A morphological, anatomical and palynological study of Aethionema lepidioides (Brassicaceae) - an endangered species endemic to Turkey

Aethionema lepidioides Hub.-Mor. is an endangered endemic species in Turkey with a very narrow natural distribution area. The present study aims to reveal the structural features of this species. For this purpose, its unknown morphological features – such as leaf, petal, sepal dimensions and shapes, filament and anther lengths, as well as seed dimensions, shape, colour and micromorphology – have been studied for the first time. To reveal the pollen characteristics of Ae. lepidioides, light microscope and SEM studies were conducted. Additionally, in the present study the anatomical features of Ae. lepidioides were also studied for the first time. The Ae. lepidioides leaves were found to be linear-oblanceolate, with an entire margin and a subacute to obtuse apex. The seeds were found to be dark brown and oval-shaped, with reticulated surface ornamentation. Anatomical studies found roots in the secondary growth stage, with xylem-filled pith. The stem was in the primary growth stage, featuring a multi-layer cortex under its outermost single-layered epidermis, a pronounced endodermis and a central cylinder beneath. The leaves were thick, amphistomatic and covered with a prominent wax layer. Their mesophyll was equifacial, and their stoma type was anisocytic. A stomatal index of 26 was found for the upper epidermis, while a corresponding index of 28.4 was found for the lower epidermis. The pollens were monad, radially symmetrical and isopolar. The pollen type was colpate, and the pollen shape was found to be prolate-spheroidal with a P/E ratio of 1.08.

Quercus ngochoaensis (Fagaceae), a new species from Ba Vi National Park, northern, Vietnam

A new species of Quercus (Fagaceae), Q. ngochoaensis, from Ba Vi National Park, Ha Noi, northern Vietnam is described and illustrated. This species is morphologically similar to Q. glauca in having glabrous twigs, cuneate leaf base, two or three fruits per infructescence, almost entire margin of lamellate rings on cupule except the lowest three rings, slightly convex scar at the base of a nut. However, it differs from Q. glauca in having smaller leaves, cup-shaped cupule enclosing 1/2–2/3 of the nut, 7–8 lamellate rings on cupule, and subglobose nut. In addition to the description, DNA barcodes of the two partial plastid regions of matK, rbcL and the nuclear region of ITS of the new species are provided.

Short communication: Leaf architecture of 35 species of Dipterocarpaceae cultivated in Forest Area with Special Purposes in Carita, Banten, Indonesia

MeinataA, Na’iem M, Adriyanti DT, Syahbudin A. 2021. Short communication: Leaf architecture of 35 species of Dipterocarpaceae cultivated in Forest Area with Special Purposes in Carita, Banten, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 2952-2960. Dipterocarpaceae is a major commercial timber characterized by high unbranched bole, paired stipules, and winged fruit. The identification process in the family becomes problematic, in cases where the generative organ is absent. Therefore, a new approach needs to be established to address any misidentification leading to improper utilization. This study aims to determine the leaf architecture in 35 species of Dipterocarpaceae cultivated in Forest Area with Special Purposes (KHDTK) Carita, Banten, Indonesia. The ten leaf samples collected were the third and fourth leaves from terminal shoots of a single tree of each species. Subsequently, the data were observed and measured based on the 17 morphological characters. Each character was then scored and analyzed using multivariate analyses cluster to determine the relationship between species. Dipterocarpaceae generally has pinnate leaf category, geniculate petiole, and entire margin. Furthermore, the phenon line in the dendrogram is cut at 0.695 similarity level to establish meaningful interpretation. The 35 species observed were grouped into 4 major clusters. Small leaf group, inconsistent tertiary vein pattern group, symmetrical leaves with cordate base leaf group, and other groups that do not resemble mentioned characters. The key determination comprised 34 couplets with three characters repeated due to limited descriptors.

Resurrection of the genus Similisinocarum (Apiaceae) based on evidence from morphology and ITS sequences

The genus Similisinocarum Cauwet & Farille (Apiaceae, Apioideae), was first described by Cauwet & Farille in 1984, but it has been considered as a synonym of Sinocarum H.Wolff ex R.H. Shan & F.T. Pu. In this study, Simlisinocarum normanianum, the type species of Similisinocarum was found in China for the first time, and the molecular phylogenetic evidence based on ITS sequences reveals that Similisinocarum normanianum occupies an individual clade, which is sister to the clade comprising seven species of Acronema, Sinocarum, and Oreocomopsis in Acronema clade, the values of genetic distances (ITS) between Similisinocarum and Acronema, Similisinocarum and Oreocomopsis, Similisinocarum and Pternopetalum, Similisinocarum and Sinocarum are close (≥0.0916), while deviated from the values within Acronema, Sinocarum and Pternopetalum (≤0.0580). Morphologically, we found Similisinocarum normanianum develops reflex bracteoles with white membranous margin, petals with an entire margin and incurved apex, and mericarps with many vittae in the furrow (≥ 3) and commissure (6), which are distinguishable from other species of the Acronema clade. Consequently, results manifested in molecular and morphological analyses indicate that Similisinocarum should be treated as an independent genus distinct from Sinocarum.

