A new catfish of the genus Trichomycterus from the Rio Paraíba do Sul Basin, south-eastern Brazil, a supposedly migrating species (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae)

A new species of the catfish genus Trichomycterus is described from the Rio Paraíba do Sul, south-eastern Brazil. This species exhibits some morphological character states that are unique amongst congeners, including a robust opercle and a long interopercle with numerous odontodes (50–60 opercular and 90–100 interopercular), a black bar on the basal portion of the caudal fin and a dark brown flank with a well delimited dorsal yellow stripe. It also exhibits some morphological traits that are uncommon amongst congeners, such as the presence of nine pectoral-fin rays. The presence of a shallow hyomandibular outgrowth and a ventrally expanded pre-opercular ventral flap suggests that this species is closely related to T. melanopygius, T. pradensis and T. tete. The new species also differs from T. melanopygius, T. pradensis and T. tete by having an emarginate caudal fin and a single median supra-orbital pore S6. Anecdotal evidence suggests that T. largoperculatus and T. pradensis have migratory habits, a condition not previously reported for eastern South American trichomycterines.

A Single Cisterna Magna Injection of AAV Leads to Binaural Transduction in Mice

Viral-mediated gene augmentation, silencing, or editing offers tremendous promise for the treatment of inherited and acquired deafness. Inner-ear gene therapies often require a safe, clinically useable and effective route of administration to target both ears, while avoiding damage to the delicate structures of the inner ear. Here, we examined the possibility of using a cisterna magna injection as a new cochlear local route for initiating binaural transduction by different serotypes of the adeno-associated virus (AAV2/8, AAV2/9, AAV2/Anc80L65). The results were compared with those following canalostomy injection, one of the existing standard inner ear local delivery routes. Our results demonstrated that a single injection of AAVs enables high-efficiency binaural transduction of almost all inner hair cells with a basal-apical pattern and of large numbers of spiral ganglion neurons of the basal portion of the cochlea, without affecting auditory function and cochlear structures. Taken together, these results reveal the potential for using a cisterna magna injection as a local route for binaural gene therapy applications, but extensive testing will be required before translation beyond mouse models.

Two new species of rust fungi (Pucciniales) from the Brazilian Amazon: Aecidium margaritariae on Margaritaria and Uromyces amapaensis on Jatropha

ABSTRACT Two new species of Pucciniales fungi on plants of the Fabid clade are described from samples deposited in the herbarium of Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, collected in the state of Amapá, in the Brazilian Amazon. They are Aecidium margaritariae found on Margaritaria nobilis (Phyllanthaceae), and Uromyces amapaensis on Jatropha gossypiifolia (Euphorbiaceae). The microstructures of the specimens were analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Aecidium margaritariae is characterized by the presence of globose, subglobose to slightly ellipsoid aeciospores with warty walls and smooth areas usually in the basal portion. Uromyces amapaensis is distinguished by the presence of uredinia with paraphyses which are thickened and rounded at the tip, and pedicellate and smooth teliospores. Descriptions, illustrations, and taxonomic comments are presented for each species.

First record of tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) from Rovno amber, with the description of a new genus and species

A new fossil tiger beetle species, Goriresina fungifora gen. n., sp. n. (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae), is described from Eocene Rovno amber. The new genus belongs to the subtribe Iresiina, tribe Cicindelini, due to the glabrous head, the labrum with six submarginal setae (latero-basal setae very long) and two apical teeth with notch between them, the glabrous and globular pronotum, the lack of setae on the metepisternum and metepimeron, as well as on the visible parts of abdominal sternites, the single long seta each on the fore- and mesotrochanter. The new species is characterized by the long and moderately convex labrum, two clypeal setae, the elongate and apicad converging elytra with an angularly, but smoothly rounded apex, the small and sharp sutural spine, the probable presence of an apical portion of the elytral humeral spot, a slightly sinuate, transverse medial fascia with an extended and downward directed apical portion, and a slightly transverse basal portion of the apical spot. This is the first record of a tiger beetle in Rovno amber and only a fourth well-preserved Cicindelidae from fossil resins.

