Diversity of mosses in some underexplored regions of Manipur, Northeast India

The present paper deals with the investigation of moss taxa of some underexplored regions of Manipur, Northeast India. During the assessment of moss diversity in various localities of Manipur a total 126 species of mosses belonging to 84 genera in 34 families have been investigated and enumerated. Ten species, namely Amblystegium serpens,Entodontopsis leucostega, Entodontopsis tavoyensis, Homalia trichomanoides, Lindbergia duthiei, Philonotis mollis, Philonotis thwaitesii, Taxiphyllum giraldii,Tortella humilis and Thuidium sparsifolium are new additions to Eastern Himalaya, while 92 species of mosses have been reported for the first time from Manipur. Ten Indian endemic taxa have also been identified from the explored sites. The majority of the taxa were recorded from epiphytic habitats.

Phylogenetic study of the genus Pohlia (Mielichhoferiaceae, Bryophyta) based on chloroplast DNA sequences

The phylogenetic circumscription and taxonomic status of the genus Pohlia in the Mniaceae sensu lato was investigated based on chloroplast DNA sequences (rbcL, rps4, and trnL-F), with a focus on species occurring in Japan. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of sequences obtained from 34 species of Mniaceae s.l., including 13 Pohlia species, suggested that the genus Pohlia and the family Mielichhoferiaceae are not monophyletic in their present circumscription, but confirmed that the family Mniaceae is monophyletic in its traditional sense. These results are congruent with previous molecular phylogenetic studies. Three distinct clades were recognized in the Mielichhoferiaceae, almost corresponding to three sections of Pohlia (Pohlia, Cacodon and Apalodictyon). One of them branched off first within the Mniaceae s.l., and the other two were sister to the remainder of the Mniaceae s.l. The single included Schizymenium formed a monophyletic group with Pohlia sect. Pohlia and Epipterygium with Pohlia sect. Apalodictyon, confirming the results of previous studies. The results indicate that the taxonomic status of the genus Pohlia and family Mielichhoferiaceae are in need of revision. Phylogenetic analyses nested the accessions of P. camptotrachela within P. annotina and P. flexuosa clades, highlighting the need for taxonomic revision of Japanese propaguliferous Pohlia species.

Schistidium foraminis-martini sp. nov. (Grimmiaceae), a high mountain calcicole from the European Alps molecularly related to S. agassizii

Schistidium foraminis-martini is described as a new species from the Austrian and Swiss Alps. The taxon is characterized by a warm brown coloration, ovate, concave and muticous leaves with rounded apices, ellipsoid capsules, constricted at mouth, the presence of stomata and a reduced, truncate peristome. Based on sequences of the ITS region the new species is phylogenetically rather isolated, exhibiting the closest relationship to S. agassizii which shares the muticous leaves but differs in having narrowly lingulate-lanceolate, almost flat leaves, cyathiform capsules and a perfect peristome. Schistidium foraminis-martini grows on moist calcareous rocks in the alpine and nival belt.

Two new species of Ceratolejeunea (Lejeuneaceae) and five noteworthy records for Brazil

The Brazilian state of Amazonas harbors an exceptionally high number of bryophyte species for its size, yet many taxa remain to be discovered. Herein, we continue by further describing and illustrating two new species, as well as by providing evidence for substantial geographical extensions of another five taxa. Two new species, Ceratolejeunea ocirii and Ceratolejeunea semicornua are herein described. Cololejeunea appressa is newly recorded for Brazil, and Cheilolejeunea savannae, Cololejeunea clavatopapillata, Prionolejeunea galliotii and Plagiochila eggersii are new records for the state of Amazonas, Brazil.