Microbacterium helvum sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from cow dung

A Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, short rod-shaped strain, NEAU-LLCT, was isolated from cow dung in Shangzhi city, Heilongjiang Province, northeast China and identified by a polyphasic taxonomic study. Colonies was light yellow, round, with entire margin. Strain NEAU-LLCT was grown at 15–45℃ and pH 6.0–10.0. NaCl concentration ranged from 0 to 5% (W/V). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of NEAU-LLCT showed the high similarities with Microbacterium kyungheense JCM 18735T (98.5%), Microbacterium trichothecenolyticum JCM 1358T (98.3%) and Microbacterium jejuense JCM 18734T (98.2%). The whole-cell sugars were glucose, rhamnose, and ribose. The menaquinones contained MK-12 and MK-13. Ornithine, glutamic acid, lysine, and a small amount of alanine and glycine were the amino acids in the hydrolyzed products of the cell wall. The major fatty acids were iso-C16:0, iso-C18:0, anteiso-C15:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The main polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified glycolipid. The genome of NEAU-LLCT was 4,369,375 bp and G + C content is 70.28 mol%. A combination of DNA-DNA hybridization result and some phenotypic characteristics demonstrated that strain NEAU-LLCT could be distinguished from its closely related strains. Therefore, the strain NEAU-LLCT was considered to represent a novel specie and was named Microbacterium helvum sp. (Type strain NEAU-LLCT =CCTCC AA 2018026T = JCM 32661T).

A New Endangered Species of Tragia (Euphorbiaceae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract—A new species (Tragia hoffmanniae) found only in the Atlantic Forest in the state of Bahia (northeastern Brazil) is presented here, with descriptions of its morphology and pollen grains; illustrations, maps, and geographical and morphological comments are also provided. The species differs from other Tragia sect. Tragia taxa in having leaves with an elliptic to lanceolate blade, caudate apex, and entire margin. A comparative table is provided to distinguish the new species from other Tragia species in the Atlantic Forest.

Antero-inferior tympanic visibility during microscopy

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The antero-inferior recess of the ear canal is not visible to the otologist, thereby effecting proper placement of the graft and thereby affecting its uptake .The visibility of this region in the adult population is assessed.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The quadrants of tympanic membrane were examined in 60 subjects with perforated tympanic membrane undergoing tympanoplasty. The study was conducted in the department of ENT-HNS (ear, nose and throat-head and neck surgery), Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> With the microscope in 48 (80%) entire perforation could be visualized and in 12 (20%) margins were not in the line of view. 5 perforations were posterior superior and 12 were total perforations. Otoendoscope examination with zero degree could show the entire margin of the perforation.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> In 80% population the antero-inferior quadrant of the tympanic membrane is accessible to straight vision of the microscope.</p>

Isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria from vegetable-growing soils in Da Lat, Lam Dong

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been used for decades in agriculture to improve soils, control disease and promote plant growth. LAB have been isolated from fermented food, milks and plants, however, a few studies of LAB from soils have been reported. This study aimed to isolate, screen and identify LAB from vegetable-growing soils collected from Da Lat (Lam Dong province). From 33 soil samples, 25 LAB isolates were selected on MRS agar supplemented with 1% CaCO3. The LAB isolates formed small, creamy white, convex, entire margin colonies, and were Gram-positive, catalase-negative and rod-shaped bacteria. Based on the acid-producing capacity, five LAB isolates (DT2, CT3, CC2, XL7 and S2) that produced clear zones around colonies due to the solubilization of CaCO3 with diameters ranged from 1.03 - 1.33 cm, and 11.8 - 14.3 mg/mL acid after 2-day incubation at 30oC. All selected LAB isolates showed the capacity to inhibit the growth of Fusarium oxysporum at level 1 (inhibitory rates in range of 10.66 - 19.96%), and Phytopthora sp. at level 3 (inhibitory rates in range of 50.86 - 57.44%) after 3 days. The isolates did not inhibit against E. coli and Staphylococcus but inhibit the growth of Bacillus spizizenii and Salmonella typhi with average inhibition diameters in range of 3.33 - 4.90 mm and 2.43 - 3.37 mm, respectively, after 1-day incubation. The five LAB isolates were molecularly determined to be Lactobacillus plantarum with 97 - 100% similarities

The Eocene flora of Tatabánya “marl-mine” (N Hungary)

The middle Eocene (Lutetian) fossil plant assemblage from Tatabánya (N Hungary) comprises plant remains preserved mostly as impressions. Remains of angiosperms are represented by Lauraceae (Laurophyllum div. sp., Daphnogene Unger), Rhamnaceae (Ziziphus Miller), Malvaceae s.l. (Byttneriopsis Z.Kvaček et Wilde), Leguminosae, and Palmae, and the occurrence of other families, i.e., Dioscoreaceae, Myrtaceae, Fagaceae, Anacardiaceae, Berberidaceae, Juglandaceae, and Theaceae, is uncertain. The scarcity of gymnosperms is a character similar to the coeval floras of Csordakút (N Hungary) and Girbou in Romania. The presence of Ziziphus ziziphoides (Unger) Weyland, high number of linear shaped leaves with entire margin and coriaceous texture (Lauraceae vel Fagaceae), and small-leaved Leguminosae suggests a “subhumid” character of the vegetation, which is recognisable also in early Palaeogene floras of eastern Central and Southeastern Europe, e.g., the Tard Clay floras in Hungary and floras of Serbia/Macedonia. In contrast, the Eocene floras from Central/Western Europe are indicative of a generally non-xerophytic character, e.g., Staré Sedlo in Bohemia, Messel, Geiseltal, and the Weisselster Basin floras in Germany. A frost-free climate with high mean annual temperatures similar to that estimated for coeval European floras may also be inferred for the Tatabánya flora.

Oberonia integrilabris (Orchidaceae), a new species from China

Oberonia integrilabris (Orchidaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The species is most similar to O. jhae and O. segawae, but differs from O. jhae by its leaf basal joint, oblong petals with irregularly toothed margin and obtuse apex and is distinguished from O. segawae by its petals with irregularly toothed margin and obdeltoid lip with entire margin and acute apex. The conservation status of O. integrilabris is assessed as CR.