The Ascoma Development in Mycoporum elabens (Mycoporaceae, Dothideales)

Abstract: The structure and development of the ascomata in Mycoporum elabens were studied. No pseudoparaphyses or para-physoids are developed but the asci grow into a network formed by stretched ascostromatic tissue which appears similar to pseudoparaphyses at the mature stage. The ascomata do not open regularly but burst open at several points, thus imitating plurilo-cularous stromata. This development agrees with that observed for the Dothideales sensu stricto and so it is proposed to place the Mycoporaceae here. Although algal cells were found in the surroundings of the ascomata, they did not have close contact with the fungal hyphae. Thus, Mycoporum elabens is interpreted as being non-lichenized.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEMATICS OF TWO NEW FRESHWATER RED CRYPTOMONADS, STOREATULA RHINOSA, SP. NOV. AND PYRENOMONAS OVALIS, SP. NOV.

The ultrastructure and systematics of two red colored freshwater cryptomonads, Storeatula rhinosa , sp. nov. and Pyrenomonas ovalis , sp. nov., are described for the first time. Storeatula, which had been described from marine waters only, has a single inner periplast sheet and a fibrous surface periplast component. Cells lack a furrow but possess a gullet, a bilobed chloroplast connected by a pyrenoid and a nucleomorph located in an indentation of the pyrenoid. This freshwater Storeatula possesses the same general features as the marine species, but it has a contractile vacuole and lacks the lobed chloroplast of S. major. P. ovalis has the generic characteristics described for marine species of Rhodomonas. These characteristics include a short furrow, a deep gullet, square inner periplast plates with beveled corners, a slightly fibrillar surface periplast component, a single chloroplast with two lobes connected by a pyrenoidal bridge and a nucleomorph located in an indentation of the pyrenoid.     

Phylogenetic interrelationships of the barbets (Aves: Capitonidae) and toucans (Aves: Ramphastidae) based on morphology with comparisons to DNA-DNA hybridization

A phylogenetic analysis of the interrelationships of the barbets (Capitonidae) and the toucans (Aves: Ramphastidae, Superfamily Ramphastoidea) is presented. Thirty-two morphological characters from the literature and independent osteological observations were analysed. Character polarity was determined by outgroup comparison to the Picidae, Indicatoridae, Galbulidae, Bucconidae and Coraciiformes. Four alternative phylogenetic hypotheses were compared: (1) the overall most parsimonious morphological phylogeny, (2) the most parsimonious morphological phylogeny in which the capitonids and ramphastids were hypothesized as monophyletic sister groups, and (3) and (4) the most parsimonious hypotheses for the evolution of the morphological characters within two proposed DNA-DNA hybridization phylogenies of the ramphastoids. The analysis focused on the higher level relationships of ramphastids and capitonids and interrelationships among capitonid genera. Two cladistic analyses were performed using 26 phylogenetically informative characters, and the PAUP and CONTREE computer alogorithms. The most parsimonious morphological phylogeny required fewer character changes and had a lower consistency index than any of the alternative hypotheses but congruence between the most parsimonious phylogeny and the second, revised DNA-DNA hybridization hypothesis was very high. Based on these results the monophyly of the Capitonidae is rejected. The ramphastids and the Neotropical capitonids form a well corroborated clade within the pantropical ramphastoid radiation. Neither the African, Asian nor New World capitonids is monophyletic. The genus Trachyphonus is the sister group to all other capitonids and ramphastids. The sister group to the ramphastids is the genus Semnornis. The interrelationships of the Old World capitonids excluding Trachyphonus are not completely resolved by these morphological data but one of the alternative phylogenetic resolutions is presented as a preliminary hypothesis. The clades in this resolved phylogeny are diagnosed and the palaeontology and biogeography of the ramphastoids arc-reviewed in light of this new evidence. A phylogenetic classification is proposed in which the Capitonidae is rejected and the capitonids and ramphastids are placed in seven subfamilies of the Ramphastidae.     

Ultrastructure of the Somatic and Buccal Cortex of the Tetrahymenine Hymenostome Glaucoma chattoni

SYNOPSIS The membranes, epiplasm, and fiber systems are described in the somatic cortex of Glaucoma chattoni strain HZ-1. Kinetodesmal fibers, postciliary and transverse microtubular ribbons, basal microtubules, transverse fibers and transverse accessory material are associated with kinetosomes. Longitudinal microtubular ribbons and mitochondria occur interkinetally. In the buccal cortex, the membranes, epiplasm and fibers of the 3 membranelles, the paroral kinety, the ribbed wall, and the cytostome are described. Comparisons between G. chattoni and other ciliates reveal ultrastructural differences of possible systematic significance. In the somatic cortex of this and other tetrahymenines. Iongitudinal microtubular ribbons and basal microtubules occur concurrently. In the buccal cortex, alveoli are absent in tetrahymenine membranelles. A table is presented of the fiber systems associated with single somatic kinetosomes of various ciliates whose cortical ultrastructure has been studied to date.     

