Circumnutational movement in rice coleoptiles involves the gravitropic response: analysis of an agravitropic mutant and space‐grown seedlings

Plants exhibit helical growth movements known as circumnutation in growing organs. Some studies indicate that circumnutation involves the gravitropic response, but this notion is a matter of debate. Here, using the agravitropic rice mutant lazy1 and space‐grown rice seedlings, we found that circumnutation was reduced or lost during agravitropic growth in coleoptiles. Coleoptiles of wild‐type rice exhibited circumnutation in the dark, with vigorous oscillatory movements during their growth. The gravitropic responses in lazy1 coleoptiles differed depending on the growth stage, with gravitropic responses detected during early growth and agravitropism during later growth. The nutation‐like movements observed in lazy1 coleoptiles at the early stage of growth were no longer detected with the disappearance of the gravitropic response. To verify the relationship between circumnutation and gravitropic responses in rice coleoptiles, we conducted spaceflight experiments in plants under microgravity conditions on the International Space Station. Wild‐type rice seeds were germinated, and the resulting seedlings were grown under microgravity or a centrifuge‐generated 1 g environment in space. We began filming the seedlings 2 days after seed imbibition and obtained images of seedling growth every 15 min. The seed germination rate in space was 92–100% under both microgravity and 1 g conditions. LED‐synchronized flashlight photography induced an attenuation of coleoptile growth and circumnutational movement due to cumulative light exposure. Nevertheless, wild‐type rice coleoptiles still showed circumnutational oscillations under 1 g but not microgravity conditions. These results support the idea that the gravitropic response is involved in plant circumnutation.     

Hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma in a Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata)

Primary neuroendocrine neoplasm of the liver is extremely rare in both humans and non‐human primates. The present report describes the clinical and pathological findings of an aged Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) with hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm in macaques.     

Spontaneous meningoencephalitis by Staphylococcus aureus in an infant golden‐headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas)

Non‐human primates are susceptible to many bacteria, some of which bear zoonotic potential. We report the pathologic features of spontaneous fulminating meningoencephalitis by Staphylococcus aureus in a captive infant golden‐headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) from Brazil.     

Vertical distribution of epiphytic lichens on Quercus laurina Humb. & Bonpl. in a remnant of cloud forest in the state of Veracruz,México

In the tropics, corticolous lichen richness and cover tend to increase from the trunk base to the top of the crown of trees. In this study we calculated the total beta diversity of the lichen community along a vertical gradient on Quercus laurina in Mexican cloud forest. By comparing the richness and cover of the lichens by zone, we show that foliose and fruticose lichens are a minor component of the total lichen species richness, but have a higher cover than the crustose lichens. Five zones were identified along each phorophyte (n = 15) with a diameter at breast height >40 cm. A total of 92 species were identified. Of these, 38% were found only in a single zone, 51% were shared between the different zones and 11% occurred across all zones. Species richness and cover increased from the lowest to the highest zones of the phorophytes. Dissimilarity in species composition between the zones could be explained by species replacement. An indicator species analysis revealed that only a few species, e.g. Hypotrachyna vexans, H. cf. sublaevigata and Ramalina cf. sinaloensis prefer a particular zone. The results show that the lichen community associated with Quercus laurina phorophytes is highly diverse and suggest that species richness and cover are related to the zone and the various growth forms.     

Type designation of the oaks Quercus ballota and Q. rotundifolia (Fagaceae)

The names Quercus ballota and Q. rotundifolia (Fagaceae), referring to taxa sometimes considered conspecific with the widely distributed Q. ilex, are discussed and typified. A specimen preserved at MPU is designated as the lectotype of Desfontaines's name Q. ballota. Lamarck's name Q. rotundifolia is neotypified using a specimen preserved at VAL, with several duplicates in other European herbaria.     

Molecular phylogeny and divergence times of Onosma (Boraginaceae s.s.) based on nrDNA ITS and plastid rpl32‐trnL(UAG) and trnH–psbA sequences

We analysed 87 species of Onosma (Boraginaceae) from throughout its distribution range to investigate its evolutionary history. Using nrDNA ITS and two plastid (rpl32‐trnL_(UAG) and trnH–psbA) markers, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships within Onosma by conducting maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, Bayesian, and BEAST analyses. The analyses revealed that Onosma as currently circumscribed is not monophyletic. However, the vast majority of Onosma species appear to belong to a single clade, the so‐called Onosma s.s. Outside of this core clade is a clade containing O. rostellata, a subclade of Sino‐Indian species and Maharanga emodii. Podonosma orientalis (as O. orientalis) appear only distantly related to Onosma but is more closely related to Alkanna, as also suggested in previous molecular studies. The Onosma s.s. clade includes all representatives of O. sect. Onosma, and encompasses three subsections, i.e. Onosma, Haplotricha and Heterotricha, corresponding to asterotrichous, haplotrichous and heterotrichous groups, respectively, but none of these subsections was retrieved as monophyletic. We observed significant incongruence between nuclear and chloroplast phylogenies regarding the phylogenetic status of the heterotrichous group. A dozen of the Iranian haplotrichous species formed a lineage which may not hybridize with asterotrichous species. Divergence time estimates suggested that the early radiation of Onosma s.l. took place at the Oligocene‐Miocene boundary and the diversification within Onosma s.s. occurred during middle to late Miocene and Pliocene.