Type studies on two Paxillus species (Paxillaceae, Boletales) described from China

Types and recently collected samples of two Paxillus species namely P. rhytidophyllus and P. yunnanensis, originally described from southwestern China, were critically restudied based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic data of DNA sequences from the large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (nrLSU), the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and the translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α). The results showed that these two species belong to Boletinellus and Tricholomopsis, respectively. Thus, two new combinations, Boletinellus rhytidophyllus and Tricholomopsis yunnanensis are proposed. Boletinellus rhytidophyllus is characterized by a deeply decurrent and shallow hymenophore which is poroid-lamellate to alveolate, slightly thick-walled (0.6–1 μm) basidiospores, occasionally 2- to 4-spored basidia, rare or infrequent hymenial cystidia, and a trichodermal pileipellis. Tricholomopsis yunnanensis is characterized by a convex pileus densely covered by red-violet to red-brown fibrillose squamules, a yellowish stipe sparsely covered with red to red-brown fibrillose squamules, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, prominent large cheilocystidia measuring 60–195 × 11–39 μm, and a palisadic pileipellis. New descriptions and line drawings of these two species and their comparisons with allied taxa are presented.

Genomics Analyses of Rose Crown Gall-Associated Bacteria Revealed Two New Agrobacterium species: Agrobacterium burrii sp. nov. and Agrobacterium shirazense sp. nov.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens species complex contains a set of diverse bacterial strains most of which are well known for their pathogenicity on agricultural plants causing crown gall diseases. Members of A. tumefaciens species complex are classified into several taxonomically distinct lineages called “genomospecies” (13 genomospecies until early 2021). Recently, two genomospecies, i.e., G19 (strains RnrT, Rew and Rnw) and G20 (strains OT33T and R13) infecting Rose sp. plants in Iran were described based on biochemical and molecular-phylogenetic data. Whole genome sequence-based core-genome phylogeny followed by average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) calculations performed in this study suggested that genomospecies G19 and G20 could be described as two novel and standalone species. In the phylogenetic tree, these two new genomospecies were clustered separately from other genomospecies/species of A. tumefaciens species complex. Moreover, both ANI and dDDH indices between the G19/G20 strains and other Rhizobiaceae members are clearly below the accepted thresholds for prokaryotic species description. Hence, Agrobacterium burrii sp. nov. is proposed to encompass the G19 strains, with RnrT = CFBP 8705T = DSM 112541T as type strain. Agrobacterium shirazense sp. nov. is also proposed to include G20 strains, with OT33T = CFBP 8901T = DSM 112540T as type strain.

Discovery of a new species of Adder’s tongue fern from India with comparative analysis of morphological and molecular attributes

Eusporangiate fern genus Ophioglossum L. is commonly known as Adder’s tongue fern as its fertile frond gives the appearance of snake tongue. A new species in this fern genus, O. trilokinathii belonging to Ophioglossaceae family has been discovered from the plateau region of Rajasthan State of northwestern India. The new species can be distinguished from other taxa of this genus by its smaller habit, subglobose-tuberous rhizome, basipetal emergence of young roots, aggregation of old decaying roots on rhizome apex, fertile stalk as well as spike short and thick, trophophylls in rosette, ovate or orbicular and a unique sporoderm sculpture pattern under SEM having broad reticulations with thick and raised muri enclosing large hexagonal or irregular areas on the distal and proximal faces of the spores hitherto unreported in any of the presently known taxa of Ophioglossum. In addition, comparative study of stomatal structure, foliar anatomy and nucleotide sequence data of its three chloroplast DNA markers (trnL-F, rbcL and psbA-trnH) was carried out. In view of all the attributes including habitat, ecology, morphology, foliar anatomy, stomatal features, palynology and molecular phylogenetic data, the present study suggests that the Ophioglossum specimen collected from plateau region of Rajasthan represents a hitherto undescribed species thereby warranting its establishment as O. trilokinathii sp. nov. A detailed comparative account of the new taxon with its allied species has also been provided.

Morphological and Molecular Identification of Passalurus Ambiguus Rudolphi, 1819 in Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) in Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt

Domestic rabbits in Egypt are used commercially for meat, but gastrointestinal disorders can affect production. Passalurus ambiguus is an intestinal parasite that infects the rabbit causing intestinal problems and death in severe cases. The present study collected domestic rabbits from several locations tgroughout the Qena Governorate in Upper Egypt. Passalurus ambiguus worms were detected in 90 out of 200 rabbits (45%). They were described morphologically using light and scanning electron microscopy. Males measured 4.622 mm (2.838–7.172 mm) in length and 0.278 mm (0.139–0.558 mm) in width. Females measured 5.622 mm (2.347–9.532 mm) in length, 0.314 mm, and (0.185–0.381 mm) in width. Phylogenetic results confirmed the identification of the worms as Passalurus ambiguus. They appeared as small white nodules in the appendix of the rabbits examined. Histopathologically, a heavy worm burden was observed inside the appendiceal lumen, among crypts, and inside the lymphoid follicles. The heavy worm infestation leads to hyperplasia in the epithelial lining of the appendix and the follicles resulting in lumen obstruction. Granulomatous reactions were induced due to irritation and injury by the worm. It could be concluded that morphological features, molecular phylogenetic data, and histopathological findings clearly identified the present species as as Passalurus ambiguus Rudolphi, 1819.

