Seven new Neocallimastigomycota genera from fecal samples of wild, zoo-housed, and domesticated herbivores: Description ofGhazallomyces constrictusgen. nov., sp. nov.,Aklioshbomyces papillarumgen. nov., sp. nov.,Agriosomyces longusgen. nov., sp. nov.,Capellomyces foraminisgen. nov., sp. nov. andCapellomyces elongatussp. nov.,Joblinomyces apicalisgen. nov., sp. nov.,Khoyollomyces ramosusgen. nov., sp. nov., andTahromyces munnarensisgen. nov., sp. nov

ABSTRACTWe isolated and characterized sixty-five anaerobic gut fungi (AGF, Neocallimastigomycota) strains from fecal samples of five wild (W), one zoo-housed (Z), and three domesticated (D) herbivores in the US states of Texas (TX) and Oklahoma (OK), Wales (WA), and the Indian states of Kerala (KE) and Haryana (HA). Phylogenetic assessment based on D1-D2 region of the large rRNA subunit (LSU) identified seven distinct lineages, with strains recovered from Axis Deer (W-TX) clustering within theOrpinomyces-Neocallimastix-Pecoramyces-Feramycesclade; Boer Goat-domesticated Goat strains (W-TX, D-KE) clustering within theOontomyces-Anaeromyces-Liebetanzomycesclade; and domesticated Goat and Sheep strains (D-HA) as well as Nilgiri Tahr strains (W-KE) forming two distinct clades associated with genusBuwchfawromyces. The remaining three lineages, represented by strains recovered from Mouflon-Boer Goat (W-TX), White Tailed Deer (W-OK), and Zebra-Horse (Z-OK, and D-WA), displayed no specific suprageneric affiliation. All strains displayed monocentric thalli and produced mono/uniflagellate zoospores with the exception of Axis Deer strains, which produced polyflagellate zoospores. Isolates displayed multiple interesting microscopic features including sporangia with tightly constricted necks and fine septa at the base (Axis Deer), papillated and pseudo-intercalary sporangia (White-Tailed Deer), swollen sporangiophores and zoospores with long flagella (Mouflon-Boer Goat), zoospore release through an apical pore followed by either sporangial wall collapse (Axis Deer and Boer Goat-domesticated Goat) or sporangial wall remaining intact after discharge (Zebra-Horse), multi-sporangiated thalli with branched sporangiophores (Zebra-Horse), and short sporangiophores with subsporangial swellings (Nilgiri Tahr). Internal transcribed spacer-1 region (ITS-1) sequence analysis indicated that Zebra-Horse strains are representatives of the AL1 lineage, frequently encountered in culture-independent surveys of the alimentary tract and fecal samples from hindgut fermenters. The other six lineages, five of which were isolated from wild herbivores, have not been previously encountered in such surveys. Our results significantly expand the genus level diversity within the Neocallimastigomycota, and strongly suggest that wild herbivores represent a yet-untapped reservoir of AGF diversity. We propose the creation of seven novel genera and eight novel Neocallimastigomycota species to accommodate these strains, for which we propose the namesAgriosomyces longus(Mouflon and wild Boer Goat),Aklioshbomyces papillarum(White tailed Deer),Capellomyces foraminis(wild Boar Goat) andC. elongatus(domesticated Goat),Ghazallomyces constrictus(Axis Deer),Joblinomyces apicalis(domesticated Goat and Sheep),Khoyollomyces ramosus(Zebra-Horse), andTahromyces munnarensis(Nilgiri Tahr). The type species are strains Axs-31, WT-2, MS-4, BGB-11, GFKJa1916, GFH683, ZS-33, and TDFKJa193, respectively.

Isoetes ×gopalkrishnae (Isoetaceae), a new interspecific sterile hybrid from central India

Isoetes ×gopalkrishnae hybr. nov., is described, illustrated and compared with possible parent species. Based on morphological characteristics and habitat conditions, this taxon is considered to represent a sterile hybrid between I. coromandelina and I. panchananii. The new hybrid is amphibious and grows on the exposed shore of an artificial pond. It is known only from a single locality on the Vindhya plateau in Uttar Pradesh, India. It can be distinguished from other taxa by a combination of characters including the lack of a scale, the leaf which is terete in transverse section, velum absent to rudimentary, a sporangial wall with internal pigmentation, rugulate megaspores with a smooth equatorial girdle and microspores with densely echinate to short-cristate ornamentation. It is the first Isoetes hybrid reported from the Indian subcontinent.

Circinella simplex—a misapplied name of Mucor circinatus sp. nov.

