Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) naturally infected with diverse phytoplasmas in Costa Rica

Phytoplasmas (class Mollicutes) are causal agents of plant diseases with an economic impact on crops or threatening local biodiversity. A survey was conducted from 2012 to 2016 on infected Catharanthus roseus plants that exhibited symptoms reminiscent of phytoplasma infection throughout Costa Rica. A total of 73 plants were collected exhibiting symptoms such as virescence, phyllody, axillary proliferation, little leaf, leaf malformation, chlorosis, or yellowing. All samples were tested by nested PCR using phytoplasma universal and specific primer pairs. Phytoplasma infection was detected in 52 (71.2 %) of the plants collected. Phytoplasmas of six subgroups belonging to 16Sr groups I, III, IX, XIII and XV were identified based on sequencing and in silico RFLP analyses. ´Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris´ (16SrI) was the predominant group among the positive samples (n = 30) showing variety of symptoms and wide distribution from sea level to ca. 1 400 masl in six of the seven Costa Rican provinces. Group 16SrIII was the second most abundant (14 samples); and the remaining three groups were seldom found in C. roseus (8 samples). Moreover, group 16SrXIII phytoplasma was detected for the first time in the country. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of natural infection of C. roseus with phytoplasma subgroups 16SrI-B, 16SrI-P, 16SrIII-F, 16SrIX-F, 16SrXIII-A, and 16SrXV-B in Costa Rica and Central America.

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Additions to the Costa Rican Myoxanthus (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae)

Lankesteriana ◽

10.15517/lank.v17i2.29933 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Gustavo Rojas Alvarado ◽

Adam P. Karremans

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Costa Rican ◽

New Combination ◽

Original Material ◽

Broad Distribution ◽

First Time ◽

Shape And Size

Pleurothallis cerea, a species described based on a specimen collected by Lankester in Costa Rica, and commonly placed under the synonymy of Myoxanthus octomeriae or M. congestus, is here recognized as distinct. The species is easily distinguished by the shape and size of the leaf, as well as various floral details, especially of the lip. A new combination, tentatively suggested by Carl Luer but never published, is required and therefore validated. Additionally, the vegetatively striking Myoxanthus affinis is recorded from Costa Rica for the first time based on two recent collections. The species is variable within its broad distribution from Colombia to Bolivia and, although differences with the original material from Peru are evident, we cannot be sure at this time that ours represents a different species. Both species are described and illustrated based on living plants.

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Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of Jatropha curcas L. in Costa Rica

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2469v1 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Marcela Vásquez-Mayorga ◽

Eric J Fuchs ◽

Eduardo J Hernández ◽

Franklin Herrera ◽

Jesús Hernández ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Jatropha Curcas ◽

Geographical Origin ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Nrdna Its ◽

Neighbor Joining ◽

Germplasm Bank ◽

Nj Tree

We estimated the genetic diversity of 50 Jatropha curcas Costa Rican samples using 18 EST-SSR, one G-SSR and nrDNA-ITS markers. We also evaluated the phylogenetic relationships among samples using nuclear ribosomal ITS markers. Non-toxicity was also evaluated using G-SSRs and SCARs markers. A Neighbor-Joining (NJ) tree and a Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree were constructed using SSR markers and ITS sequences, respectively. Heterozygosity was moderate (He = 0.346), but considerable when compared to worldwide values for J. curcas. The PIC (PIC = 0.276) and inbreeding coefficient (f = -0.102) were both low. Clustering was not related to the geographical origin of accessions but Costa Rican J. curcas consistently clustered as a separate group. International accessions clustered independently of collection sites suggesting a lack of genetic structure, probably due to a wide distribution of this crop and ample gene flow. Molecular markers identified only one non-toxic accession (JCCR-24) from Mexico. This work is part of a countrywide effort to characterize the genetic diversity of Jatropha curcas germplasm bank in Costa Rica.

