Effect of Temperature on the Fatty Acid Composition and Yield of Evening Primrose (Oenothera lamarckiana) Seeds

The oil content and yield of evening primrose (Oenothera lamarckianaL.) seeds decreased significantly at high temperatures (32 ?C)compared with lower ones (25 ?C and below), under controlledgrowing conditions. Moreover, the fatty acid composition ofthe seed oils was also affected by the temperature regime. Higheroleic acid levels and lower linoleic and -linolenic acid (GLA)levels were characteristic of the seeds developed at highertemperatures. The opposite trend was observed at lower temperatures.In field experiments, seeds of O. lamarckiana plants sown inautumn contained lower oleic acid levels, and higher linoleicacid and GLA levels than seeds of spring plantings. This effectwas also demonstrated for seeds developed on the same stem inflorescenceunder increasing temperatures during the season in the field.Changes in fatty acid composition during various stages of seeddevelopment were observed. Key words: Evening primrose, oil, fatty acids, Oenothera spp., gamma linolenic acid     

Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from La Réunion and the systematic position of Ophiocanops Koehler, 1922

The ophiuroid fauna of La Réunion, Indian Ocean, is still incompletely known. We report 13 different species from coral reefs, including five new records and a probably undescribed species of Amphioplus , which increases the number of ophiuroids known from La Réunion to 25. The most important find consists of three individuals of a previously unknown representative of the genus Ophiocanops . Originally placed in Ophiomyxidae, its systematic position has long been debated, with some authors advocating a placement with the otherwise extinct Palaeozoic Oegophiurida, based on the absence of several skeletal characters. The new species, O. multispina sp. nov. , shows intermediate characters between its previously only known congener, O. fugiens , and the ophiomyxid Renetheo felli . The three species appear to represent a line of taxa with progressively reduced skeleton instead of an ancient condition. We propose to transfer Ophiocanops back to the Ophiomyxidae, to synonymize Renetheo with Ophiocanops , and to invalidate the Ophiocanopidae, for which there is no autapomorphy-based support. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 545–560.     

Characterisation of a variant of zucchini yellow fleck virus (ZYFV), a potyvirus causing a wilt disease of melons in Israel*

A flexuous filamentous virus 750 nm in length was isolated from field-grown melons (Cucumis melo L.) and squirting cucumber (Ecballium elaterium L.). Infection of melon seedlings of most commercial varieties resulted in a lethal wilting, but late infections gave dieback. The virus infected systemically all economically important cucurbit crops. Its coat protein consists of a single polypeptide, 34 500 D in size, encapsidating a single stranded RNA genome of 10.1 kb. Antiserum against the Italian zucchini yellow fleck virus (ZYFV) reacted specifically with the Israeli isolate in both ISEM and Western blot. The virus was aphid transmissible in a non-persistent manner. Based on host range, host reaction and serological data, it is suggested that the virus described is an Israeli variant of ZYFV.