Infraspecific variation of some brown Parmeliae (in Poland) – a comparison of ITS rDNA and non-molecular characters

Infraspecific variation of the ITS rDNA region of some brown Parmeliae occurring in Poland is studied and compared with non-molecular characters. Haplotype networks are used to illustrate the variability within the species. Both newly-produced sequences from Central Europe and from all over the world, downloaded from the GenBank, are used. The number of haplotypes found for each taxon ranged from five in Melanelia stygia to 12 in Melanelia hepatizon and Montanelia disjuncta; however, their numbers correlate with the number of specimens tested. New haplotypes for Melanelia agnata, M. hepatizon and Cetraria commixta are found. Based on our 169-sample dataset, we could not infer any geographical correlation, either locally or world-wide. Many of the analysed haplotypes were widely distributed and the same haplotype was often shared between temperate and polar populations. A comparison of molecular, morphological, anatomical and chemical characters also shows no correlation.

Morphometric and genetic identification of a newly record pygmy seahorse Hippocampus denise in the Kepulauan Seribu reefs, Indonesia

The study was conducted to describe the seahorse species based on morphological and molecular characters. The pygmy seahorse in Panggang Island in Kepualuan Seribu was discovered in October 2011. The species was allegedly identified as Hippocampus denise (Family: Syngnathidae) described by Lourie and Randall which published in 2003. The high similarity is based on small morphometric, orange-like color and its association with sea fan Annella sp. Their habitat is fairly shallow at a depth between 13-24 meters compared with their sister species observed in Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and Sulawesi. The phylogenetic analysis constructed with several sequence data of Hippocampus spp. from Genbank shows that sample collected from Panggang Island is in the same clade with Hippocampus denise with 100% bootstrap value. BLAST analysis result also showed a high maximum similar identity (>99%) with the species Hippocampus denise. The seahorse specimen described in this study has a common typology of habitat with Hippocampus denise. This study shows that genetic analysis to determine the Hippocampus denise can be carried out to support species recognition, especially for cryptic species such as Hippocampus spp. There are variations in morphometric and habitat depth levels, indicating local adaptation of pygmy seahorses to the Kepulauan Seribu reefs.

Arrival and proliferation of the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae in NE Atlantic islands

The present study reports the recent occurrence and expansion of Rugulopteryx okamurae in the Azores archipelago (NE Atlantic). Morphological and molecular characters confirmed the species identification. Quick surveys around the island of São Miguel showed that it has successfully colonized the island and is quickly expanding. In some locations, R. okamurae is currently the dominant organism smothering all other benthic biota and posing a serious threat to the benthic ecosystems across the region. The species first record dates from 2019 near the main harbour of the island, suggesting that its introduction was driven by human-assisted transport, via boat ballast waters or adhered to ship hulls and likely originating from the Mediterranean populations that have been proliferating in recent years across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Global Diversity and Updated Phylogeny of Auricularia (Auriculariales, Basidiomycota)

Auricularia has a worldwide distribution and is very important due to its edibility and medicinal properties. Morphological examinations and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of 277 samples from 35 countries in Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Oceania were carried out. Phylogenetic analyses were based on ITS, nLSU, rpb1, and rpb2 sequences using methods of Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses. According to the morphological and/or molecular characters, 37 Auricularia species were identified. Ten new species, A. camposii and A. novozealandica in the A. cornea complex, A. australiana, A. conferta, A. lateralis, A. pilosa and A. sinodelicata in the A. delicata complex, A. africana, A. srilankensis, and A. submesenterica in the A. mesenterica complex, are described. The two known species A. pusio and A. tremellosa, respectively belonging to the A. mesenterica complex and the A. delicata complex, are redefined, while A. angiospermarum, belonging to the A. auricula-judae complex, is validated. The morphological characters, photos, ecological traits, hosts and geographical distributions of those 37 species are outlined and discussed. Morphological differences and phylogenetic relations of species in five Auricularia morphological complexes (the A. auricula-judae, the A. cornea, the A. delicata, the A. fuscosuccinea and the A. mesenterica complexes) are elaborated. Synopsis data on comparisons of species in the five complexes are provided. An identification key for the accepted 37 species is proposed.

The genetic diversity of angsana (Pterocarpus indicus) in Purwodadi Botanical Garden Indonesia revealed by rDNA ITS

Pterocarpus indicus or angsana is one of the tropical tree species that produce redwood. It has been listed as an endangered species by IUCN since 2018, as its natural population number has declined and possibly extinct in some countries. Therefore, conservation efforts to protect this species must be carried out based on the appropriate conservation strategy. This study aimed to assess molecular characters of Pterocarpus species in Purwodadi Botanical Garden using rDNA ITS (internal transcribed spacer) and its association with morphological characters. Information on genetic and morphological characters will precisely identify this species so that conservation strategy can be appropriately planned. Leaf samples of eighteen P. indicus trees were collected from Purwodadi Botanical Garden (PBG) and used in this study. Twelve specimens that provide clear DNA sequence were genetically assessed. The results showed that P. echinatus exhibited rDNA ITS character similar to that P. indicus, while P. indicus specimens from Morotai were very different from other P. indicus specimens. Morotai specimens showed 89% similarity to several Pterocarpus species, including P. acapulcensis, P. rohrii and P. indicus. The morphological characters were assessed along with molecular characters. The impacts of conservation strategies are discussed in this paper.

