New record of bioluminescence in Odontosyllis cf. australiensis (Annelida: Syllidae: Eusyllinae) in Japan

Bioluminescence is widespread in the marine environment. The bioluminescence of some species of the fireworm Odontosyllis (Annelida: Syllidae: Eusyllinae) has been well studied, although the presence or absence of bioluminescence in most species of this genus is yet to be revealed. The bioluminescent worms were observed after sunset around the new moon day in July and October 2020 and in July to October 2021 in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on two mitochondrial and one nuclear gene sequence showed that the worms were closely related to Odontosyllis australiensis, but the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences differed by 2% between those of the Japanese and Australian material. Because only epitokes, i.e. morphologically modified sexually mature worms, were collected, further studies on morphological characters of atokes would be required in the future. We therefore tentatively refer to them as Odontosyllis cf. australiensis. Molecular phylogenetic analysis also showed that known bioluminescent Odontosyllis species belong to various lineages.

New species, Parahelicomyces yunnanensis sp. nov. and Tubeufia nigroseptum sp. nov. from freshwater habitats in Yunnan, China

Diversity of lignicolous freshwater fungi in northwestern Yunnan, China is currently being studied. Four fresh collections of tubeufiaceous taxa were collected and identified. Among of them, Parahelicomyces yunnanensis sp. nov and Tubeufia nigroseptum sp. nov. are introduced as new species based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS, SSU, TEF1-α and RPB2 sequence data. The detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new species are provided, as well as the morphological comparison with similar taxa are discussed. Two strains of Neohelicomyces aquaticus and Tubeufia cylindrothecia are provided.

New species and records of Chapsa (Graphidaceae) in China

We studied the genus Chapsa in China based on morphological characteristics, chemical traits and molecular phylogenetic analysis. One species new to science (C. murioelongata M.Z. Dou & M. Li) and two records new to China were found (C. wolseleyana Weerakoon, Lumbsch & Lücking and C. niveocarpa Mangold). Chapsa murioelongatasp. nov. is characterised by its lobed thalline margin, orange discs with white pruina, clear hymenium, and submuriform and long ascospores. Chapsa wolseleyana was recombined into Astrochapsa based on phenotypic traits. Sequences of this species are for the first time reported here and phylogenetic analyses of three loci (mtSSU, ITS and nuLSU) supported the position of this species within Chapsa. A key for the Chapsa species known in China is provided.

Detection and molecular phylogenetic analysis of chicken astrovirus in Saga prefecture, Japan

We detected three chicken astrovirus strains from 4-day-old broiler chickens with a high mortality rate and visceral gout, and one strain from 150-day-old hens without clinical symptoms in Saga prefecture, Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ORF1 amino acid sequence revealed that the strains from the visceral gout case were classified into subgroup Bi, and the strain from chickens without clinical symptoms was classified into subgroup Aiii. Our data indicate that diseases caused by chicken astrovirus can occur in Japan, and that chicken astrovirus infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of chickens with visceral gout.

Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Vicia L. (Fabaceae) Taxa Growing in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey: Based on Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS)

Leguminosae or Fabaceae is the third-largest flowering plant family and is important in terms of both food production and soil fertility. Wild Vicia species and the genetic diversity of the Southeastern Anatolia Region provide an invaluable resource for the improvement of cultivated temperate feed and legume crops. The rapid progress of technology in recent years has nowmade it possible to use modern techniques in phylogenetic studies and to examine plants in a greater detail using biochemical, cytological and molecular methods to supplement purely systematic studies. The use of molecular phylogenetic analysis is the most attractive alternative strategy for a more accurate identification of the species of the Vicia genus. In the current study, some Vicia L. taxa growing naturally in the Southeastern Anatolia Region were investigated using molecular phylogenetic analysis. Internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA were sequenced in order to study the phylogenetic relationships of Vicia L. taxa. Lathyrus inconspicuous L. and Lathyrus cassius Boiss. were used as an outgroup. The ITS area was determined to be approximately 479- 672 bp. The ITS sequences were submitted to the NCBI database and accession numbers obtained. The resulting tree clearly groups and separates the sect. Narbonensis, Ervilia, Peregrinae, Lathyroides, Vicia and Cracca species but was less able to distinguish species from sect. Hypechusa and Lentopsis. The data acquired were observed to be reliable in terms of solving the taxonomical problems of the Vicia L. taxa. The morphological distinctions are greatly supported by DNA sequence studies. The species-specific markers developed in this study are useful for early detection of targeted Vicia taxa and can act as a guide to the basic data required for the evolution of systematic breeding and conservation strategies, as well as for germplasm resources.

