Taxonomy and systematics of micro-fungi associated with Coffea in southern China and northern Thailand

SummaryHanging Coffin is a unique and ancient burial custom that has been practiced in southern China, Southeast Asia, and near Oceania regions for more than 3,000 years. Here, we conducted mitochondrial whole-genome analyses of 41 human remains sampled from 13 Hanging Coffin sites in southern China and northern Thailand, which were dated between ∼2,500 and 660 years before present. We found that there were genetic connections between the Hanging Coffin people living in different geographic regions. Notably, the matrilineal genetic diversity of the Hanging Coffin people from southern China is much higher than those from northern Thailand, consistent with the hypothesized single origin of the Hanging Coffin custom in southern China about 3,600 years ago, followed by its dispersal in southern China through demic diffusion, whereas the major dispersal pattern in Southeast Asia is cultural assimilation in the past 2,000 years.

Four new genera and eleven new species of Zygentoma thysanurans (families Protrinemuridae and Nicoletiidae) are described and some faunistic novelties reported from Oriental and Australian Regions, viz.: Protrinemura leclerci n. sp., from northern Thailand, Protrinemurella allacrotelsoides n. gen. n. sp., from southern Thailand, and Protrinemuroides celebensis n. gen. n. sp., from the Celebes islands (Protrinemuridae), Lepidospora (L.) digitata n. sp., from northern Thailand, L. (L.) deharvengi n. sp., from the Celebes, and Pseudobrinckina anempodiata n. gen. n. sp., from northern Thailand (Nicoletiidae: Coletiniinae), Gastrotheus (G.) papuanus n. sp., from Papua-New Guinea (Nicoletiidae: Atelurinae), and Metrinura celebensis n. sp., from the Celebes, Trinemurodes anomalocoxa n. sp., from southern Thailand, T. bedosae n. sp., from northern Thailand, and Allotrinemurodes thai n.gen. n. sp., from northern Thailand (Nicoletiidae: Subnicoletiinae). Bharatatelura malabarica Mendes is reported for the first time off the Indian sub-continent (in Suva). Proatelura jacobsoni Silvestri is recorded in Macao (southern China) and in the Moluccas islands and notes are presented on its male sex. Gastrotheus (Lasiotheus) nanus (Escherich) is found for the very first time in Macao, in Cook islands and in Niue. Identification keys are provided to Protrinemuridae genera and to species of Trinemurodes, and modifications are suggested to previously presented keys to Nicoletiidae genera and to Lepidospora and Metrinura species.

This study analyzes the autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) variation and the presence of Y chromosomal haplogroups from 44 individuals of the Kayah or Red Karen (KA) in Northern Thailand. The results based on autosomal STRs indicated that the KA exhibited closer genetic relatedness to populations from adjacent regions in Southeast Asia (SEA) than populations from Northeast Asia (NEA) and Tibet. Moreover, an admixed origin of the KA forming three population groups was observed: NEA, Southern China, and Northern Thailand. The NEA populations made a minor genetic contribution to the KA, while the rest came from populations speaking Sino-Tibetan (ST) languages from Southern China and Tai-Kadai (TK) speaking groups from Northern Thailand. The presence of six paternal haplogroups, composed of dual haplogroups prevalent in NEA (NO, N, and D1) and SEA (O2 and O3) as well as the intermediate genetic position of the KA between the SEA and NEA also indicated an admixed origin of male KA lineages. Our genetic results thus agree with findings in linguistics that Karenic languages are ST languages that became heavily influenced by TK during their southward spread. A result of the Mongol invasions during the 13th century A.D. is one possible explanation for genetic contribution of NEA to the KA.