Investigation on the Severity of Alternaria Blight of Pigeonpea and its Characterisation in Northern Karnataka

Background: The Alternaria blight of pigeonpea is considered as an important foliar disease and poses threat to the pigeonpea cultivation due to change in the climatic condition, cultivation practices and variation in pathogenic character. Though the disease is noticed in an alarming proportion after the post rainy season and causing economic yield, little is known about the severity of disease and its impact on crop production. The current study is aimed to study the disease severity and variability of the pathogen and which would helps us to understand the biology of the pathogen to develop suitable management strategies. Methods: In the field and laboratory investigations during 2015 and 2017, different localities of Northern Karnataka were surveyed. Twenty sampling localities were selected based on geographical situation. In the laboratory, collected diseased samples were isolated and determined morphologically and culturally based on taxonomic and molecular characters. Result: Our investigations revealed the varied disease severity in surveyed districts, Vijayapura district recorded the maximum disease severity with a range of 38.67 to 49.33 and this might be due to variation in pathogenic character, rainfall pattern and climatic conditions and also disease severity varied with varieties indicating the source of resistance. The present study contributed for identification of geographical distribution of the disease and its severity in different varieties and places of Northern Karnataka and their genetic and morphological variations.

A new species of Pantelodes (Lepidoptera: Bombycoidea: Apatelodidae) from Southern Bahia, Brazil

A recent taxonomic study revealed that specimens so far identified as Apatelodes satellitia (Walker, 1855) are in fact representatives of a complex of cryptic species. A new genus was established to hold this complex of species, namely Pantelodes Herbin, 2017. Here we describe a new species of Pantelodes from Southern Bahia Atlantic Forest based on morphological and molecular characters. Pantelodes camacana Orlandin & Carneiro sp. nov. is compared with other Pantelodes species and their phylogenetic relationships are discussed.

Molecular Characters of AB-FAR Gene 1 of Aphelenchoides besseyi from Five Rice Varieties

Aphelenchoides besseyi merupakan nematoda penyebab penyakit pucuk putih yang terbawa benih padi. Gen AB FAR-1 diketahui sebagai gen penting yang mengendalikan patogenisitas A. besseyi. Penelitian dilakukan untuk mengetahui karakter gen AB FAR-1 yang diisolasi dari nematoda yang berasal dari benih padi. Ekstraksi nematoda dilakukan dengan metode corong Baerman dari benih 5 varietas padi “Ciherang“, “Inpari Sidenuk“, “Sintanur“, “Hibrida Prima“ dan “Pak Tiwi“. Ekstraksi DNA total nematoda menggunakan metode CTAB dilanjutkan dengan amplifikasi gen AB FAR-1 menggunakan primer spesifik FAR-F1/R1 dan analisis urutan nukleotidanya. Pita DNA spesifik gen AB FAR-1 berukuran 150 pb berhasil diamplifikasi dari semua sampel nematoda. Analisis sekuen menunjukkan bahwa gen AB FAR-1 tersebut memiliki homologi tertinggi (92.5 – 100%) dengan aksesi Genbank JQ686690.1, yaitu gen AB FAR-1 A. besseyi asal Cina. Walaupun memiliki homologi yang tinggi, terdapat beberapa perbedaan nukleotida pada sampel gen AB FAR-1 A. besseyi asal “Ciherang“, “Inpari Sidenuk“ dan “Hibrida Prima“. Analisis pohon filogenetika lebih lanjut mengelompokkan gen AB FAR-1 A. besseyi menjadi 2 grup, yaitu grup 1 terdiri atas gen AB FAR-1 A. besseyi asal Cina, “Sintanur“, “Hibrida Prima“ dan “Pak Tiwi“ dan grup 2 gen AB FAR-1 A. besseyi asal “Ciherang“, dan “Inpari Sidenuk“.

Morpho-molecular characterization of Gyrodactylus parasites of farmed tilapia and their spillover to native fishes in Mexico

Translocation of fishes for aquaculture has resulted in the co-introduction of some of their parasites. African cichlid fishes, generically called “tilapias” have been introduced worldwide, along with their monogenean parasites. In a nation-wide survey, we characterised monogeneans of the genus Gyrodactylus infecting farmed “tilapia” throughout Mexico. We also collected native fishes around farms, to look for potential parasite spillover from cultured fishes. Monogeneans were identified taxonomically using morphological and molecular characters. Originally African, pathogenic Gyrodactylus cichlidarum was recorded in every farm surveyed, infecting different “tilapia” varieties, as well as three native cichlid fish species. Previously, we had shown that G. cichlidarum also infects native, non-cichlid fishes in Mexico. We also recorded that Gyrodactylus yacatli is widely distributed in Mexico, infecting cultured “tilapia” and native fishes; and present data indicating that this is a further translocated African parasite. A third, unidentified gyrodactylid infected farmed and native fishes in Chiapas, southern Mexico; we describe the new species as Gyrodactylus shinni n. sp., and provide evidence that this is a third monogenean translocated with African fish. The wide distribution of exotic parasites co-introduced with “tilapia” and their spillover to native fishes may have an important impact on the ichthyofauna in Mexico, one the world’s megadiverse countries.