Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Genus Ilex L. (Aquifoliaceae)

The chloroplast atpB-rbcL spacer was sequenced for 115 speciesof Ilex and forNemopanthus mucronatus (Aquifoliaceae). In addition,rbcL sequences were obtained for 47 selected species. Takentogether with fossil records in the literature, the data indicatethat: (1) the lineage Ilex was already cosmopolitan long beforethe end of the Cretaceous. A relative test of the rate of nucleotidesubstitution indicates that extant species do not representthe entire lineage because of the extinction of its basal branches.The common ancestor of the extant species probably appearedat the upper Tertiary. (2) Several Asian/North American disjunctionsare observed, as well as North American/South American relationships.The directions of these relationships are yet to be determined.The African species Ilex mitis is closely related to Asian species.Ilex anomala (Hawaii and Tahiti) is related to American species.Ilex perado and Ilex canariensis (both in Macaronesia) havetotally different relationships, the former being related toEurasian species, while relationships of the latter remain obscure.(3) Gene trees substantially contradict the systematics of Loesener.Nemopanthus,closely related to Ilex amelanchier, is nested in the genusIlex. The family Aquifoliaceae is organized in four groups,each of them having a geographic or ecological peculiarity.Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Aquifoliaceae, chloroplast DNA, fossil record, historical biogeography, Ilex (holly tree), molecular phylogeny.     

Seed dormancy in relation to seed storage behaviour in Acer

Dormancy in seeds of Acer opalus is shown to be mainly caused by the seed coats, although a slight embryo dormancy exists in fresh seeds. The ability to germinate after drying indicates that seed storage behaviour is orthodox. Recalcitrant seeds were heavier than orthodox seeds not only within section Acer but also within the whole genus after statistical control of phylogeny, through a phylogenetic ANOVA with data from two different Acer phylogenies. An evolutionary change from orthodox to recalcitrant behaviour is postulated for genus Acer , but this change appears not to have been accompanied by a change in seed dormancy, at least in the taxonomic section in which Acer opalus belongs.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 203–208.     

Historical biogeography of the Andean region: evidence from Listroderina (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Rhytirrhinini) in the context of the South American geobiotic scenario

The weevil subtribe Listroderina belongs in the tribe Rhytirrhinini (subfamily Cyclominae), and has 25 genera and 300 species in the Americas. The distributional history of this subtribe was reconstructed applying dispersal-vicariance analysis (DIVA) using its genera as terminals. The results suggest that Listroderina originated within an area presently represented by the Central Chile, Paramo, Puna, Patagonia and Subantarctic subregions of the Andean region. Posteriorly, the subtribe was affected by extinctions and was confined to Central Chile, Paramo and Subantarctic subregions. Later, extinctions and dispersals took place and the subtribe was restricted to the Paramo and Puna subregions. From there, a dispersal event to the Subantarctic subregion occurred, enlarging again the geographical range of the subtribe. Subsequently, a vicariant event separated the Puna and Paramo subregions from the Subantarctic one. While the Macrostyphlus generic group was confined to the Paramo and Puna subregions and from there dispersed to other areas, the Antarctobius , Falklandius , Listronotus , and Listroderes generic groups diversified in the Subantarctic subregion. The results obtained by DIVA may be linked to major geological events of South America. Thus, the geobiotic scenarios recorded in this subcontinent since the late Cretaceous could be used to interpret the biogeographical events which drove Listroderina evolution.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 80 , 339–352.     

The use of (GACA)4 PCR to sex Old World vultures (Aves: Accipitridae)

A PCR method was developed employing a single primer (GACA)₄ to sex Black vultures ( Aegypius monachus ), Lappet-faced vultures ( Torgos tracheliotus ), and Griffon vultures ( Gyps fulvus ). Using the (GACA)₄ primer several PCR products were generated. One or more PCR products displayed a sex-specific pattern, i.e. they were only present in females (probably corresponding to repetitive DNA on the W chromosome) but absent in males. The sex ratio of 85 Griffon vultures from Spain was almost 1.     

