A review of the non-lyctine powder-post beetles of Yunnan (China) with a new genus and new species (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

The powder post beetles (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) (except Lyctinae) of Yunnan Province in Southwest China are reviewed for the first time. Keys to twenty-six genera and fifty-two species from the Yunnan region are provided. One new genus and seven new species are described: Dinoderus (Dinoderastes) hongheensis sp. nov., Dinoderus (Dinoderastes) nanxiheensis sp. nov., Gracilenta yingjiangensis gen. nov., sp. nov., Calonistes vittatus sp. nov., Calophagus colombiana sp. nov., Xylodrypta guochuanii sp. nov. and Xylodrypta zhenghei sp. nov.. Fourteen species are recorded in China for the first time. The bostrichid fauna of Yunnan is compared with those of the neighbouring bio-geographically related Southeast Asian and Himalayan regions. The fauna has a close affinity with that of tropical Southeast Asia and a much weaker relationship with the Palearctic region. The differences with the Himalayas may reflect the separate evolutionary and complex geological history of the two areas.

Discovery of Kerivoula kachinensis and a validity of K. titania (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in China

In April 2019, 15 (10♂, 5♀) Kerivoula bats were collected by harp traps from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China. External and craniodental examination, multivariate statistical analyses and molecular phylogenetic inference (CoI, Cytb and Rag2 gene markers) indicated they are Kerivoula kachinensis and Kerivoula titania, respectively. Former represents a new chiropteran record from China, while the latter is a valid occurrence of K. titania in this region because recent study indicate a misidentification of “K. titania” in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan, China. All specimens are presently preserved at Key Laboratory of Conservation and Application in Biodiversity of South China in Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China. Nowadays, four woolly bats occur in China including, Kerivoula furva, K. kachinensis, Kerivoula picta and K. titania, whilst there is a risk of underestimation the actual species diversity in China region when comparing those of neighboring region such as Vietnam. Supports for field survey need to be continued in future.

The rediscovery of Carya poilanei (Juglandaceae) after 63 years reveals a new record from China

Despite having been first published in 1941, Carya poilanei (A.Chev.) J.-F.Leroy is only known from three collections in Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. It has not been recollected since then and was long suspected to have become extinct through repeated deforestation events. Here, we report the rediscovery, and meanwhile the first new record in China, of this extremely rare gigantic hickory species at Yunnan province 63 years after its last collection in 1958. Three small patchy subpopulations were found with a total of about 50 adult trees having diameter at breast height (DBH) larger than 60 cm, together with some seedlings and saplings, but the fruit set was low. Based on new and fresh material, we present a revised morphological description of C. poilanei, and an updated distribution map for the species. In addition, we also provide a key for the hickories in China. Lastly, we suggest C. poilanei should be listed as a Critically Endangered (CR) species according to the latest IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

New species of Andropromachus (Phasmatodea: Lonchodidae: Necrosciinae: Necrosciini) from Yunnan Province, China

The genus Andropromachus (Lonchodidae: Necrosciinae: Necrosciini) is a small genus of stick insects including four species with a distribution in northern Vietnam and south-western China. A new species of stick insects Andropromachus gulinqingensis sp. n. is described from Yunnan Province of China. Diagnostic characters of the new species are illustrated and an identification key to male and female Andropromachus is provided along with a checklist for all described species.

Morphology and multi-gene phylogeny reveal a new fungal genus and species from Hevea brasiliensis latex in Yunnan, China

During a survey of rubber tree plantations in Yunnan Province, China, a fungus growing on natural rubber latex was collected and isolated. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined ITS, LSU, SSU, tef-α and rpb2 genes showed the isolated taxon belongs to Wiesneriomycetaceae and was well separated from closely related genera with high statistical support. It can be differentiated from other genera in Wiesneriomycetaceae by synnemata with catenate conidia that are cylindrical, 0–4 to multi-septate, often with a dark brown band at the septa. Morphology, phylogenetic analyses and pairwise homoplasy index (PHI) tests provide evidence that the new isolate is a distinct genus. The genus Heveicola is introduced, with H. xishuangbannaensis as the type species. A key to the genera in Wiesneriomycetaceae is also provided.

Genetic Diversity and Selection of Plasmodium vivax Apical Membrane Antigen-1 in China–Myanmar Border of Yunnan Province, China, 2009–2016

Plasmodium vivax apical membrane antigen-1 (PvAMA-1) is an important vaccine candidate for vivax malaria. However, antigenic variation within PvAMA-1 is a major obstacle to the design of a global protective malaria vaccine. In this study, we analyzed the genetic polymorphism and selection of the PvAMA-1 gene from 152 P. vivax isolates from imported cases to China, collected in the China–Myanmar border (CMB) area in Yunnan Province (YP) during 2009–2011 (n = 71) and 2014–2016 (n = 81), in comparison with PvAMA-1 gene information from Myanmar (n = 73), collected from public data. The overall nucleotide diversity of the PvAMA-1 gene from the 152 YP isolates was 0.007 with 76 haplotypes identified (Hd = 0.958). Results from the population structure suggested three groups among the YP and Myanmar isolates with optimized clusters value of K = 7. In addition, YP (2014–2016) isolates generally lacked some K components that were commonly found in YP (2009–2011) and Myanmar. Meanwhile, PvAMA-1 domain I is found to be the dominant target of positive diversifying selection and most mutation loci were found in this domain. The mutation frequencies of D107N/A, R112K/T, K120R, E145A, E277K, and R438H in PvAMA-1 were more than 70% in the YP isolates. In conclusion, high genetic diversity and positive selection were found in the PvAMA-1 gene from YP isolates, which are significant findings for the design and development of PvAMA-1-based malaria vaccine.

Development of SSR Markers and Genetic Diversity Evaluation of Mycocentrospora Acerina Causing Round Spot of Panax Notoginseng in Yunan Province, China

Sanqi round spot, which is caused by Mycocentrospora acerina, is a destructive disease limits the production of Panax notoginseng in Yunnan province of China. However, the disease has not been studied comprehensively. In the current study, we identify M. acerina polymorphic microsatellite markers using CERVUS 3.0 and compare the genetic diversity of its isolates from P. notoginseng round spot using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Thirty-two SSR markers with good polymorphism were developed using MISA and CERVUS 3.0. The genetic diversity of 187 M. acerina isolates were evaluated using 14 representative SSR primers, and the polymorphic information content values of 14 sites ranged from 0.813 to 0.946, with a total of 264 alleles detected at 14 microsatellite loci. The average expected heterozygosity was 0.8967. The genetic diversity of M. acerina in Yunnan province does not reflect geographic specificity.