Comparison of Vibrio harveyi strains isolated from shrimp farms and from culture collection in terms of toxicity and antibiotic resistance

Vibrio harveyi strains isolated from shrimp farms (wild strains) were compared with those from culture collections in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and toxicity. Wild strains had higher MIC values for four antibiotics (kanamycin, carbenicillin, oxytetracycline and ampicillin) and also showed higher toxicity compared with culture collection strains. Vibrio harveyi with the lowest antibacterial resistance was chosen to test if a gradual increase in antibiotic concentration and frequent subculture would enhance its antibiotic resistance. Results showed that V. harveyi was able to develop resistance to oxytetracycline. The MIC value was 250 times higher compared with the MIC before subculturing. Moreover, the V. harveyi strain developed slightly higher toxicity. Therefore, it is possible that there is a relationship between antibiotic resistance and toxicity in V. harveyi.     

Generative Cell Specification Requires Transcription Factors Evolutionarily Conserved in Land Plants

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Reproductive structures of Dictyopteris undulata (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) from Japan

sporophytes, and both male and female gametophytes of Dictyopteris undulata Holmes were collected from the Pacific coast and the Japan Sea coast of Japan. Female gametophytes are reported for the first time in the present study. All reproductive structures are aggregated in sori that form on both sides of the midrib in the upper and the middle parts of a blade. Tetraspor-angia are spherical and project from the cortical layer with a 2–4-celled stalk at the base. They are sometimes divided tetrahedrally to form four spores, but often remain undivided. Oogoniat sori also project from the cortical layer. Each oogonium is ovoid, sometimes borne on a single stalk cell at the base. Antheridial sori appear swollen above the cortex and each antheridium has a basal stalk cell. Fertile female gametophytes and te-trasporophytes are difficult to distinguish from each other in surface view because tetrasporangial and oogonial sori are similar in size and undivided tetrasporangia resemble oogonia. Oogonia are not so closely packed in small groups, unlike in Dictyota species, and they can be distinguished by the cell sizes (i.e. tetrasporangia are bigger in diameter than oogonia).     

A new non-zoosporic species of Pythium from Algeria

Pythium ramificatum n.sp. isolated from Algeria is described. It is a non-zoosporic fungus, reproducing asexually be means of hyphal bodies and sexually by oogonia with much branched antheridia. Its morphological and reproductive characters as well as it relationship with other species of Pythium of the same group are described.     

In planta selfing and oospore production of Phytophthora cinnamomi in the presence of Acacia pulchella

This paper provides the first evidence of A2 type 1 and type 2 isolates of Phytophthora cinnamomi producing selfed oospores in planta in an Australian soil and in a potting mix. Oospores were observed in infected lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) roots incubated for 7 d either in the substrate under potted Acacia pulchella plants, or in soils collected from under and near varieties of A. pulchella in jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest. The A2 type isolates varied in their ability to produce selfed oospores and none were produced by A1 isolates. The gametangial association was amphigynous and spores were predominantly spherical with diameters from 13–40 μm. The oospores were viable but dormant. Two A2 type isolates produced small numbers of selfed oospores with amphigynous antheridia axenically in Ribeiro's liquid medium within 30 d, and one A2 type 2 isolate produced oospores after mating with an A1 strain. Evidence is presented that the presence of roots of Acacia pulchella, and particularly A. pulchella var. glaberrima and var. goadbyi, enhances the production of oospores.