Isolation, Culture, and Plant Regeneration of Protoplasts of Two Shrubby Oxalis Species from South America

Protoplasts were successfully isolated from internodal callustissues of both Oxalis glaucifolia and O. rhombeo-ovata whenthey were digested in a solution containing 0.1% (w/v) MacerozymeR-10, 0.5% (w/v) cellulase Onozuka R-10 and 0.3 mmol m^–3sucrose. Protoplasts proliferated to give cell colonies on Gamborget al.'s B5 medium supplemented with 0.3 mmol m^–3 mannitol,0.5 mg dm^–32, 4-D, and 2.0 mg dm^–3 kinetin. Calluswas produced upon transfer of cell colonies to Murashige andSkoog medium containing 2.0 mg dm^–3 l-naphthaleneaceticacid (NAA) and 0.1 mg dm^–3 kinetin for O. glaucifolia,or with 5.0 mg dm^–3 NAA and 0.5 mg dm^–3 6-benzylaminopurine,for O. rhombeo-ovata. Plants were regenerated from O. glaucifoliaprotoplasts on a medium containing 0.1 mg dm–3 NAA, 1.0mg dm^–3 kinetin and 1.0 mg dm^–3 gibberellic acid,but only vascular nodules were differentiated by O. rhombeo-ovataprotoplast-derived calli. Key words: Tissue culture, protoplasts, plant regeneration, Oxalis spp     

CONSULTANT'S CORNER PROPOSING THE INTERNATIONAL SENSORY JUDGES DAY

A panel of trained sensory judges is a sensitive and valuable instrument. and a lot of time and work is invested in their selection and training. The importance of internal motivation and external stimulation to maintain the interest and wellbeing of these human instruments is supported by major food scientists and behavioral psychologists. Current stimulation procedures for sensory judges are listed. A new procedure is proposed, consisting of an annual celebration party on November 20 in recognition of sensory judges. Advantages of holding this day on an international level are discussed: mainly, promotion of fellowship among sensory judges from different groups and countries, and also its help in increasing cooperation in sensory evaluation. Actions to promote International Sensory Judges Day are listed. Suggestions for the actual celebration party are put forward: an open house luncheon, presentation of awards, greeting cards and letters from other sensory panels; and last but not least, a set of proven “sensory” games where everyone joins in.     

Demonstration of Various Acid Hydrolases and Preliminary Characterization of Acid Phosphatase in Naegleria fowleri1

ABSTRACT. Extracts of the pathogenic ameba Naegleria fowleri, prepared by freeze-thawing and sonication, were analyzed for their content of various hydrolytic enzymes that have acid pH optima. The organism is rich in acid phosphatase activity as well as a variety of glycosidases which include β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase, β-fucosidase, α-mannosidase, hexosaminidase, arylsulfatase A, and β-glucuronidase. The crude extract contained only negligible levels of sphingomyelinase, neuraminidase, or arylsulfatase B. All of the hydrolases exhibited higher activity at pH 5.5 than at 7.0, indicating that they are truly “acid” hydrolases. In general, after centrifugation (100,000 g, 1 h), except for arylsulfatase B, more than half of the activity of each of the various hydrolases was recovered in the supernatant fraction. The acid phosphatase in the high-speed supernatant was purified 45-fold (32% yield) by chromatography on QAE-Sephadex and Sephadex G-200 and shown to have the following properties: 1) pH optima, 5.5; 2) K_m (4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate), 0.60 mM; 3) molecular weight (estimated by gel filtration chromatography), 92,000; 4) inhibited by heteropolymolybdate complexes but not by L(+) sodium tartrate (0.5 mM) or sodium fluoride (0.5 mM). In addition, unlike the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase of Leishmania donovani, the major acid phosphatase of N. fowleri is less than 5% as effective in inhibiting superoxide anion production by f-Met-Leu-Phe-stimulated human neutrophils. The finding of high levels of a number of acid hydrolases in Naegleria fowleri raises several questions that merit further study: Do the hydrolases perform a housekeeping function in this single cell eukaryote or do they play some role in the pathogenic process that ensues when the organism infects a suitable host?