Migration is a microevolutionary process that shapes cultural, societal, and genetic diversity in human populations. While previous genetic studies have examined the effects of migrations in several key areas of the world, there is a paucity of such studies in the upper Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). The upper GMS, encompassing northern Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and southern China, has been a major corridor for human migration and interaction between East and Southeast Asian populations for thousands of years. We generated new genome-wide data for Tai-Kadai (TK)-speaking ethnic groups, namely Lue and Yong, from northern Thailand and integrated them with data from the upper GMS and across Asia. Our results highlight the genetic diversity among ethnic groups in the GMS, particularly the genetic continuity of TK migration from southern China to northern Thailand. The TK speakers in Thailand predominantly exhibit multiple ancestries from East Asia and Southeast Asia, with regional differentiations. The TK groups in northern Thailand primarily derive their genetic contributions from Dai-related communities, while northeastern Thai populations show a higher proportion of Lao-related ancestry. Those in central and southern Thailand display additional ancestries from other groups, such as Austroasiatic and South Asian populations. The genetic history of TK-speaking Lue populations illustrates the role of TK migration, founder effects, and historical resettlements in shaping genetic diversity. Overall, analyses of genome-wide data reveal that the genetic background of TK speakers in Thailand is predominantly of East Asian origin, with additional contribution from Southeast Asian populations. This pattern supports the idea of sustained migration from southern China into Thailand, particularly concentrated in the northern part. Our findings reinforce the historical continuity of TK movements across the upper GMS and provide new insights into the genetic and cultural transformations that have shaped present-day Thai populations.

This study documents the morphology and phylogeny of micro-fungi collected from various medicinal plants in southern China and northern Thailand. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses, 100 species are identified and distributed in three classes (Dothideomycetes, Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes), 16 orders, 37 families and 67 genera. We introduce one new order, Oncopodiellales, three new families, Catenuliconidiaceae, Diplocladiellaceae and Oncopodiellaceae, one new genus, Biascospora, and 54 new species: Achroiostachys browniana, A. catenate, A. fusiformispora, Acrocalymma xishuiense, Amphisphaeria hibiscicola, Apiculospora thailandensis, Arecophila maolanensis, A. yunanensis, Barriopsis caryotae, Biascospora chishuiensis, Conioscypha synnemata, Diaporthe ervatamiae, D. kunmingensis, D. tu-chungcola, D. xishuiensis, D. hannanensis, Distoseptispora gelatinosa, D. greeniana, Gregatothecium diflugoscola, Helicosporium multiseptatum, Helminthosporium thailandicum, Kalmusia tetrastigmae, Keissleriella yunnana, Lasiodiplodia houttuyniae, L. poacearum, Leptospora houttuyniae, Lophiotrema asexualis, L. guizhouense, Melanopsamma tongrenensis, Memnoniella chiangmaiensis, Murichromolaenicola dendrobii, Neoheleiosa brownii, Neohelicascus guizhouensis, Neohelicomyces sexualis, Neohendersonia tongrenensis, Neomassaria fibraureae, Neoscytalidium dendrobii, Parabahusutrabeeja hyalina, Paramyrothecium xishuiense, Phaeosphaeria boehmeriae, P. guiyangensis, Phaeosphaeriopsis spineleae, Porodiplodia guizhouensis, Psiloglonium bambusicola, P. brownii, P. guizhouense, Roussoella panzhouensis, R. wudangensis, Seriascoma guizhouense, Sphaeropsis guiyangensis, Striaticonidium olivaceobrunnea, Tamhinispora obpyriformis, V. chiangraiensis and Virgatospora thailandica, with illustrations, discussions of their taxonomic placement, and comparisons with morphologically similar taxa. Ten new combinations are introduced: Conioscypha chiangmaiense (≡ Vanakripa chiangmaiense), C. minutiellipsoidea (≡ Vanakripa minutiellipsoidea), Conioscypha obovoidea (≡ Vanakripa obovoidea), Keissleriella acacia (≡ Pleurophoma acaciae), K. italicum (≡ Pleurophoma italica), K. ossicula (≡ Pleurophoma ossicola), K. pleurospora (≡ Phoma pleurospora), Phaeosphaeria brachylaenae (≡ Didymocyrtis brachylaenae), P. pini (≡ Didymocyrtis pini) and P. septata (≡ Didymocyrtis septata). Additionally, we report 31 new host records from medicinal plants and six new geographical records for China and Thailand. We also resolved inter-generic synonymy for three species. A reference specimen is designated for Diplocladiella taurina. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of all these taxa are provided.

