Two new species of Linaria section Linaria (Scrophulariaceae‐Antirrhineae) from Iran

Linaria azerbaijanensis and Linaria shahroudensis are described as new species from the Azerbaijan and Semnan provinces of Iran, respectively, belong to section Linaria.The new species are compared to their closest relative Linaria lineolata. Linaria azerbaijanensis differs from L. lineolata in having shorter bracts, a shorter corolla, shorter spur and smaller capsules and a different microsculpturing pattern of the testa cells. Linaria shahroudensis differs from L. lineolata in having shorter stems, shorter calyx‐lobes, a longer spur, a smaller capsule and a different microsculpturing pattern of the testa cells. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 734–742.     

WRR4, a broad-spectrum TIR-NB-LRR gene from Arabidopsis thaliana that confers white rust resistance in transgenic oilseed brassica crops

White blister rust caused by Albugo candida (Pers.) Kuntze is a common and often devastating disease of oilseed and vegetable brassica crops worldwide. Physiological races of the parasite have been described, including races 2, 7 and 9 from Brassica juncea , B. rapa and B. oleracea , respectively, and race 4 from Capsella bursa-pastoris (the type host). A gene named WRR4 has been characterized recently from polygenic resistance in the wild brassica relative Arabidopsis thaliana (accession Columbia) that confers broad-spectrum white rust resistance ( WRR ) to all four of the above Al. candida races. This gene encodes a TIR-NB-LRR (Toll-like/interleukin-1 receptor-nucleotide binding-leucine-rich repeat) protein which, as with other known functional members in this subclass of intracellular receptor-like proteins, requires the expression of the lipase-like defence regulator, enhanced disease susceptibility 1 ( EDS1 ). Thus, we used RNA interference-mediated suppression of EDS1 in a white rust-resistant breeding line of B. napus (transformed with a construct designed from the A. thaliana EDS1 gene) to determine whether defence signalling via EDS1 is functionally intact in this oilseed brassica. The eds1-suppressed lines were fully susceptible following inoculation with either race 2 or 7 isolates of Al. candida. We then transformed white rust-susceptible cultivars of B. juncea (susceptible to race 2) and B. napus (susceptible to race 7) with the WRR4 gene from A. thaliana . The WRR4-transformed lines were resistant to the corresponding Al. candida race for each host species. The combined data indicate that WRR4 could potentially provide a novel source of white rust resistance in oilseed and vegetable brassica crops.     

Ecomorphology of the wheatears (genus Oenanthe)

We used measurements of museum skins to assess morphological differences between the 22 currently recognized species of wheatear and to identify correlations between morphological features, behavioural traits and degrees of sympatry between species. Ground-dwelling species of steppe-like habitats have long tarsi, long claws and short tails; some are migratory and have long pointed wings and non-emarginated primaries ( O. isabellina and O. oenanthe ), while others are sedentary and have more rounded and slotted wings ( O. bottae , O. heuglini and O. pileata ). Vegetation-tolerant species ( O. pleschanka , O. hispanica , O. cypriaca and O. deserti ) have relatively long tails, short tarsi, long middle toes and long claws. The rock-dwelling species have short tarsi, long toes and short claws; they can be either relatively heavy ( O. leucura and O. monticola ) or light, like the wheatears inhabiting the most arid areas ( O. monacha , O. leucopyga and O. alboniger ). Although sedentary, the latter show intermediate characteristics between sedentary and migratory species, having relatively pointed wings with non-emarginated primaries. Together with their low wing-loadings, these traits may be related to the scarcity of resources in their habitats, which obliges them to make frequent and long flights. The clear morphological differentiation between wheatear species appears to be mainly related to their migratory and foraging habits, but seems to bear no relation to their degree of sympatry.     

Sublethal effects of imidacloprid and pymetrozine on population growth parameters of cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae on rapeseed, Brassica napus L.

Efficiency of imidacloprid and pymetrozine on population growth parameters of cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. （Homoptera： Aphididae） was determined using demographic toxicology by leaf dip method. At first, bioassay tests were performed. The LC50 value and confidence limit for imidacloprid and pymetrozine were 1.61 × 10^-5 mol/L （0.74 × 10^-5-2.66 × 10^-5） and 2.14 × 10^-4 mol/L （1.24 × 10^-4-3.40 × 10^-4）, respectively. To evaluate the sublethal effect of two insecticides on population growth parameters of cabbage aphid, LC30 concentrations of imidacloprid and pymetrozine were used at 5 mol/L and 30 mol/L. The experiments were carried out in a incubator at 20±1℃, 60% ± 5% RH and 16：8 （L：D） photoperiod on canola seedlings, Brassica napus L. var. ＇PF＇. Net fecundity rate decreased in both insecticide-treated populations. Intrinsic rates of increase （rm） were lower in imidacloprid and pymetrozine treatments than in controls. Intrinsic birth rates also decreased in treated populations. There was a relative increase in intrinsic death rates of treated populations. The mean generation times and doubling time were also lower in populations treated with insecticides than in controls. There was a considerable reduction in the average numbers of nymphs reproduced per female as compared with the control. The average longevity of female adults in the control was significantly different from those treated with imidacloprid and pymetrozine. However, there was no significant differences in aphid life-table parameters between the two insecticide-treated populations （P 〉 0.01）.     

The tetramerous Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera) of Girault from Australia, with a key to the world genera

Abstract. Type specimens have been examined of eleven Australian species of the tetramerous Aphelinidae described by Girault in the genera Apteroptrbc, Metacasca, Neocasca, Oa and Pteroptrixella. Apteroptrix and Oa are synonym-ized with Archenomus. O. biguttata is considered a nomen dubium. M. copemici is transferred to Neocasca. Dahmsiella genji. is proposed for N. shillingsworthi. Pteroptrixella is suspected of being a senior synonym of Metacasca , but the former genus is represented by an incomplete specimen. A key is given to the tetramerous genera of the Aphelinidae.     

BILLENGSELLIDE AND ORTHIDE BRACHIOPODS: NEW INSIGHTS INTO EARLIEST ORDOVICIAN EVOLUTION AND BIOGEOGRAPHY FROM NORTHERN IRAN

Abstract:  The eastern Alborz Mountains of Iran comprise a significant peri-Gondwanan terrane relevant to the early evolution of late Cambrian – early Ordovician brachiopods incorporated into the emerging benthic biota of the Paleozoic Evolutionary Fauna. A low diversity brachiopod assemblage from the late Tremadocian unit of the Lashkarak Formation contains six new species including the polytoechioideans Polytoechia and Protambonites and the orthoideans Paralenorthis, Ranorthis, Tarfaya and Xianorthis . The fauna preserves the earliest records of Polytoechia , unknown previously outside Laurentia and the Uralian margin of Baltica, and of Paralenorthis and Ranorthis , which were widespread along Gondwanan margins and in Baltica from the Floian (Arenig), plus Xianorthis , known hitherto only from the Floian of South China. The enigmatic Tarfaya has an impunctate shell fabric and setigerous perforations along the posterior margin, indicating placement within the Orthoidea in a new Family Tarfayidae. New species of Polytoechia , Protambonites , Paralenorthis, Ranorthis , Tarfaya , Xianorthis are described.