The hemibiotrophic lifestyle of Colletotrichum species

Colletotrichum species infect several economically important crop plants. To establish a compatible parasitic interaction, a specialized infection cell, the melanized appressorium, is differentiated on the cuticle of the host. After penetration, an infection vesicle and primary hyphae are formed. These structures do not kill the host cell and show some similarities with haustoria formed by powdery mildews and rust fungi. Therefore, this stage of infection is called biotrophic. Later in the infection process, necrotrophic secondary hyphae spread within and kill the host tissue. The lifestyle of Colletotrichum species is called hemibiotrophic, as biotrophic and necrotrophic developmental stages are sequentially established. As most Colletotrichum species are accessible to molecular techniques, genes can be identified and functionally characterized. Here we demonstrate that Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation is a well-suited method for tagging of genes mediating compatibility in the Colletotrichum graminicola–maize interaction.     

Comparative haustorium morphology and vegetative reproduction in the Old World genus Scurrula L. (Loranthaceae) from the Central Nepal Himalayas

In a comparative morphological study of haustoria in the four Scurrula species occurring in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) of Nepal, only one basic type of haustorium was found, regardless of host and elevation, namely a primary haustorium (leading to a wood rose) with epicortical root. The endophytic system of the primary haustorium, however, showed differences, which allowed classification into (1) flanging endophyte, (2) flanging endophyte with radial shaft, and (3) sinker endophyte. Scurrula elata and Scurrula gracilifolia showed marked differences in haustorium morphology on different hosts. Scurrula elata is most successful in establishing over a wide range of hosts due to its specific haustorium morphology and endophyte system. Epicortical roots of the genus Scurrula resemble those of other Old World Loranthaceae morphologically and functionally, but differ significantly from New World species. Vegetative reproduction by means of epicortical roots, which develop secondary haustoria and shoots, is very common in all four Scurrula species. The number of root-borne shoots produced by secondary haustoria varied among Scurrula species, depending on the age of the mistletoes as well as the length and vigour of the roots.     

山田胶锈菌和亚洲胶锈菌吸器的比较转录组分析

为防止锈病的传播,培育抗病品种以及减少产量损失,基于山田胶锈菌(Gymnosporangium yamadae)和亚洲胶锈菌(Gymnosporangium asiaticum)吸器阶段的转录组差异分析揭示了胶锈菌侵染寄主植物时的专化性选择机制。对山田胶锈菌和亚洲胶锈菌担孢子侵染寄主时形成的吸器进行转录组测序,分别获得了21 213条和13 015条单基因(unigenes);从山田胶锈菌和亚洲胶锈菌中分别选择5个基因进行实时荧光定量PCR验证,显示其表达情况与转录组分析结果基本一致,表明转录组分析结果可靠;用Nr、GO、KEGG、KOG等7个数据库进行基因功能注释和富集分析,发现两种胶锈菌的基因主要富集在细胞进程、翻译、代谢相关通路;使用SignalP和TMHMM在线网站以及dbCAN、BLAST、HMMER等软件分析显示山田胶锈菌和亚洲胶锈菌吸器中的候选效应蛋白分别有343个(2.51%)和175个(2.79%),其中分别含有14个和5个蛋白酶,10个和3个脂酶;利用OrthoFinder、BLSAT和KaKs Calculator软件分析了两种胶锈菌的进化关系,在一对一同源基因中...     

Relationships within Lentinus subg. Lentinus (Polyporales, Agaricomycetes), with emphasis on sects. Lentinus and Tigrini

Representatives of Lentinus subg. Lentinus sensu Pegler (sects. Lentinus and Tigrini) were evaluated using ribosomal ITS-1-5.8 S-ITS2 sequence data, sexual intercompatibility studies and morphological analysis. Members of sects. Dicholamellatae, Rigidi and Lentodiellum sensu Pegler were also included in the study, but in much smaller numbers. All included sections were shown to be monophyletic with respect to the taxa sampled. While no biogeographical pattern was observed in sect. Lentinus, L. tigrinus (sect. Tigrini) produced a strong phylogeographic signal. Taxa of the related Polyporus “group Polyporellus” sensu Nu?ez and Ryvarden representing two clades were included in this study. Synonymy of Lentinus lindquistii under L. tigrinus is suggested based on sexual intercompatibility studies and molecular data.     