Circinella (Mucorales, Mucoromycotina) is morphologically similar to Mucor, differing by the production of circinate sporangiophores and sporangia with a persistent and incrusted sporangial wall. During a study on the diversity of Mucorales in areas of the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil, we isolated a strain that fits the current morphological concept of C. simplex of Hesseltine and Fennell (1955) by forming simple circinate sporangiophores with secondary branches and angular sporangiospores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on three different markers (ITS, LSU and MCM7) confirmed conspecificity of the Brazilian strain with other angular spored strains of the CBS collection including the strain studied by Hesseltine & Fennell (1955). The molecular phylogenetic analyses clearly placed these strains in the genus Mucor in the close relationship to M. laxorrhizus and M. fuscus. However, in his original description van Tieghem (1875) described and illustrated C. simplex with sporangiophores without secondary branches and globose sporangiospores. Based on these striking morphological differences combined with a differing geographic distribution, we conclude that the angular-spored strains represent a separate undescribed species for which we propose the name Mucor circinatus sp. nov.

Mitochytridium regale sp. nov. a new keratinophilic water fungus from Poland

A new species of <i>Mitochytridium</i> Dangeard — <i>M. regale</i> sp. nov. is described. The fungus has been obtained by baiting with snake skin a sample of the pond water collected from Łazienki Royal Garden in Warsaw, Poland. This new species differs from the type species of the genus (<i>M. ramosum</i> Dangeard) by the saprophytic behaviour, persistent zoospore case in the sporangial wall and some other minor differences.

Male cone morphogenesis, pollen development and pollen dispersal mechanism in Ginkgo biloba L.

Lu, Y., Wang, L., Wang, D., Wang, Y., Zhang, M., Jin, B. and Chen, P. 2011. Male cone morphogenesis, pollen development and pollen dispersal mechanism in Ginkgo biloba L. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 971–981. Ginkgo biloba L. is one of the oldest gymnosperms. Male cone morphogenesis, pollen development and dispersal are important for successful pollination and reproduction. In this study, we investigated the development of male cone, pollen and the sporangial wall in detail. The results indicate that: (1) The primordia of male cones and leaves begin to differentiate in early June and remain open until the following March. The male cones then mature and release pollen in mid-April. The male cones are drooped and approximately perpendicular to the leaves during pollination. (2) The microsporocytes develop from the sporogenous cell and form a tetrahedral tetrad after two simultaneous asymmetrically meioses, then produce a matured four-cell pollen after three polar mitotic divisions. The matured pollen is hemispheric in shape with a large aperture area and three pollen wall layers; once released from the microsporangia, the pollen becomes boat-like in shape. (3) The sporangial walls are eusporangiate and consist of epidermis, endothecium and tapetum. The differentiation of the tapetum occurs separately from that of the epidermis and endothecium, and originates from the outermost layer of sporogenous cells. The sporangial walls exhibit shrinkage of the epidermis, fibrous thickening of the endothecium, and enzymic dissolution of the tapetum during pollen dispersal, which contributes to microsporangia opening. Based on these results, we conclude that there many unique and primitive characteristics of the development of the male cones, pollen and sporangial wall of G. biloba. In addition, we also found that the male cones, pollen and sporangial walls have evolved efficient structural and morphological adaptations to anemophily.

Studies in Gentianaceae. Embryology of Swertia minor (Gentianinae)

The embryology of Swertia minor Knobl. (Gentianinae Gentianaceae) was studied. Features of its development are tetrasporangiate anthers, dicotyledonous type sporangial wall formation, glandular anther tapetum and its dual origin, simultaneous cytokinesis in microsporocytes, tricolporate two-celled pollen, unilocular ovary, forked parietal placentae, tenuinucellar unitegmic anatropous ovules, Polygonum-type megagametogenesis, persistent multiple multinucleate highly enlarged haustorial antipodal cells, nuclear endosperm, Solanad type embryo development, and multiseriate suspensor. Embryological features of taxonomic significance in the Gentianinae are compiled in a review of the pertinent data on the subtribe.

Isolation and partial characterization of the parasporal body of Bacillus popillae

The sporangial wall of Bacillus popilliae encloses a spore and parasporal body and is very resistant to breakage. High-energy sonication can disrupt this envelope and release free spores and parasporal bodies which retain refractility. Parasporal bodies, free spores, and sporangial debris were separated by centrifugation in linear sucrose gradients. Purified parasporal bodies are proteinaceous. Of the 17 amino acids detected, glutamic and aspartic acids are highest in concentration and account for the low isoelectric point of 4.5; a lipid moiety was not found. Parasporal bodies are soluble in 0.1 N NaOH, 8 M guanidine hydrochloride, 8 M urea, or alkaline thioglycollate. Paper electrophoresis at 3000 V separated soluble parasporal protein into three cathodic components. Solubilized or whole intact parasporal bodies fed to third-instar larvae of the Japanese beetle were not detectably toxic. However, solubilized parasporal protein was twice as toxic as the intact parasporal bodies when injected into the hemocoel.