The occurrence and frequency of 2n pollen in 2x, 4x,and 6x wild,tuber-bearing Solanum species from Mexico,and Central and South America

Summary The occurrence of 2n pollen-producing plants was investigated in 187 plant introductions (PIs) of 38 wild species of tuber-bearing Solanum. These 2x, 4x, and 6x species are from Mexico, and Central and South America. The determination of 2n pollen-producing plants was conducted using acetocarmine glycerol. Plants with more than 1% large-size pollen were regarded as 2n pollen-producing plants. 2n pollen-producing plants were identified in the following species: 10 out of 12 Mexican 2x species, seven of nine South American 2x species, seven of seven Mexican and Central American 4x species, five of five South American 4x species, and five of five Mexican 6x species. The frequency of 2n pollen-producing plants varied among species at the same ploidy level, but the range of frequency, generally between 2 and 10% among species, was similar over different ploidy levels. The general occurrence of 2n pollen in both 2x and polyploid species, which are evolutionarily related, is evidence that the mode of polyploidization in tuber-bearing Solanums is sexual polyploidization. Furthermore, the frequencies of 2n pollen-producing plants in autogamous disomic polyploid species were not markably different from those of their related diploid species. It is thought that the frequent occurrence of 2n gametes with autogamy tends to disturb the fertility and consequently reduce fitness of polyploids. Thus, we propose that the breeding behavior of polyploids and the occurrence of 2n gametes may be genetically balanced in order to conserve high fitness in polyploid species in tuberbearing Solanum.Paper No. 3114 from the Laboratory of Genetics. Research supported by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; International Potato Center; USDA, SEA, CGRO 84-CRCR-1-1389; and Frito Lay, Inc.     

Nuttallia balearicae sp. n., an Avian Piroplasm from Crowned Cranes (Balearica spp.)

An avian piroplasm, Nuttallia balearicae sp. n., is described from captive Balearica p. pavonina and B. p. gibbericeps. Other avian piroplasms and their validity and taxonomic status are discussed. The possible route of transmission of these parasites is also considered.     

Nothacrobeles,n. gen., with Descriptions of Four New Species (Nematoda: Cephalobidae)

A new nematode genus, Nothacrobeles, is proposed in the subfamily Acrobelinae. Four new species are described and one new combination made. The five species exhibit a progression from short-to-long, bifurcate, elaborately fringed labial probolae, the longest probolae resembling those of species of Acrobeles.     

A new longirostrine dyrosaurid (Crocodylomorpha,Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Paleocene of north‐eastern Colombia: biogeographic and behavioural implications for New‐World Dyrosauridae

Abstract: Fossils of dyrosaurid crocodyliforms are limited in South America, with only three previously diagnosed taxa including the short‐snouted Cerrejonisuchus improcerus from the Paleocene Cerrejón Formation of north‐eastern Colombia. Here we describe a second dyrosaurid from the Cerrejón Formation, Acherontisuchus guajiraensis gen. et sp. nov., based on three partial mandibles, maxillary fragments, teeth, and referred postcrania. The mandible has a reduced seventh alveolus and laterally depressed retroarticular process, both diagnostic characteristics of Dyrosauridae. Acherontisuchus guajiraensis is distinct among known dyrosaurids in having a unique combination of craniomandibular characteristics, and postcranial morphology that suggests it may have occupied a more placid, fluvial habitat than most known Old‐World dyrosaurids. Results from a cladistic analysis of Dyrosauridae, using 82 primarily cranial and mandibular characters, support an unresolved relationship between A. guajiraensis and a combination of New‐ and Old‐World dyrosaurids including Hyposaurus rogersii, Congosaurus bequaerti, Atlantosuchus coupatezi, Guarinisuchus munizi, Rhabdognathus keiniensis and Rhabdognathus aslerensis. Our results are consistent with an African origin for Dyrosauridae with multiple dispersals into the New World during the Late Cretaceous and a transition from marine habitats in ancestral taxa to more fluvial habitats in more derived taxa.     

Cytotoxic diterpenes from roots of Crossopetalum gaumeri,a Celastraceae species from Yucatan Peninsula

Four new diterpenes, crossogumerins A–D (1–4) along with six known ones (5–10) were isolated from the root bark of Crossopetalum gaumeri, an endemic medicinal plant from the Yucatan Peninsula. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques, including HMQC, HMBC, and ROESY experiments. Compounds 1–5, 8–10 were evaluated for cytotoxicity against HeLa (carcinoma of the cervix) and Hep-2 (lung carcinoma) human tumor cells lines and against normal Vero cells (African green monkey kidney) in lag and log phase of growth. Podocarpane diterpenes, crossogumerin B (2) and nimbiol (10), exhibited the highest activity against HeLa cells (IC₅₀ values of 3.1 and 8.1 μM, respectively), but also selectivity on Vero cells (SI 22.6 and 7.5, respectively). The preliminary SAR studies suggest that an epoxy moiety in ring B and a hydrogen bond-donor group strategically positioned in the diterpene core are important requirements for cytotoxicity and selectivity.     

New Family,Genus, and Species of Microsporida (Protozoa: Microsporida) from the Tropical Fire Ant,Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) (Insecta: Formicidae)*

SYNOPSIS. A new species of Microsporida, Burenella dimorpha sp. n., representing a new family, Burenellidae fam. n. and genus, is described on the basis of light- and electron-microscope observations. The family is characterized by 2 sequences of sporogony, each sequence having morphologically different sporonts and spores. The parasite infects the tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius), producing distinct pathologic manifestations (clearing of the cuticle and eye malformation) and death in the pupal stage of development. Transmission of the infection per os to healthy S. geminata, to the Southern fire ant, Solenopsis xyloni McCook, and to the red and black imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis richteri Forel, is reported.     