蜡梅花被片表层形态观察及其意义

为探究蜡梅花被片表层蜡质的微形态结构特征和差异性,采用扫描电子显微镜对蜡梅和山蜡梅的花被片进行观察。结果表明:蜡梅花被片表层无明显蜡质覆盖物,细胞排列平滑,内表层有加厚透明状覆盖物; 山蜡梅花被片表层有厚蜡质覆盖物和表皮毛; 山蜡梅、蜡梅花被片均无气孔。以上独特的结构形态对于蜡梅花开放于寒冷季节,应对外界环境胁迫可能有一定的保护作用和生态意义。     

檀香与不同豆科植物寄生关系的研究

为了解檀香(Santalum album L.)与不同豆科植物的寄生关系,选取11种具有重要经济价值的豆科植物和檀香一起种植,对檀香叶片的光合特征和株高、地径以及寄主植物根系的吸器大小进行了测定。结果表明,檀香的吸器大小、数量在不同寄主之间存在很大差异,不同寄主对檀香的株高、地径也有显著差异。檀香的优良寄主有美洲合欢(Calliandra haematocephala)、苏木(Caesalpinia sappan)、台湾相思(Acacia confusa)、龙牙花(Erythrina corallodendron);一般的寄主植物有马占相思(Acacia mangium)、降香黄檀(Dalbergia odorifera)、黄槐(Cassia surattensis);不适宜的寄主植物有凤凰木(Delonix regia)、海南红豆(Ormosia pinnata)、银合欢(Leucaena leucocephala)、洋紫荆(Bauhinia blakeana)。同时,檀香的株高、地径及光合特征和吸器数量密切相关。因此,檀香种植时应选择适宜的优良寄主植物。     

On the validization of the name Chironomus (Camptochironomus) pallidivittatus sensu edwards, 1929 and elimination of the name Chironomus pallidivittatus Malloch, 1915

The name Chironomus pallidivittatus sensu Edwards is widely used by specialists for the European species described by Edwards, whereas the use of the name Ch. tentans var. pallidivittatus Malloch is limited. In the light of the wide use of the name Chironomus pallidivittatus sensu Edwards, particularly in fields outside taxonomy, combined with virtually no publications on the Ch. tentans variety pallidivittatus Malloch, we recommend that the original Malloch’s application of the name should be suppressed in favor of that of Edwards, 1929. At the same time, synonymy of Ch. pallidivittatus s. Malloch with Ch. tentans Fabricius supposed by Townes (1945) is erroneous. Detailed cytogenetic (Kiknadze et al., 1996) and morphological (Shobanov et al., 1999) studies of North American, European, and Asian populations demonstrated the common occurrence of Ch. dilutus Shobanov, Kiknadze et Butler, 1999 in the Nearctic. This species is different from Ch. tentans but identical with Ch. tentans var. pallidivittatus Malloch, 1915 and the “Nearctic Ch. tentans” sensu Townes (1945).     

Morphology and taxonomy of chain-forming species of the genus Cochlodinium (Dinophyceae)

The morphology of an unarmored chain-forming harmful dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides and its similar species such as Cochlodinium catenatum, Cochlodinium fulvescens, and Cochlodinium convolutum was carefully observed, emphasizing the single cell stage for clarifying taxonomically important morphological features. To differentiate C. polykrikoides from C. convolutum, the shape and the position of the nucleus are useful characters. C. polykrikoides also differs from C. fulvescens in being smaller in size, possessing many rod-shaped chloroplasts and having the sulcus running just below the cingulum on the dorsal surface. Careful observation of the ichnotype of C. catenatum suggests that C. catenatum sensu Kofoid and Swezy collected from off La Jolla, CA, USA, is not identical to C. catenatum sensu Okamura and is probably a different species, in having no chloroplasts and a nucleus positioned at the center of the cell. In addition, C. polykrikoides has many morphological features in common with C. catenatum sensu Okamura except for slightly elongate cells and is probably a junior synonym of this species.     

Intracellular Localization of the Systemic Fungicide Triadimenol in Phytopathogenic Fungi

The intracellular localization of the radioactively labelled fungicide (³H)triadimenol A in the in vitro grown sporidia of Ustilago avenae and in the in vivo cultured powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordet) on barley (Hordeum vulgare) is described. The specimens were prepared by low temperature techniques: shock freezing, freeze substitution and embedding in Spurr's low viscosity resin. The localization of the fungicide was achieved by means of conventional electron microscopic autoradiography. The available experimental data allow a first qualitative analysis of the distribution of silver grains on freeze substituted sporidia of U. avenae and the infection structures of Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei. Concerning U. avenae the fungicide is detected preferentially over the vacuoles, the cytoplasm, and the cell walls after a six month exposure. The host pathogen system powdery mildew on barley exhibits an accumulation of silver grains in the host cell wall adjacent to the infection site and the papillae whereas decisively fewer grains occur inside the haustoria. Apart from this general localization pattern the haustoria show ultrastructural changes caused by the fungicide treatment: vesiculation and collapse of the sheath membrane as well as a diffuse appearance of the haustorial cytoplasm. Around the haustoria an aggregation of host cytoplasm material is observed.     

