnK intron including matK are more informative than other chloroplast DNA regions for identifying the phylogenetic relationships among Leucobryum species.     

Comparison of crossability, RAPD, SDS-PAGE and morphological markers for revealing genetic relationships within and among Lens species

The phylogenetic relationships among (sub)-species in the genus Lens have been reviewed based on recent published reports. There was both a substantial level of agreement and disagreement between reports based on different analytical procedures and different plant germ plasms. Lens culinaris ssp. orientalis appeared as the wild progenitor of the cultivated lentils. A gene flow from L. odemensis and L. ervoides during lentil crop evolution was suggested. Morphological characters (quantitative and qualitative) showed a different taxonomic pattern in the genus Lens. The use of nuclear and biochemical markers (RFLPs, RAPDs, seed-protein electrophoresis) appeared to be the most consistent and reliable methods for determining genetic relationships. It is suggested that these techniques be used in combination for taxonomic analysis of the genus Lens.     

Molecular phylogeny and species delimitation of Stachyuraceae: Advocating a herbarium specimen‐based phylogenomic approach in resolving species boundaries

Species concept and delimitation are fundamental to taxonomic and evolutionary studies. Both inadequate informative sites in the molecular data and limited taxon sampling have often led to poor phylogenetic resolution and incorrect species delineation. Recently, the whole chloroplast genome sequences from extensive herbarium specimen samples have been shown to be effective to amend the problem. Stachyuraceae are a small family consisting of only one genus Stachyurus of six to 16 species. However, species delimitation in Stachyurus has been highly controversial because of few and generally unstable morphological characters used for classification. In this study, we sampled 69 individuals of seven species (each with at least three individuals) covering the entire taxonomic diversity, geographic range, and morphological variation of Stachyurus from herbarium specimens for genome‐wide plastid gene sequencing to address species delineation in the genus. We obtained high‐quality DNAs from specimens using a recently developed DNA reconstruction technique. We first assembled four whole chloroplast genome sequences. Based on the chloroplast genome and one nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence of Stachyurus, we designed primers for multiplex polymerase chain reaction and high throughput sequencing of 44 plastid loci for species of Stachyurus. Data of these chloroplast DNA and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences were used for phylogenetic analyses. The phylogenetic results showed that the Japanese species Stachyurus praecox Siebold & Zucc. was sister to the rest in mainland China, which indicated a typical Sino‐Japanese distribution pattern. Based on diagnostic morphological characters, distinct distributional range, and monophyly of each clade, we redefined seven species for Stachyurus following an integrative species concept, and revised the taxonomy of the family based on previous reports and specimens, in particular the type specimens. Furthermore, our divergence time estimation results suggested that Stachyuraceae split from its sister group Crossosomataceae from the New World at ca. 54.29 Mya, but extant species of Stachyuraceae started their diversification only recently at ca. 6.85 Mya. Diversification time of Stachyurus in mainland China was estimated to be ca. 4.45 Mya. This research has provided an example of using the herbarium specimen‐based phylogenomic approach in resolving species boundaries in a taxonomically difficult genus.