Activation of fatty acids by non-glyoxysomal peroxisomes

Ethylene treatment (approx. 20 l ·1^-1 in air for 2 d) of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Havana 425) plants markedly increases the endo--1,3-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.39) content of leaves. The antigenic form of the enzyme induced is the same one whose production is blocked by treating cultured cells with combinations of auxin (1.1 · 10^-5 M -naphthaleneacetic acid) and cytokinin (1.4 · 10^-6 M kinetin). Evidence is presented that cultured tobacco cells require ethylene for -1,3-glucanase accumulation: i) ethylene treatment increased the accumulation of \-1,3-glucanase in callus tissues >10 d after subculturing and in cell-suspension cultures; ii) callus tissues can produce ethylene; iii) conditions known to inhibit ethylene production (1 mM CoCl₂; 33° C treatment) or ethylene action (approx. 1.6 mmol · 1^-1 norbornadiene in air) inhibited -1,3-glucanase accumulation by callus tissues treated for 4 d following subculturing; and, these inhibitory effects were prevented by exogenous ethylene. Combinations of auxin and cytokinin blocked ethylene-induced accumulation of -1,3-glucanase by cell-suspension cultures. The results favor a model in which ethylene induces results favor a model in which ethylene induces 1,3-glucanase accumulation, and auxin and cytokinin inhibit this induction process.Abbreviations NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - NDE norbornadiene     

五种雀形目鸟类核型的比较研究

染色体核型的比较研究,对于了解物种的特性,探索物种的遗传、进化、系统发育及分类地位都有一定的意义。有关鸟类的核型研究,国外已有不少报道(Castrovicja,1969; Hammar,1966,1975; Ray-Chaudhuri et al.,1969;Shidds,1982;Ta—kagi,1972等)国内在这方面的工作开展较迟,已作过核型分析的鸟类为数不多,仅见王应祥等(1982)的报道。迄今,作过核型研究的鸟类已达500多种,其中雀形目有200种。本文比较分析了五种野生雀形目鸟类的核型,它们是黑头蜡嘴雀,斑鸫,黄腹山雀,红尾伯劳和灰背椋鸟。     

Succession in zooplankton and hydrophytes of a seasonal water on the west coast of South Africa

Paramesochra mielkei sp.n. is described and figured from the interstices of subtidal sandy sediments off the SW Dutch coast. Kunz' (1981) phylogenetic scheme of the Paramesochridae Lang, 1948 is re-examined and it is suggested that the family comprises two phyletic lines which originated early in paramesochrid evolution. Translation into Linnean hierarchies implies the establishment of two new sub-families. Within the primitive Diarthrodellinae subfam. n., Tisbisoma Bozic, 1964 is ancestral to Diarthrodella Klie, 1949 s.l. and Rossopsyllus Soyer, 1975. Remanea Klie, 1929 is transferred to the Paramesochrinae subfam. n. which comprises the genera of both the Scottopsyllus- and the Paramesochra-group. The aberrant genus Caligopsyllus Kunz, 1975, standing close to Apodopsyllus, is removed from the Paramesochra-group. P. brevifurca Galhano, 1970 is splitted into two subspecies and replaced in the genus Paramesochra. An attempt is made to assess the phyletic interrelationships of the Paramesochra-species and the resulting cladogram splits the genus into four species-groups. P. mielkei sp.n. is referred to the dubia-group and seems to be closely related to P. borealis Geddes, 1981. Finally, an amended diagnosis and a revised key to the species of the genus Paramesochra are presented.     

Abnormal subcellular distribution of β-glucuronidase in mice with a genetic alteration in enzyme structure

Liver -glucuronidase is structurally altered in inbred strain PAC so that a peptide subunit with a more basic isoelectric point, GUS-SN, is produced. This allele of -glucuronidase was transferred to strain C57BL/6J by 12 backcross matings to form the congenic line B6 · PAC-Gus ⁿ. Liver -glucuronidase activity was halved in males of the congenic strain compared to normal males. The lowered activity was specifically accounted for by a decrease in the lysosomal component. There was no alteration in the concentration of microsomal activity. This alteration in the subcellular distribution of -glucuronidase in Gus ⁿ/Gus ⁿ mice was confirmed by two independent gel electrophoretic systems which separate microsomal and lysosomal components. -Glucuronidase activity was likewise approximately halved in mutant spleen, lung, and brain, organs which contain exclusively or predominantly lysosomal -glucuronidase. The loss of liver lysosomal -glucuronidase activity was shown by immunotitration to be due to a decrease in the number of -glucuronidase molecules in lysosomes of the congenic strain. The Gus ⁿ structural alteration likely causes the lowered lysosomal -glucuronidase activity since the two traits remain in congenic animals. Heterozygous Gus ⁿ/Gus ^b animals had intermediate levels of liver -glucuronidase. Also, the effect was specific, in that three other lysosomal enzymes were not reproducibly lower in Gus ⁿ/Gus ⁿ mice. Gus ⁿ is, therefore, an unusual example of a mutation which causes a change in the subcellular distribution of a two-site enzyme.This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants GM-33559 and GM-33160 and National Science Foundation Grant PCM-8215808.