Relationships of Oxylobus, an Alpine Genus of Eupatorieae (Asteraceae)

Abstract— A molecular phylogenetic investigation was carried out to clarify aspects of the systematics of Oxylobus, a primarily Mexican alpine genus of Eupatorieae. Analysis of sequence data from two nuclear (nrDNA ITS, ETS) and three plastid markers (rbcL, ndhF, matK) confirmed the monophyly of Oxylobus and placed species of Ageratina as its sister group. A survey of 56 samples of Oxylobus using nrDNA ITS and ETS provided support for the currently accepted species, and showed the recently described O. coyulensis to be distinct and the sister group to the rest of the genus. The results also confirmed the placement of O. juarezensis in synonymy with O. subglabrus. The results of a broad survey of Ageratina for ITS data showed that it is likely not monophyletic as currently circumscribed. The phylogenetic results also highlighted the distinctiveness of Piqueria and Piqueriopsis as a distinct clade at the base of Eupatorieae.

Type studies and fourteen new North American species of Cortinarius section Anomali reveal high continental species diversity

Section Anomali is a species-rich group in North America belonging to Cortinarius, the most diverse genus in the Agaricales. This study is based on extensive morphological investigations and molecular methods using 191 nrDNA ITS sequence data and recovered 43 phylogenetic species from which 14 are described here as new to science. We sequenced ten type materials which belonged to eight species. The synonymy of C. caesiellus with C. albidipes and C. copakensis with C. albocyaneus is proposed here. The North American occurrence of four species (C. albocyaneus, C. anomalus, C. caninus, and C. tabularis), so far known only from Europe, was confirmed. Thirteen species were not formally described here due to lack of relevant information. An identification key to the known Anomali species in North America is provided.

Genetic diversity and comparative study of genomic DNA extraction protocols in Tamarix L. species

The genus Tamarix consists of about 54 species that mainly grow in saline areas of deserts and semi-deserts. This genus is chemically characterized by the presence of tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins and essential oils which interfere with the extraction of pure genomic DNA. Thus it is necessary to optimize extraction protocols to minimize the influence of these compounds to the lowest level. The present study compares the efficiency of five different approaches to extract total genomic DNA in Tamarix species, showing significant differences in the extracted DNA contents and quality,by using Kit (DNP TM Kit), CTAB DNA extraction method by Murray and Thompson, Sahu et al., Nalini et al. and Bi et al., for the extraction of DNA from Tamarix species. Our results showed significant differences in DNA contents between these five methods. The quantity and quality of extracted genomic DNA were checked by the spectrophotometer, Nano-Drop and and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis. Finally, a PCR-based method was also applied to verify the amplification efficiency for two molecular markers (ITS and ISSR).. In the present study, the genetic diversity of 96 Tamarix individuals species and 8 populations were studied using 10 ISSR markerswhile for nrDNA ITS 8 species samples were used. The method of Nalini et al., provided best results (207 ng/μL) in terms of quantity and quality ofDNA. Our results proposed that this method could be effective for plants with the same polysaccharides, proteins and polyphenols components. The advantage of this method is simple and fast as it does not involve time consuming steps such as incubation at higher temperatures, and also do not requires expensive chemicals such as proteinase K, liquid nitrogen. ,. The success of this method in obtaining high-quality genomic DNA has been demonstrated in the Tamarix species group and the reliability of this method has been discussed.

Cortinarius anaunianus (Agaricales, Cortinariaceae): a new species of the Humolentes clade from Italy

Cortinarius anaunianus is described as a new species within the Humolentes clade of the section Calochroi s. lato from alpine silver fir forests (Abies alba) in northeastern Italy (Val di Non, province of Trento). Phylogeny based on the combined nrDNA ITS and LSU, rpb1, rpb2 and the coded gaps of the ITS region supports the independence of C. anaunianus from the closest taxa and its sister position to C. humolens from which it differs by (i) more vivid olivaceous tinges on pileus and lamellae when young, (ii) pileus surface strongly turning ocher-brown with age and exposure (iii) growing in silver fir forests rather than in association with broadleaved trees. Photos of fresh basidiomes in field and a full description of its main macro- and micromorphological features are provided and compared to those of the morphologically most similar species.

Systematic position of the genus Palimbia (Umbelliferae)

Using molecular data (nrDNA ITS, cpDNA psbA-trnH), the systematic position of the genus Palimbia in theUmbelliferae was studied. It was shown that Palimbia is a monophyletic taxon and belongs to the clade Pyramidoptereae.Taxa closely related to Palimbia, such as Carum buriaticum and Schulzia, are very different carpologically, but they arecharacterized by finely dissected leaves, which is a very rare trait for the Siberian Umbelliferae.

Molecular phylogenetics of Pterocyclus (Apiaceae) based on nrDNA ITS sequences: revised circumscription with a restored species

The genus Pterocyclus Klotzsch, along with many others, constituted the taxonomically complex Pleurospermum s.l. To delimit its circumscription and clarify its interspecific relationships, molecular phylogenetic analysis and detailed specimen examination were carried out. Its status as an independent genus was confirmed, with four species recognized. Pterocyclus wolffianus, the synonymous species of Pterocyclus forrsetii should be restored as an independent species. A new taxonomic account for Pterocyclus and an identification key to its four species, are provided.

Molecular phylogeny of Atractocarpus (Rubiaceae): taxonomic implications for several New Caledonian Gardenieae species

Background and aims – New Caledonia is a hotspot of biodiversity in the world. Among the most diverse New Caledonian plant families is Rubiaceae, which consist of 30 genera containing 220 species, with a level of endemism of 93%. The tribe Gardenieae is represented by four genera, Gardenia (8 species), Aidia (2 species), Randia (7 species), and Atractocarpus (10 species). As Randia has now been restricted to the Neotropics, the New Caledonian Randia species remain unplaced within the tribe. Atractocarpus is a Pacific genus, easily characterized by long imbricated stipules, a feature also present in the Randia species and in several Gardenia species in New Caledonia. The aims of the present study are to test the monophyly of Atractocarpus and to assess the phylogenetic placement of the Randia and Gardenia species with long imbricated stipules within Gardenieae and specifically their relationships with taxa of the Porterandia group to which Atractocarpus belongs. Material and methods – We investigated 63 species of Pacific Gardenieae, with a focus on the Porterandia group, in a Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction (cpDNA: trnTF and rpl32, and nrDNA: ITS). Key results – Our study provides a mostly supported consensus tree topology of the Porterandia group. Five Gardenia and seven Randia species fall within a clade that comprises the New Caledonian Atractocarpus species, rendering both Atractocarpus and Gardenia polyphyletic. Conclusion – We enlarge the delimitation of Atractocarpus to include 12 New Caledonian Randia and Gardenia species. New Caledonia is consequently confirmed as the centre of diversity for Atractocarpus with 31 species. According to our study, three genera of Gardenieae occur in the archipelago: Aidia, Gardenia, and Atractocarpus.

Molecular and morphological evidence of Onobrychis avanakensis, a new species from Iran

Onobrychis avanakensis is described as a new species in sect. Onobrychis. The new species is restricted to the Alborz Mountains in the Qazvin province of Iran and distinguished from its closely related taxa in both morphological and molecular evidence based on nrDNA ITS sequences. O. avanakensis is well distinct from O. major and O. carduchorum by having different sizes of keel, wing and calyx. Based on the phylogenetic tree resulted from Bayesian inference, the new species is located in a separate branch. The distribution map and an illustration of the new species are provided.