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Ascid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ascidae) from Costa Rican hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae), with description of three new species and a key to the Proctolaelaps belemensis species group

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1484.1.3 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1484 (1) ◽

pp. 51-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

FRANTISEK DUSBABEK ◽

IVAN LITERAK ◽

MIROSLAV CAPEK ◽

MARTIN HAVLICEK

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Species Group ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Three New Species ◽

Flower Mites ◽

First Time ◽

Eleven Species

Eleven species of hummingbird flower mites of the genera Proctolaelaps Berlese, 1923, Tropicoseius Baker & Yunker, 1964 and Rhinoseius Baker & Yunker, 1964 were recorded from hummingbirds in Costa Rica. Three new species of the genus Proctolaelaps are described and figured, i.e. P. threnetes Dusbabek & Literak, sp. nov., P. naskreckii Dusbabek & Havlicek, sp. nov. and P. chalybura Dusbabek & Capek, sp. nov. A key for identification of females and males of the P. belemensis species group is included. Five species of the genus Tropicoseius and three species of the genus Rhinoseius are recorded, three of these species are recorded from Costa Rica for the first time.

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New records of heterobranch sea slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica

Revista de Biología Tropical ◽

10.15517/rbt.v64i1.23449 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 205 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kimberly García-Méndez ◽

Yolanda E. Camacho-García

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

National Park ◽

New Records ◽

Tropical Pacific ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Eastern Tropical Pacific ◽

Sea Slugs ◽

The Pacific ◽

Molluscan Fauna ◽

First Time

The molluscan fauna of Isla del Coco has recently been well documented, but the heterobranch sea slugs, traditionally called “opisthobranchs”, remain poorly known. We report 13 new records, increasing the total to 40 species. Of the 13 newly discovered species, the following species had not been previously recorded along the Pacific Costa Rican mainland: Berthella californica (Dall, 1900), Peltodoris rubra (Bergh, 1905), Dendrodoris albobrunnea Allan, 1933, Doriopsilla cf. spaldingi Valdés & Behrens, 1998, Glaucus cf. marginatus (Reinhardt & Bergh, 1864), and Flabellina sp. Additionally, we report Peltodoris rubra, previously known from the Indo-Pacific, for the first time in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.<div> </div>

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Besleria macropoda (Gesneriaceae): lectotypification, distribution, functional epiphylly and discordant fruit morphology of a rare Costa Rican endemic

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.233.2.2 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 233 (2) ◽

pp. 139 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andreas Berger ◽

John L. Clark ◽

Anton Weber

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Placental Tissue ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Fruit Morphology ◽

Southeastern Part ◽

Iucn Red List Assessment ◽

Fruit Dehiscence ◽

First Time

Besleria macropoda, a rare and poorly known gesneriad endemic to Costa Rica, was recently collected for the first time on the southern slopes of the Fila Costeña (Puntarenas Province, SE Costa Rica). The collection considerably widens the geographic distribution to the southeastern part of Costa Rica. Moreover, the following unique characters not previously addressed in the literature were observed and are documented here: (1) The elongate peduncles of the inflorescences are clamped in a channel formed by the sunken midrib of the leaf, rendering the flowers and fruits positioned in the center of the leaf blade. The epiphyllous appearance of the inflorescence on the leaf surface enhances contrasting colors that may aid the pollination and/or fruit dispersal. (2) The fruits split open irregularly, with the fleshy carpel lobes becoming reflexed. This fruit dehiscence deviates from the indehiscent berries that typically characterize Besleria. This results in displaying a globose head of red placental tissue covered by tiny, red seeds. A preliminary survey of Besleria fruits suggests that this peculiar fruit type is present in at least 15 species representing almost 8% of the genus. Fruit morphology of Besleria is therefore less uniform than previously recognized and the “indehiscent berry” can no longer serve as a distinctive generic character of Besleria, which necessitates consideration in floras and identification keys. In addition, a list of herbarium specimens, lectotypification, a distribution map, IUCN red list assessment and an amended key to diagnose Besleria relative to Gasteranthus are provided.