Transcriptome phylogenies support ancient evolutionary transitions in bioluminescence traits of cypridinid ostracods

Bioluminescence evolved many times independently, leading to dramatic effects on ecosystems by influencing communication both within and between species. One origin of bioluminescence is within cypridinid ostracods. Bioluminescent cypridinids probably all use light as an anti-predator display, while a subset that diversified in the Caribbean also use light for courtship signaling. Despite their importance for understanding the evolution of bioluminescence, very little molecular phylogenetic data are available for cypridinids and the timing of evolutionary transitions of luminous traits is poorly understood. Here, we estimate the first transcriptome-based molecular phylogeny and divergence times of Cypridinidae. Our results strongly support previous hypotheses of a single origin of bioluminescent courtship signaling, nested within a single origin of bioluminescence, and the secondary loss of courtship signaling in Vargula tsujii. We propose the name Luminini for the Tribe of bioluminescent cypridinids and Luxorina for the Sub-tribe of cypridinids with courtship signaling. Our relaxed-clock estimates of divergence times coupled with stochastic character mapping show luminous courtship evolved at least 151 Million Years Ago (MYA) and cypridinid bioluminescence originated at least 197 MYA, making it one of the oldest documented origins of bioluminescence. The molecular phylogeny of cypridinids will serve as a foundation for integrative and comparative studies on the biochemistry, molecular evolution, courtship, diversification, and ecology of cypridinid bioluminescence.

Symplocos Fruits from the Pliocene of Colombia

Abstract— Fossil fruits of Symplocos (Ericales: Symplocaceae) are here recognized from the Pliocene of Guasca, Colombia, based on specimens formerly attributed to Cordia (Cordiaceae, Boraginales). Symplocos vera (Berry) comb. nov. is represented by 19 lignitized fruits. The fossils are recognized as belonging to Symplocos primarily by their woody endocarps that are apically truncate and that possess 3 to 5 apical germination pores and locules, and a central vascular canal extending the length of the endocarp. In several key characters they are highly congruent with the endocarps of the extant Neotropical clade S. ser. Symplocos. Some of the extant species in the series are variably 3- to 5-locular; 4-locular endocarps are otherwise rare in Symplocos, and 5-locular endocarps appear to be unique to this series. Symplocos vera is the only specifically named record of fossil Symplocos fruits with accessible voucher specimens from South America. The younger Neogene age of the fossils relative to those attributed to S. ser. Symplocos from the late Eocene of Texas, along with a report of Colombian fossil endocarps from the middle Miocene, supports the North America to South America migration inferred for this clade from molecular phylogenetic data.

A new genus for the tiny hawk Accipiter superciliosus and semicollared hawk A. collaris (Aves: Accipitridae), with comments on the generic name for the crested goshawk A. trivirgatus and Sulawesi goshawk A. griseiceps

Multiple molecular phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that two Neotropical raptors, tiny hawk Accipiter superciliosus and its sister species semicollared hawk A. collaris, are not closely related to core Accipiter, and that A. superciliosus, at least, possesses osteological characters not replicated in the remainder of the genus. Based on these data, there is a need to recognise their distinctiveness at generic level. However, as recently noted in two global bird checklists, no name is available to accommodate them, so we provide a new nomen here. Furthermore, two Asian accipitrids, crested goshawk A. trivirgatus and its presumed closest relative Sulawesi goshawk A. griseiceps, are also phylogenetically distinctive; in this case the genus-group name Lophospiza is applicable. We also designate type species for two genus-group names (Hieraspiza and Eusparvius) currently in the synonymy of Accipiter, and, as an aid to future workers, we provide a synonymy of the genus Accipiter and a list of species currently included in Accipiter for which published molecular phylogenetic data are apparently lacking.

Description of one new species of freshwater shrimp of the genus Caridina (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) from two karst caves of Northern Vietnam

A new species of atyid freshwater shrimp is described from two caves of Bac Kan Province, Northeast Vietnam, namely Caridina namdat sp. nov. This species can be distinguished from its congeners by a suite of morphological characters such as reduced eyes with short eyestalk, very short and unarmed rostrum, slender second pereiopod, elongated endopod of male first pleopod, and long appendix interna of the male second pleopod. Molecular phylogenetic data from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA genes also support the distinctiveness of the new species from all other examined species.

Confirmation of species independence and affinity of Musa huangbaioa (Musaceae) – rare endemic banana of China – according to the molecular phylogenetic data

In this article, we research the phylogenetic position of the rare endemic banana, Musa huangbaioa, which was described only in Chinese journal in 1987. This banana was found at the foot of the Mount Emei in Sichuan Province and has remarkable morphological features, e. g., undulated petiole margins, ribbed fruits and irregular form of the seeds, which are rather unusual in the genus and distinguish it from all other species. In addition, due to its uncertain affinity, we researched the position of M. huangbaioa in the Musaceae family with the aid of molecular phylogenetic analysis of two marker sequences, nrITS and trnL–trnF. We found that this species belongs to the large and rather complicated group of Chinese bananas, M. basjoo–M. itinerans clade. According to the ITS data, M. huangbaioa is monophyletic with one M. basjoo specimen that was cultivated in Central America. Probably, this fact represents that this species can be modern hybrid with one of the genomes inherited from M. basjoo s. l. The whole group M. basjoo–M. itinerans, which M. huangbaioa belongs to, is well separated within the sect. Musa and could be prone to frequent hybridizations in the natural environment; it requires an additional research for more precise differentiation of the group.