Physiological responses to Cd and Zn in two Cd/Zn hyperaccumulating Thlaspi species

In a model hyperaccumulation study a Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens accession Ganges and a recently reported Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator Thlaspi praecox grown in increasing Cd and Zn concentrations in the substrate and in field collected polluted soil were compared. Plant biomass, concentrations of Cd and Zn, total chlorophylls and anthocyanins, antioxidative stress parameters and activities of selected antioxidative enzymes were compared. Increasing Cd, but not Zn in the substrate resulted in the increase of biomass of roots and shoots of T. praecox and T. caerulescens. The two species hyperaccumulated Cd in the shoots to a similar extent, whereas T. caerulescens accumulated more Zn in the shoots than T. praecox. Cadmium amendment decreased total chlorophyll concentration and glutathione reductase activity, and increased non-protein thiols concentration only in T. praecox, suggesting that it is less tolerant to Cd than T. caerulescens. In the field-contaminated soil, T. caerulescens accumulated higher Cd concentrations; but as T. praecox produced higher biomass, both species have similar ability to extract Cd.     

Erysiphe azerbaijanica and E. linderae: Two new powdery mildew species (Erysiphales) belonging to the Microsphaera lineage of Erysiphe

Two new species, Erysiphe azerbaijanica on Castanea sativa and E. linderae on Lindera praecox, both belonging to the Microsphaera lineage of the genus Erysiphe are described based on morphological and molecular data. Erysiphe azerbaijanica is distinguished from other Erysiphe species occurring on Castanea spp. by its cylindrical conidia with a length/width ratio of 2–3.6, longer conidiophore, and foot-cells. Molecular analyses indicated that this species forms a clade of its own, supporting the morphological observations. Molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that E. blasti s. lat. is divided into two genetically differentiated groups associated with different host species. Based on the sequence differences in the 28S rRNA gene and ITS region, connected with differences in the number and length of appendages, the fungus on L. praecox is described as a new species, E. linderae.     

The capacity in Heterobasidion annosum s.l. to resist overgrowth by the biocontrol agent Phlebiopsis gigantea is a heritable trait

The necrotrophic pathogen Heterobasidion annosum sensu lato (Fr.) Bref. causes severe root rot on coniferous trees in the boreal and temperate forests. The annual economic losses caused by this fungus in Europe are estimated to at least 790 million €. In managed forests, the major route of infection is via stump surfaces from which the H. annosum s.l. grows through the roots and attacks adjacent healthy trees. A biocontrol method to reduce H. annosum s.l. infection is to apply the wood degrading fungus Phlebiopsis gigantea in a spore solution (Rotstop) directly on the freshly cut stumps immediately after cutting. We investigated the potential risk for a build-up in the capacity of H. annosum s.l. to resist overgrowth by P. gigantea. Wood blocks of Picea abies, precolonized with the two fungal species, were juxtaposed on top of agar and the overgrowth of the P. gigantea strain (Rotstop) on the H. annosum s.l. was measured periodically. We found a natural variation in Heterobasidion parviporum to resist overgrowth by P. gigantea. There was no difference between homo- and heterokaryotic strains. In a mapping population of 91 progenies from a H. annosum hybrid strain we were able to identify one quantitative trait locus (QTL) which controls the examined resistance capacity. We estimated the broad sense heritability to 0.336 for the capacity to resist the P. gigantea overgrowth. We conclude that there exists a theoretical risk for resistance build-up in the H. annosum s.l. population towards its biological control agent P. gigantea.     

国产耳草属长节耳草及其相似种的分类研究

我国耳草属中具有茎四棱和头状花序特征的植物常常被鉴定为长节耳草(Hedyotis uncinella),并且这一名称还包括了基于不同模式的3个分类学异名。由于这一类植物在叶片形态、叶柄长短、花序着生式样以及花梗长度等形态特征方面存在着明显的不同,因此将这一类植物笼统地鉴定为长节耳草并不合理。为清晰区分这类植物,通过模式比对、居群形态特征变异式样的野外观察以及分子系统学分析等方法进行研究,结果表明,以前被鉴定为“长节耳草”的植物实际上包括了6个分类实体,即被归并的丰花耳草(H. borrerioides)、垦丁耳草(H. kuraruensis)和新组合种——团花耳草(H. cephalophora)均应独立成种,而长节耳草本种、被忽略的线叶耳草(H. linearifolia)和我国新记录种——球花耳草(H. multiglomerulata)各自也应得到承认。同时,为了便于进行分类鉴定,也提供了这些种类的分种检索表。     

The type species of Apiognomonia, A. veneta, with its Discula anamorph is distinct from A. errabunda

