Evolution of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): a molecular supermatrix approach

We present a time‐calibrated phylogeny of the charismatic green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Previous phylogenetic studies on the family using DNA sequences have suffered from sparse taxon sampling and/or limited amounts of data. Here we combine all available previously published DNA sequence data and add to it new DNA sequences generated for this study. We analysed these data in a supermatrix using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods and provide a phylogenetic hypothesis for the family that recovers strong support for the monophyly of all subfamilies and resolves relationships among a large proportion of chrysopine genera. Chrysopinae tribes Leucochrysini and Belonopterygini were recovered as monophyletic sister clades, while the species‐rich tribe Chrysopini was rendered paraphyletic by Ankylopterygini. Relationships among the subfamilies were resolved, although with relatively low statistical support, and the topology varied based on the method of analysis. Greatest support was found for Apochrysinae as sister to Nothochrysinae and Chrysopinae, which is in contrast to traditional concepts that place Nothochrysinae as sister to the rest of the family. Divergence estimates suggest that the stem groups to the various subfamilies diverged during the Triassic‐Jurassic, and that stem groups of the chrysopine tribes diverged during the Cretaceous.     

ATP binding cassette transporters ABCG1 and ABCG16 affect reproductive development via auxin signalling in Arabidopsis

Angiosperm reproductive development is a complex event that includes floral organ development, male and female gametophyte formation and interaction between the male and female reproductive organs for successful fertilization. Previous studies have revealed the redundant function of ATP binding cassette subfamily G (ABCG) transporters ABCG1 and ABCG16 in pollen development, but whether they are involved in other reproductive processes is unknown. Here we show that ABCG1 and ABCG16 were not only expressed in anthers and stamen filaments but also enriched in pistil tissues, including the stigma, style, transmitting tract and ovule. We further demonstrated that pistil‐expressed ABCG1 and ABCG16 promoted rapid pollen tube growth through their effects on auxin distribution and auxin flow in the pistil. Moreover, disrupted auxin homeostasis in stamen filaments was associated with defective filament elongation. Our work reveals the key functions of ABCG1 and ABCG16 in reproductive development and provides clues for identifying ABCG1 and ABCG16 substrates in Arabidopsis.     

蛹虫草菌生物合成虫草素的研究进展

蛹虫草Cordyceps militaris是我国传统的药用真菌,虫草素是蛹虫草的主要活性成分,具有抗癌、抗肿瘤、抗病毒等多种生理功能。蛹虫草菌液体发酵是最有希望实现高效生产虫草素的途径,但现阶段生产强度低,亟需应用发酵工程及代谢工程手段提高虫草素产量。文中对液体发酵体系中培养基组分(碳/氮源、前体物质、金属离子等)和培养条件(pH、溶氧量、光照等)对虫草素产量的影响进行了总结,并对虫草素的分离纯化、生物合成基因簇及合成代谢途径进行了阐述,最后探讨了实现虫草素高效生产的关键环节。     

The Protohermes fruhstorferi species group (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae), with description of a new species from Vietnam

A new species group, the Protohermes fruhstorferi group of the dobsonfly genus Protohermes, is recognised. Three species belonging to the new species group are described and illustrated, including one new species from northern Vietnam.     

新疆12种黄芩属植物叶表皮微形态结构的研究

应用光学显微镜和扫描电镜技术对新疆12种黄芩属植物叶片上的微形态特征进行观察。结果表明:该属植物叶的上表皮细胞形状及垂周壁式样有多种形式;而下表皮细胞形状均为不规则形,垂周壁式样均为深波形,不具分类学意义,但叶片两面分布的气孔器,在不同种间气孔大小、气孔密度、气孔指数、气孔外拱盖内缘等方面都存在着显著差异;其表皮角质层纹饰和表皮毛的微形态也各有不同;大多数植物叶片表面具腺点,其大小、分布及疏密程度也有不同。植物叶表皮上的这些微形态特征,可为探讨本属种间的分类学及亲缘关系提供一定的佐证。     

Effects of mutations of D1-R323, D1-N322, D1-D319, D1-H304 on the functioning of photosystem II in Thermosynechococcus vulcanus

Photosynthesis Research - Photosystem II (PSII) has a number of hydrogen-bonding networks connecting the manganese cluster with the lumenal bulk solution. The structure of PSII from...     

A review of the alderfly genus Leptosialis Esben-Petersen (Megaloptera, Sialidae) with description of a new species from South Africa

The monotypic South African alderfly genus Leptosialis Esben-Petersen, 1920 is reviewed and Leptosialis africana Esben-Petersen, 1920 is redescribed. In the process a new species of alderfly Leptosialis necopinatasp. n. from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa is recognised and described. Within Sialidae the new species most closely resembles Leptosialis africana. A key to the two species of Leptosialis using both adult and larval characters is provided.     

A revision of the genus Neoneuromus in China (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)

Lake Illawarra, is a typical shallow intertidal coastal barrier lagoon in New South Wales, Australia. This paper reports the first examination of photosynthetic characteristics of benthic microalgae and seagrass in this lake by measuring the oxygen exchange procedure (flux) using sediment-core incubations in the laboratory. Photosynthesis vs irradiance relationships (P–I curves) were generated from measurements made at nine irradiances for microphytobenthos (MPB) at five different water depths (sites) during September 2002. Maximum benthic gross primary production (GP_max) for MPB in this lake tended to decrease with the increasing water depth from Site 5 (about 0.2 m deep) to Site 1 (about 3.0 m deep), and was correlated with decreasing surface sediment Chl-a concentrations.