The systematic implications of the complexity of leaf flavonoids in the bromeliaceae

In a leaf survey of 61 species of the Bromeliaceae, an unexpectedly wide spectrum of flavonoid constituents was encountered. The family is unique amongst the monocotyledons in the frequency and variety of flavonoids with extra hydroxylation or methoxylation at the 6-position. More common flavonols (in 43% of species) and flavones (in 13%) are distributed throughout the family whereas the rarer flavonoid classes are restricted to one or two of the three subfamilies. Thus 6-hydroxyflavones were found in both the Pitcairnioideae (in 50%) and the Tillandsioideae (in 14%) but patuletin (in 19%), gossypetin (in 1 species) and methylated 6-hydroxymyricetin derivatives (in 24%) were detected only in the Tillandsioideae. A new flavonol, 6,3′,5′-trimethoxy-3,5,7-4′-tetrahydroxyflavone, was identified as the 3-glucoside in Tillandsia usneoides and a new glycoside, patuletin 3-rhamnoside, in Vriesea regina. Myricetin glycosides were found only in the Bromelioideae and their presence here and the concomitant absence of 6-hydroxyflavonoids could indicate the primitive condition of this subfamily. The flavonoid results, in toto, confirm the view based on morphology, that the Bromeliaceae occupies an isolated position in relation to other monocot families.     

Life history,distribution and molecular phylogenetics of the Upward-Mouth Spikefish Atrophacanthus japonicus (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes: Triacanthodidae)

Ninety-six juvenile specimens (37–54 mm standard length; L_S) of the rarely collected Upward-Mouth Spikefish Atrophacanthus japonicus (Triacanthodidae) were obtained from the stomachs of three Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares collected off Guam in the Mariana Islands in the central Pacific Ocean. These specimens extend the range of A. japonicus eastward into Oceania. We review the systematic characters of the monotypic genus Atrophacanthus and present colour photographs of freshly collected specimens. The diet of the juvenile specimens of A. japonicus consisted of thecosome pteropods and foraminiferans. We present a range map of A. japonicus based on all known specimens and show that specimen size is related to whether specimens were collected in the pelagic zone or on the bottom. Our results support that, compared to all other Triacanthodidae, A. japonicus has an unusually extended pelagic larval and juvenile period, up to 54 mm L_S, before settling to the bottom as adults. Lastly, we provide a multilocus phylogeny addressing the phylogenetic placement of Atrophacanthus based on eight of 11 triacanthodid genera and six genetic markers. Our results reveal that Atrophacanthus is the sister group of Macrorhamphosodes and they provide new insights about the evolutionary history of the family.     

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Punctodera Stonei Brzeski, 1998 (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) from Virginia,USA

In August of 2021, several cysts with juveniles and eggs were discovered during a vegetation survey conducted at the Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. Eight soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere region of the common grass (Festuca arundinacea L.) and processed at the Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory (MNGDBL). Cysts were light to dark brown in color, and oval to pear-shaped without bullae in young cysts but present in older cysts and with prominent vulval cone. The juveniles had slightly concave stylet knobs projecting sometimes anteriorly, tail tapering gradually to a narrowly rounded terminus, and hyaline tail terminus conspicuous at least twice the length of stylet. The molecular analysis included the analysis of three gene sequence fragments: D2–D3 of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, and COI. The nematode species was identified by both morphological and molecular means as Stone''s cyst nematode, Punctodera stonei. Detection of P. stonei in Virginia represents a new record of this species in the United States, and a second report after Canada in North America.     

Intra- and Interpopulation Genome Variation In Meloidogyne arenaria

The genetic heterogeneity of two M. arenaria race 2 populations (designated Pelion and Govan) was examined using RFLP analysis of 12 clonal lines established from single egg masses (six distinct clonal lines from each population). These populations are essentially identical by traditional biochemical and race identification schemes; however, the Govan population is more aggressive than the Pelion population, producing larger galls and exhibiting greater reproductive capabilities on many soybean cultivars and experimental accessions. Variation at the genomic DNA level was examined using probes representative of expressed DNA sequences present in the eukaryotic genome. Ribosomal DNA, interspersed repeated sequences, and cDNA probes were tested for detection of polymorphism within and between single egg mass lines of each population. Cloned cDNAs and ribosomal intergenic spacer sequences detect polymorphism both within and between populations, demonstrating the usefulness of these sequence classes for molecular genetic analysis of population structure and genome evolution.