An illustrated step-by-step protocol for investigating liverwort chromosomes

Cytogenetic studies in bryophytes have been limited by the difficulty of obtaining sufficient dividing nuclei and by the absence of modern protocols. The technical difficulties stem from the plants’ small size and lack of roots and pollen mother cells, the main sources of cells in division in vascular plants. In bryophytes instead, tiny sporophytes, antheridia, or phyllid meristems must be used to obtain meiotic or mitotic chromosome spreads. We here describe the preparation of such spreads from phyllids, antheridia, and sporophytes in several species of liverworts and compare available protocols with or without prefixation treatments. We also provide illustrated step-by-step instructions. The three prefixation agents (including colchicine) that we tested failed to improve synchronization of cell divisions. Young sporophytes were the best source of diploid synchronized cells, while antheridia were the best source of haploid cells. For meiotic nuclei, a short fixation of capsule tissue at the right developmental stage with 45% acetic acid sufficed to conserve the DNA for cytological investigations, while for mitotic nuclei, fixation in 3:1 ethanol/glacial acetic acid for a longer period (4–24 h) worked well.

Special issue of Bryophyte Diversity & Evolution: 50th anniversary of IAB

In 1969, an international group of bryologists established an association welcoming everyone seeking to further our knowledge on the biology of bryophytes. Fifty years later, the International Association of Bryologists (IAB) has slightly over 350 active members worldwide. Over the past decades, IAB has promoted bryology by establishing bryonet, a forum for discussions and questions, managed by Dr. Janice Glime, by publishing a regular newsletter, The Bryological Times sharing information about various developments in bryology, by publishing major reviews on specific subjects through the Advances in Bryology, by disseminating contributions to the diversification of bryophytes through Bryophyte Diversity and Evolution, by organizing biennial meetings, including in association with the sexennial International Botanical Congress, and by honoring colleagues for their achievements and stimulating research through grants. All these are made possible through the exemplary commitment by colleagues serving on the council, the editorial boards and the various ad hoc adjudication committees. To all, my and the members’ sincere gratitude.

Antarctic bryophyte research—current state and future directions

Botany is one of the oldest sciences done south of parallel 60 °S, although few professional botanists have dedicated themselves to investigating the Antarctic bryoflora. After the publications of liverwort and moss floras in 2000 and 2008, respectively, new species were described. Currently, the Antarctic bryoflora comprises 28 liverwort and 116 moss species. Furthermore, Antarctic bryology has entered a new phase characterized by the use of molecular tools, in particular DNA sequencing. Although the molecular studies of Antarctic bryophytes have focused exclusively on mosses, molecular data (fingerprinting data and/or DNA sequences) have already been published for 36 % of the Antarctic moss species. In this paper we review the current state of Antarctic bryological research, focusing on molecular studies and conservation, and discuss future questions of Antarctic bryology in the light of global challenges.

Advances in understanding of mycorrhizal-like associations in bryophytes

Mutually beneficial associations between plants and soil fungi, mycorrhizas, are one of the most important terrestrial symbioses. These partnerships are thought to have propelled plant terrestrialisation some 500 million years ago and today they play major roles in ecosystem functioning. It has long been known that bryophytes harbour, in their living tissues, fungal symbionts, recently identified as belonging to the three mycorrhizal fungal lineages Glomeromycotina, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Latest advances in understanding of fungal associations in bryophytes have been largely driven by the discovery, nearly a decade ago, that early divergent liverwort clades, including the most basal Haplomitriopsida, and some hornworts, engage with a wider repertoire of fungal symbionts than previously thought, including endogonaceous members of the ancient sub-phylum Mucoromycotina. Subsequent global molecular and cytological studies have revealed that Mucoromycotina symbionts, alongside Glomeromycotina, are widespread in both complex and simple thalloid liverworts and throughout hornworts, with physiological studies confirming that, in liverworts at least, these associations are mycorrhizal-like, and highlighting important functional differences between Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycotina symbioses. Whether a more prominent role of Mucoromycotina symbionts in plant nitrogen nutrition, as identified in liverworts, extends to other plant lineages, including the flowering plants, is a major topic for future research. The latest finding that ascomycete symbionts of leafy liverworts are not restricted to one fungus, Rhizoscyphus ericae, but include species in the genus Meliniomyces, as shown here in Mylia anomala, together with the recent demonstration that R. ericae forms nutritional mutualisms with the rhizoids of Cephalozia bicuspidata, fill other major gaps in our growing knowledge of fungal associations across land plants.

50th anniversary of IAB (Cover)

Cover of 50th anniversary of IAB

50th anniversary of IAB (Table of Contents)

Table of Contents