Spadicoides camelliae and Diplococcium livistonae, two new hyphomycetes on dead branches from Fujian Province, China

Two new dematiaceous hyphomycetes, Spadicoides camelliae and Diplococcium livistonae, are described and illustrated based on specimens collected from the subtropical forests in Fujian Province, southeast China. They were collected on dead branches of Camellia japonica and Livistona chinensis, respectively. Spadicoides camelliae is characterized by polytretic, terminal conidiogenous cells with solitary, ovoid, versicolored, and mainly 2-septate conidia (15.0–22.0 × 7.0–10.0 μm). Diplococcium livistonae is distinguished by polytretic, terminal, and intercalary conidiogenous cells with catenate, cylindrical, concolored, and mainly 2-septate conidia (15.0–28.0 × 5.0–7.0 μm). They are compared with other similar species by their morphological characteristics.     

Cystotheca tjibodensis (Erysiphaceae,Ascomycota): rediscovery in Java after 90 years and first finding of anamorph

Cystotheca tjibodensis, formerly known as Lanomyces tjibodensis (Perisporiales), is a fungus found in 1920 in Indonesia. This species, hitherto only known from its type collection, is now regarded as belonging to the Erysiphales. However, molecular data are still required to verify the taxonomic affinity. In March 2011, we rediscovered this fungus at Cibodas Botanical Garden, Java. Detailed characterizations of this tropical powdery mildew are reported in this study based on morphological and molecular examinations. The anamorph of this species that was not found in the type specimen is also reported in this study.     

Three new species of Sporidesmiella from southern China

Sporidesmiella rosae sp. nov., S. machili sp. nov., and S. archidendri sp. nov., occurring, respectively, on dead branches of Rosa chinensis, Machilus grijsii, and Archidendron clypearia, were collected from subtropical forests in southern China. They are described, illustrated, and compared with similar taxa. A dichotomous key to Sporidesmiella species is provided.     

Leptonemella species (Desmodoridae, Stilbonematinae), benthic marine nematodes with ectosymbiotic bacteria, from littoral sand of the North Sea island of Sylt: taxonomy and ecological aspects

Leptonemella species represent a dominant element of the nematode fauna in sulfidic, deep sediment layers on the sandy shore of Sylt. Based on collections sampled here in 1991–1999, a taxonomic treatise is presented on the three co-existing species, Leptonemella aphanothecae Gerlach, 1950, the closely related L. vicina sp. nov., and L. gorgo Gerlach, 1950. The high incidence of pseudohermaphrodites in the material, mostly functional females with a male copulatory apparatus, is remarkable. The highest population densities of Leptonemella spp. (up to 73 individuals/10 ml sand) were found near polychaete burrows. Because of the great spatial and temporal variations in the oxygen/sulfide regime of these microhabitats, and because of the strong adhesive capabilities of Leptonemella spp., which can anchor themselves firmly to sand grains using caudal glands, we propose that a hemisessile life strategy is employed by these nematodes to fulfill the metabolic needs of their sulfide-oxidizing ectosymbionts. Communicated by K. Reise     

A new endophytic species of Arthrinium (Apiosporaceae) from Jatropha podagrica

During study of endophytic fungal diversity in tropical region, a new species of Arthrinium was isolated from healthy petiole of Jatropha podagrica. It is characterized by aseptate, dark brown, circular, lenticular conidia with hyaline margin, broad, hyaline conidiophores with numerous brown septa and ampulliform–lageniform conidiophore mother cells. The new species superficially resembles A. phaeospermum and A. saccharicola in having circular lenticular conidia, but differs in conidia and conidiophore size, and shape of conidiophore mother cells. Phylogenetic study using sequence analysis of ITS region (ITS1–5.8S–ITS2) separates the new species (A. jatrophae) from other related species of Arthrinium.     

Thekopsora ostryae (Pucciniastraceae,Pucciniales), a new species from Gansu,northwestern China

Thekopsora ostryae, a new rust fungus on leaves of Ostrya japonica collected from Gansu Province was described. Morphological examination using light and scanning electron microscopy showed that this new species is distinct from other species of Thekopsora in the characteristics of ostiolar peridial cells of uredinia and the spinules on the surface of urediniospores. Analyses of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and 28S rRNA gene partial sequences showed that T. ostryae could be a distinct lineage in the genus Thekopsora.     

Fatty acid composition of various hyphal budding bacteria

The total fatty acid composition of various strains of Hyphomicrobium, Pedomicrobium, and Rhodomicrobium spp. was determined by gas chromatography. In addition, the fatty acid pattern of a new hyphal budding bacterium, strain F-1, was compared with the other patterns obtained. Octadecenoic acid was the main component in most strains, comprising up to 75% of the total fatty acids. Lactobacillic acid and 3-methoxy-tetradecanoic acid were present in varying amounts in the lipids of all organisms except for the new isolate, F-1. This latter strain contained, however, large amounts of iso-heptadecanoic and iso-heptadecenoic acids, not present in the other budding bacteria studied. This composition was consistently found under various culture conditions. The data indicate that, except for the new bacterium F-1, the hyphal budding bacteria studied here are closely related. The total fatty acid composition is thought to be a useful taxonomic criterion for differentiation of these bacteria.     

中国海南卵形蛛1新纪录属新纪录种记述（蜘蛛目：卵形蛛科）

本文记述了产自我国海南岛卵形蛛科一新纪录属新纪录种：萨文鹈鹕蛛Pelicinus schwendingeri Platnick et al．，2012，并提供了详细的形态描述及特征图。     

Uniting species- and community-oriented approaches to understand arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) occur in the majority of terrestrial, and some aquatic, habitats worldwide. They are important for the functioning of individual plants and of entire ecosystems. Here, we review trends in research on species- (species recognition, phylogenetic relationships, autecology) and community-level AMF diversity patterns and aim to identify ways of improving the complementarity of these approaches. Research into many aspects of AMF diversity has flourished in parallel with the increasing availability of molecular biology techniques. However, despite their shared goal of understanding AMF biodiversity, species- and community-level perspectives, and the morphological and molecular approaches that underpin them, currently have limited capacity for information exchange. We indicate critical research gaps in AMF species and community characterisation and outline important research directions. We propose steps that could link research using different methods and targeting different aspects of diversity, in order to maximise our understanding of AMF.