Species of Apiognomonia with their Discula anamorphic states in the Gnomoniaceae, Diaporthales, are known throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere and cause diseases such as sycamore or plane tree anthracnose. The genus Apiognomonia was described based on A. veneta as the type species; however, there has been disagreement about whether or not A. veneta is a synonym of A. errabunda. Using morphological, ecological, and DNA sequence data we conclude that A. errabunda and A. veneta are different species, although very closely related; thus, A. veneta is the correct name for the type species of Apiognomonia. This conclusion is based on a combined analysis of sequences from the ITS regions of nuclear rDNA for 51 isolates from host plants of eight genera and intron regions from actin, calmodulin and translation elongation factor 1-alpha for over 25 isolates. The type species of the genus Discula is D. nervisequa, the earliest available epithet for D. platani, the lectotype of Discula. D. nervisequa is the anamorph of A. veneta. Based on an examination of the type specimen, we determined that the commonly used name for the anamorph of A. errabunda, D. umbrinella, refers to another species. A. veneta and A. errabunda including their anamorphs are described and illustrated. An account of all synonyms and excluded synonyms is presented.     

Floral scent analysis in Hieracium subgenus Pilosella and its taxonomical implications

Species-rich Hieracium subgen. Pilosella is well-known for a high degree of endemism and infra-specific differentiation including many subspecies (“microspecies”) of very restricted distribution. In Hieracium subgen. Pilosella floral scents of 27 predominantly Bavarian species, mostly of Hieracium calodon, H. zizianum and H. densiflorum, are investigated here. Floral scent compositions were studied by GC-MS analysis of dynamic headspace samples. Altogether, 56 floral scent compounds were identified, mainly benzenoids, fatty acid derivatives, monoterpenes, homoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The chemical patterns were found to be taxon-specific and are thus of taxonomical value. The data support some rearrangements at subspecific level, such as the inclusion of H. bauhini subsp. hispidissimum in H. densiflorum. These rearrangements are supported by morphological data. The traditional species concepts, however, are mostly corroborated by our scent data.     

Population differentiation in Collinsia verna Nuttal (Scrophulariaceae): a multifaceted approach

Three species of Collinsia (commonly called Blue-eyed Mary, Innocence, Chinese Houses) including 12 populations of C. verna were examined for genetic variability and differentiation using three investigative techniques: enzyme electrophoresis, chiasma frequencies, and morphological measurements. Analysis of isozyme data showed higher heterozygosity was maintained in the C. verna populations (previously reported to be self pollinating) than in C. heterophylla and C. tinctoria, which are outcrossers. C. heterophylla and C. tinctoria were separated by a significant genetic distance from each other and especially from C. verna. Within C. verna isozyme, morphological, and chiasma frequency analyses separated the populations into subsets showing some geographical trends, possibly influenced by water dispersal of seeds. High genetic variability was maintained and differentiation has occured in the C. verna populations. The explanation may lie in a combination of factors associated with the heterozygosity paradox including microgeographical influence and inappropriate mating system classification.     

THE LIGHT FACTOR IN THE GERMINATION ECOLOGY OF DRABA VERNA

The majority of the seeds of the winter annual Draba verna L. require light for germination, but light can be given before they are fully after-ripened and as long as 4 months before temperature and moisture conditions are favorable for germination. Seeds that are exposed to light in late spring, or in late spring and early summer, and then removed to darkness can germinate under favorable temperature and moisture conditions in autumn, even after passing through a long unfavorable (for germination) wetting and drying period at high summer temperatures in darkness. The light requirement for germination probably is not an important factor restricting D. verna to open, well-lighted habitats.     

Characterization of the membrane-associated HaRxL17 Hpa effector candidate

We examined changes to subcellular architecture during the compatible interaction between the biotroph pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) and its host Arabidopsis. Live-cell imaging highlighted rearrangements in plant cell membranes upon infection. In particular, the tonoplast appeared close to the extrahaustorial membrane surrounding the haustorium. We investigated the subcellular localization patterns of Hpa RxLR effector candidates (HaRxLs) in planta. This subcellular localization screening led to the identification of an extrahaustorial membrane-localized effector, HaRxL17 that when stably expressed in Arabidopsis increased plant susceptibility to Hpa during compatible and incompatible interactions. Here, we report that the N-terminal part of HaRxL17 is sufficient to target the plant cell membranes. We showed that both C- or N-terminal fluorescent-tagged HaRxL17 localizes around Hpa haustoria, in early and in late stages of infection. As with Hpa infection, GFP-HaRxL17 also localizes around haustoria during infection with Albugo laibachii. Thus, HaRxL17 that increases plant susceptibility to Hpa during both compatible and incompatible interactions, localizes around oomycete haustoria when stably expressed in Arabidopsis.     

Prezygotic reproductive isolation between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces paradoxus

Background  

Matings between different Saccharomyces sensu stricto yeast species produce sexually sterile hybrids, so individuals should avoid mating with other species. Any mechanism that reduces the frequency of interspecific matings will confer a selective advantage. Here we test the ability of two closely-related Saccharomyces sensu stricto species to select their own species as mates and avoid hybridisation.