Polycoccum, Variospora, and Zeroviella, Three New Genera for Pakistan

Two lichen species, Variospora kudratovii and Zeroviella laxa, and a lichenicolous species, Polycoccum clauderouxii are reported for the first time from Pakistan and represent first generic records as well. Detailed macro- and micromorphological descriptions and spot test results are provided along with ITS-based molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Euphorbia mbuinzauensis, a new succulent species in Kenya from the Synadenium group in Euphorbia sect. Monadenium (Euphorbiaceae)

Euphorbia mbuinzauensis, a succulent new species of the Synadenium group in Euphorbiaceae from Makueni County, Kenya, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it is most similar to E. pseudomollis, but differs mainly by its shrubby habit (up to 4 m), abaxial leaves surfaces with densely stellate hairs, 2–4-forked cymes, smaller bracts (ca. 2.5 × 3.0 mm), smaller cyathia (6 mm wide), crimson glands without narrow smooth margin, smaller fruits (ca. 8 × 7 mm) and ovoid seeds (ca. 1.8 × 2.2 mm). Furthermore, we performed a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Synadenium group in Euphorbia sect. Monadenium, based on complete nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) datasets. This phylogenetic inference also supports it to be a distinct species. The new species is assessed as Endangered using the IUCN criteria.

An integrated taxonomic revision of Diplotrichus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) supports a Malagasy origin and single colonisation of South Africa

The Afrotropical genus Diplotrichus Jordal, 2021 is revised. Altogether 21 species are included in the genus, with 10 species described as new to science: Diplotrichus pilifrons Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus medius Jordal, sp. nov., and Diplotrichus calvifrons Jordal, sp. nov. from South Africa, and Diplotrichus acutior Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus falcatus Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus pulchellus Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus granulatus Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus tuberculatus Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus robustus Jordal, sp. nov., and Diplotrichus plenus Jordal, sp. nov., all from Madagascar. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on five gene fragments (COI, EF-1a, CAD, PABP1, 28S) resulted in four major clades, with South African species nested within a grade of Malagasy species, supporting a more recent colonisation of the African mainland around the early Miocene.

Rare, deep-water and similar: revision of Sibogasyrinx (Conoidea: Cochlespiridae)

The genus Sibogasyrinx has to date included only four species of rare deep-water Conoidea, each known from few specimens. In shell characters it strongly resembles three distantly-related genera, two of which, Comitas and Leucosyrinx, belong to a different family, the Pseudomelatomidae. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of a large amount of material of Conoidea has revealed the existence of much additional undescribed diversity within Sibogasyrinx from the central Indo-Pacific and temperate Northern Pacific. Based on partial sequences of the mitochondrial cox1 gene and morphological characters of 54 specimens, 10 species hypotheses are proposed, of which six are described as new species: S. subula sp. nov., S. lolae sp. nov., S. maximei sp. nov., S. clausura sp. nov., S. pagodiformis sp. nov. and S. elbakyanae Kantor, Puillandre & Bouchet sp. nov. One of the previously described species was absent in our material. Most of the new species are very similar and are compared to Leucosyrinx spp. Species of Sibogasyrinx are unique among Conoidea on account of the high intrageneric variability in radular morphology. Three distinct radula types are found within Sibogasyrinx, two of which are confined to highly supported subclades.