Description of Cryptaphelenchus recticaudatus n. sp. (Aphelenchoidea: Ektaphelenchinae) in Pinus elliottii from the USA

Summary Cryptaphelenchus recticaudatus n. sp. is described and illustrated in Pinus elliottii from the USA. The new species is characterised by the female body 310-431 μm long with distinctly annulated cuticle, lateral fields with four lines, lip region separated from the body by a shallow depression, delicate stylet with small knobs, post-vulval uterine sac short, and rectum and anus invisible. Males are 228-314 μm long, spicules 9.8-12.4 μm long with a well-developed and broad condylus, and seven caudal papillae arranged as a single (P1) and pair (P2) of precloacal papillae plus two pairs of postcloacal papillae. Based upon the general female morphology, the new species most closely resembles C. baujardi and C. iranicus. The morphological differences with the aforementioned species and other species of the genus are discussed. The phylogenetic analyses based on small (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) D2-D3 expansion segments of ribosomal DNA of different individuals of the new species revealed that the new species fell into the Cryptaphelenchus clade in both SSU and LSU trees. The monophyly of the genus was retained after adding newly generated sequences of the new species.

First records of three Lepiota species (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) from Ukraine, with notes on a poorly known species, Lepiota subalba

New records of four species of the genus Lepiota (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) are reported from Ukraine. Three species, L. fuscovinacea, L. griseovirens, and L. roseolivida, are recorded in Ukraine for the first time, whereas a poorly known species, L. subalba, earlier known in Ukraine from a few records, is confirmed using molecular identification methods. All species reports are supplemented with original descriptions and drawings based on newly collected material, as well as data on general distribution, habitat, references to new collections and public databases. Original nucleotide sequence of the ITS region of ribosomal DNA obtained from our voucher specimen of L. subalba is provided.

Bulbophyllum versicolor (Orchidaceae, Malaxideae), a new species from Yunnan, China: evidence from morphology and molecular analyses

A new orchid species, Bulbophyllum versicolor (Malaxideae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae), from Malipo, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. Detailed morphological study indicates that B. versicolor is similar to B. japonicum, but it differs in the shape and size of leaf and flower and flower colour. Molecular analyses based on the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrITS) and plastid DNA (matK, atpI-atpH and trnL-F) reveal that B. versicolor is a new species and genetically similar to B. japonicum.

Bioluminescence capability and intensity in the dinoflagellate Alexandrium species

Some species in the dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium are bioluminescent. Of the 33 formally described Alexandrium species, the bioluminescence capability of only nine species have been tested, and eight have been reported to be bioluminescent. The present study investigated the bioluminescence capability of seven Alexandrium species that had not been tested. Alexandrium mediterraneum, A. pohangense, and A. tamutum were bioluminescent, but A. andersonii, A. hiranoi, A. insuetum, and A. pseudogonyaulax were not. We also measured the bioluminescent intensity of A. affine, A. fraterculus, A. mediterraneum, A. ostenfeldii, A. pacificum, A. pohangense, A. tamarense, and A. tamutum. The mean 200-second-integrated bioluminescence intensity per cell ranged from 0.02 to 32.2 × 104 relative luminescence unit per cell (RLU cell-1), and the mean maximum bioluminescence intensity per cell per second (BLMax) ranged from 0.01 to 10.3 × 104 RLU cell-1 s-1-1. BLMax was significantly correlated with the maximum growth rates of Alexandrium species, except for A. tamarense. A phylogenetic tree based on large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) showed that the bioluminescent species A. affine, A. catenella, A. fraterculus, A. mediterraneum, A. pacificum, and A. tamarense formed a large clade. However, the toxicity or mixotrophic capability of these species was split. Thus, their bioluminescence capability in this clade was more consistent than their toxicity or mixotrophic capability. Phylogenetic trees based on LSU rDNA and the luciferase gene of Alexandrium were consistent except for A. pohangense. The results of the present study can provide a basis for understanding the interspecific diversity in bioluminescence of Alexandrium.

Transcriptomic Characterization of Tuberculous Sputum Reveals a Host Warburg Effect and Microbial Cholesterol Catabolism

Although a few studies have described the microbiome composition of TB sputa based on 16S ribosomal DNA, these studies did not compare to non-TB samples and the nature of the method does not allow any functional inference. This is the first study to apply such technology using clinical specimens and obtained functional transcriptional data on all three aspects simultaneously.

Morphological and molecular identification three species Teladorsagia (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) in sheep, Uzbekistan

Comparative studies of three species T. circumcincta, T. trifurcata and T. davtiani, which are preliminarily different morphs of the same species, have been carried out in this paper. Insignificant differences in morphological sizes and characters between males were identified and fragments of ITS-2 ribosomal DNA of three species of the genus Teladorsagia were investigated. There were no sequence differences between T. circumcincta and T. trifurcata. Minor differences were noted between T. circumcincta and T. davtiani species at the level of 0.8%. With complete similarity between T. circumcincta and T. trifurcata and a low percentage of differences between T. circumcincta and T. davtiani in different specimens, they represent different morphological forms of one species of T. circumcincta.

Biological potential of Ascophyllum nodosum extract on rhizobial diversity in nodules of mothbean Vigna aconitifolia Jacq. via Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis

Aim: The aim of this study was to use Ascophyllum nodosum for potentially increasing the growth and rhizobial diversity in nodulating rhizobia in Vigna aconitifolia. Methodology: Different concentrations of Ascophyllum nodosum extracts (0.01%, 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.50%) were applied via foliar spray and on roots of Vigna aconitifolia. Growth characteristics and Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis were conducted to detect the morphological and molecular changes in rhizobial diversity. The restriction profiles thus obtained were used to study the rhizobial communities via Cluster analysis and Dendrogram using NTSYS-PC program and UPGMA constructed. Results: Roots treated with 0.05% Ascophyllum nodosum extract showed best growth of plants. This concentration not only proved best for the aggregation of nodules but also for obtaining enormous rhizobial diversity. Interpretation: Ascophyllum nodosum is a modern, cheap, non-toxic natural biofertilizer and Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis represents a favorable alternative to culture dependent method for assessing rhizobial diversity in nodulating bacteria.