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On the genus Diadocidia (Diptera, Sciaroidea, Diadocidiidae) in Costa Rica

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1586.1.3 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1586 (1) ◽

pp. 33-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

MATHIAS JASCHHOF ◽

CATRIN JASCHHOF

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Costa Rican ◽

The South ◽

Two New Species ◽

South Of Brazil ◽

First Time

The genus Diadocidia Ruthe is shown for the first time to be present in Costa Rica. Three species were found: Diadocidia nigripalpis Edwards, hitherto known to occur in the south of Brazil, and two new species, hybrida and similis. While nigripalpis is confirmed to belong to the subgenus Adidocidia Laštovka & Matile, both hybrida and similis cannot be classified on a subgeneric level, since their morphology includes features typical of both Diadocidia s. str. and Adidocidia. A key is provided to the Costa Rican species of Diadocidia.

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First record of the myxomycete genus Colloderma in Central America

Check List ◽

10.15560/11.4.1716 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 1716 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carlos Rojas Alvarado ◽

Carlos Lado Rodríguez ◽

Randall Valverde González

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Central America ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

First Record ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Distribution And Ecology ◽

High Elevations ◽

First Time

The myxomycete genus Colloderma and the species Colloderma oculatum are reported for the first time in Central America. The species was recorded in the high elevations of the Talamanca Mountain Range in Costa Rica during 2014 in a location where the structure of myxomycete assemblages has been historically associated with temperate rather than tropical communities. Comments on the geographical distribution and ecology of the species are included. This record has increased the number of Costa Rican myxomycetes to 213 according to the most updated checklist.

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Molecular characterization and genetic diversity ofJatropha curcasL. in Costa Rica

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.2931 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e2931 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Marcela Vásquez-Mayorga ◽

Eric J. Fuchs ◽

Eduardo J. Hernández ◽

Franklin Herrera ◽

Jesús Hernández ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Jatropha Curcas ◽

Geographical Origin ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Nrdna Its ◽

Neighbor Joining ◽

Germplasm Bank ◽

Nj Tree

We estimated the genetic diversity of 50Jatropha curcassamples from the Costa Rican germplasm bank using 18 EST-SSR, one G-SSR and nrDNA-ITS markers. We also evaluated the phylogenetic relationships among samples using nuclear ribosomal ITS markers. Non-toxicity was evaluated using G-SSRs and SCARs markers. A Neighbor-Joining (NJ) tree and a Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree were constructed using SSR markers and ITS sequences, respectively. Heterozygosity was moderate (He = 0.346), but considerable compared to worldwide values forJ. curcas. The PIC (PIC = 0.274) and inbreeding coefficient (f = − 0.102) were both low. Clustering was not related to the geographical origin of accessions. International accessions clustered independently of collection sites, suggesting a lack of genetic structure, probably due to the wide distribution of this crop and ample gene flow. Molecular markers identified only one non-toxic accession (JCCR-24) from Mexico. This work is part of a countrywide effort to characterize the genetic diversity of theJatropha curcasgermplasm bank in Costa Rica.

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First record of the highfin goby Gobionellus oceanicus (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae) in Costa Rican freshwaters

UNED Research Journal ◽

10.22458/urj.v10i2.2169 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 404-408

Author(s):

Francisco S. Álvarez ◽

Derick Herrerea ◽

Arturo Angulo

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Freshwater Fish ◽

River Basin ◽

Fish Species ◽

New Record ◽

First Record ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Freshwater Fish Species ◽

First Time

The highfin goby Gobionelus oceanicus is herein reported for the first time in freshwaters of Costa Rica. One specimen was collected in the lower Pacuare River basin, Atlantic slope, Costa Rica. This new record brings the total number of Costa Rican native freshwater fish species to 253.

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