A new species of Erythrogonia Melichar, 1926 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini) from the Mantiqueira mountain range, southeastern Brazil, associated with olive orchards

A new species of the diverse Neotropical sharpshooter genus Erythrogonia Melichar, 1926 is described and illustrated from the Mantiqueira mountain range, municipality of Maria da Fé, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The new taxon is associated with olive orchards and has been implicated as a vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al., 1987, which causes a disease known in Brazil as olive leaf scorch syndrome. Erythrogonia sinvali sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other 90 known species of the genus by the following combination of features: (1) crown black without conspicuous contrasting spots; (2) frons with large yellow median spot; (3) pronotum black with large yellow area covering most of disk; (4) forewing dark red, without contrasting spots or stripes, costal margin narrowly black, apical portion dark brown; (5) aedeagus elongate, curved dorsally, with pair of spiniform apical processes; (6) paraphyses greatly reduced; (7) basal portion of male anal tube with pair of spiniform curved processes; (8) posterior margin of female abdominal sternite VII broadly emarginate and with broad central lobe; (9) female sternite VIII with sclerotized areas, including a transverse bar located at bases of ovipositor valvulae I, followed by a pair of elongate sclerites and a posterior bilobed sclerite. Both males and females of the new species are described in detail. A putative group of five species within Erythrogonia is preliminarily proposed, including the new taxon, E. separata Melichar, 1926, E. dorsalis (Signoret, 1853), E. calva (Taschenberg, 1884), and E. melichari Schmidt, 1928. Among these species, the male terminalia of E. sinvali sp. nov. are more similar to those of E. separata.

KARYOMORPHOLOGICAL AND STOMATAL STUDIES OFALLIUM HOOKERITHWAITES

AlliumhookeriThwaites belongs toAmaryllidaceae family is one of the most important medicinal plants, enormously used in cancer or inflammation because it contains large amounts of sulfonylmethane.It is also used to treat coughs, colds, fatigue and to recover immunity. Karyotypic study showed that somatic chromosome number is 2n = 22. Only nearly sub median and nearly median chromosomes are found in the complement. Karyotype formula = 1 nsm(-)+ 10 nm=2n=22. The total length of long arms is 60.36 µm, ranging from 3.16µm to 8.23µm. Total length of short arms is 31.57µm, ranging from 1.75µm to 4.11µm. The total length of the chromosome is 92.17µm, ranging from 4.78µm to 12.35µm. Relative chromosome length ranges from38.70µm to 100 µm. Arm ratio ranges from1.70 to2.38.Tf %= 41.63.Centromeric index ranges from 0.40 to 0.28 and The total chromatin index is 100, ranging from 5.18 to 13.40. Anomocytic type of stomata is observedStomatal index and stomatal size were calculated. The maximum length (53.6±2.06µm) was observed in basal portion of the adaxial surface and the minimum length (45.2 ± 1.40µm) was observed in the middle portion of abaxial surface. The maximum width size (24.8±1.11µm) was observed in the basal portion of the adaxial surface and the minimum width was (18.8 ± 1.14µm) at the middle portion of the abaxial surface. Stomatal index 12.63±0.5) maximum and minimum (6.13±0.40) was observed.

Rediscovery of Parahyparrhenia bellariensis (Poaceae: Andropogoneae): A presumed extinct grass from Andhra Pradesh, India

Parahyparrhenia bellariensis, an extremely rare and highly narrow endemic grass, has been rediscovered after almost 184 years from Cuddapah [Kadapa] district, Andhra Pradesh. The first description of its complete habit, basal portion and other features of the spikelets are provided along with new locality of its occurrence. In addition, photographs of the habitats, live plants, and a key to distinguish two Indian endemic species, distribution map and illustration are provided. As per the IUCN Red List Criteria this species is assessed here as Critically Endangered (CR). In order to facilitate the prospective conservation of this grass, we have discussed about the peculiarity of its habitat.

Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease with Mitral Valve Prolapse and Mitral Annular Disjunction: Clinical and Functional Significance of the Coincidence

The morphological changes that occur in myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) involve various components, ultimately leading to the impairment of mitral valve (MV) function. In this context, intrinsic mitral annular abnormalities are increasingly recognized, such as a mitral annular disjunction (MAD), a specific anatomical abnormality whereby there is a distinct separation between the mitral annulus and the left atrial wall and the basal portion of the posterolateral left ventricular myocardium. In recent years, several studies have suggested that MAD contributes to myxomatous degeneration of the mitral leaflets, and there is growing evidence that MAD is associated with ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. In this review, the morphological characteristics of MAD and imaging tools for diagnosis will be described, and the clinical and functional aspects of the coincidence of MAD and myxomatous MVP will be discussed.

Methods of application of indolebutyric acid and basal lesion on ‘Woodard’ blueberry cuttings in different seasons

Blueberry cuttings are difficult to root, so alternatives that maximize their rhizogenic potential are essential for the expansion of the crop. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the basal lesion and different methods of indolebutyric acid (IBA) on the rooting of ‘Woodard’ herbaceous cuttings, collected in two seasons. The experimental design used was completely randomized in a 3x2x2 factorial arrangement, totaling 12 treatments and five replications. The factors consisted of different ways of IBA application (talc and alcohol in the concentration of 1,000 mg L-1, and without IBA), season of collection (autumn and summer), and two types of cuttings (with and without lesion in the basal portion). Two hundred days after the beginning of the experiment, there was no significant effect of the basal lesion on the rooting of the cuttings. However, it was found that rooting is influenced by the season of collection, with greater leaf retention, dry weight, number of roots per cutting, length of roots and length of the largest root collected in summer. The application of IBA talc provided a higher percentage of rooted cuttings (61.0%) in relation to alcohol (31.0%) and control (41.0%) when collected in the autumn. There was no difference between seasons when IBA was applied with talc, however, the application with alcohol solution and the control resulted in higher percentages of rooted cuttings in the summer (70.0% and 67.0%, respectively). Summer was considered the best season to collect ‘Woodard’ blueberry cuttings, although the IBA applied with talc has increased the percentage of rooted cuttings in the autumn. The basal lesion did not promote an increase in rooting.

Evidence That ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ Moves Predominantly Toward New Tissue Growth in Citrus Plants

‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (Las) is an unculturable, phloem-limited, insect-transmitted bacterium associated with the Asiatic form of huanglongbing (HLB), the most destructive citrus disease. In Asia and the Americas, it is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwavama). Despite considerable research, little is known about the processes involved in plant infection and colonization by Las. This study was conducted to determine whether the basal portion (below girdling) of the plant is an important route for Las to move laterally from a point of inoculation on a branch to pathogen-free branches elsewhere in the canopy, and to quantify the influence of actively growing tissues on vertical upward (acropetally) or downward (basipetally) movement of Las. Nongirdled and fully or partially girdled stems of potted plants of ‘Pera’ sweet orange, graft-inoculated above or below girdling, were sampled in distinct regions and assessed by qPCR, 6 months postinoculation. Las invaded all regions of partially and nongirdled plants but remained restricted to the inoculated regions of fully girdled plants, evidence that in planta bacterium movement is limited to the phloem. In fully girdled plants, starch accumulated above the girdling site, probably because of changes in flow of phloem sap. To study the influence of actively growing tissues, inoculated ‘Valencia’ sweet orange plants were kept intact or were top- or root-pruned to force production of new tissues, and sampled at 15-day intervals. Las migrated rapidly and most predominantly toward newly developing root and leaf tissues. The rapid and predominant movement of Las to newly developed shoots and roots would explain failures of canopy heat treatments and pruning to cure HLB-affected trees, and reinforces the need to protect rapidly growing new shoots from feeding by D. citri in order to minimize transmission and spread of the pathogen by the vector within and between orchards.