BackgroundAustroasiatic (AA)-speaking populations in northern Thailand are of significant interest due to their status as indigenous descendants and their location at the crossroads of AA prehistoric distribution across Southern China, the Indian Subcontinent, and Mainland Southeast Asia. However, the complexity of ethnic identification can result in inaccuracies regarding the origin and migration history of these populations. To address this, we have conducted a genome-wide SNP analysis of 89 individuals from two Lavue and three Lwa-endonym populations. We then combined our outcomes with previously published data to elucidate the genetic diversity and clustering of AA groups in northern Thailand.ResultsOur findings align with existing linguistic classifications, revealing different genetic compositions among the three branches of the Mon-Khmer subfamily within the AA family: Monic, Khmuic, and Palaungic. Although the term “Lua” ethnicity is confusingly used to identify ethnic groups belonging to both Khmuic and Palaungic branches, our genomic data indicate that the Khmuic-speaking Lua living on the eastern side of the region are relatively distant from the Palaungic-speaking Lavue and Lwa populations living on the western side. The Lavue populations, primarily inhabiting mountainous areas, exhibit a genetic makeup unique to the AA family, with a close genetic relationship to the Karenic subgroup of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Conversely, the Lwa and Blang populations, residing in lowland river valleys, display genetic signatures resulting from admixture with Tai-Kadai-speaking ethnic groups.ConclusionUtilizing genome-wide SNP markers, our findings indicate genetic heterogeneity among the Lua, Lavue, and Lwa ethnic groups. The intricate interplay of genetics, cultural heritage, and historical influences has shaped these ethnic communities. Our study underscores the importance of accurate ethnic classifications, emphasizing the use of self-identified endonyms, names created and used by the ethnic groups themselves. This approach respects the AA communities in northern Thailand and acknowledges their significant contributions to advancing our understanding of genetic anthropology.

The Khon Mueang represent the major group of people present in today’s northern Thailand. While linguistic and genetic data seem to support a shared ancestry between Khon Mueang and other Tai-Kadai speaking people, the possibility of an admixed origin with contribution from local Mon-Khmer population could not be ruled out. Previous studies conducted on northern Thai people did not provide a definitive answer and, in addition, have largely overlooked the distribution of paternal lineages in the area. In this work we aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of Y paternal lineages in northern Thailand and to explicitly model the origin of the Khon Mueang population. We obtained and analysed new Y chromosomal haplogroup data from more than 500 northern Thai individuals including Khon Mueang, Mon-Khmer and Tai-Kadai. We also explicitly simulated different demographic scenarios, developed to explain the Khon Mueang origin, employing an ABC simulation framework on both mitochondrial and Y microsatellites data. Our results highlighted a similar haplogroup composition of Khon Mueang and Tai-Kadai populations in northern Thailand, with shared high frequencies of haplogroups O-PK4, O-M117 and O-M111. Our ABC simulations also favoured a model in which the ancestors of modern Khon Mueang originated recently after a split from the other Tai-Kadai populations. Our different analyses concluded that the ancestors of Khon Mueang are likely to have originated from the same source of the other Tai-Kadai groups in southern China, with subsequent admixture events involving native Mon-Khmer speakers restricted to some specific populations.

Two large rodents from the Middle Miocene (13.0–12.4 Ma) were discovered at the Chiang Muan Coal Mine, northern Thailand. One, a beaver (Anchitheriomys, Castoridae), has large cheek teeth with a high crown, the crown base wider buccolingually, basically six fossettes/sinuses, enamel foldings strongly complicated, and hypoflexus/flexid shallow dorsoventrally. Based on dental morphology, this form is more similar to Anchitheriomys suevicus from Europe than to Anchitheriomys tungurensis from northern China. The other species is considerably larger than Anchitheriomys, based on incisor measurements, and lacks longitudinal grooves or deep ridges on the enamel surface, which are diagnostic of Anchitheriomys. Furthermore, the inner enamel observed by scanning electron microscope has uniserial Hunter-Schreger bands, similar to castorids rather than hystricids. This species is indeterminate taxonomically, but differs from any rodents known from Asia. The distribution of Anchitheriomys was previously restricted between the latitudes 30°N and 50°N, but this occurrence in northern Thailand at low latitude (ca. 19°N) suggests that it had wider distribution on the Eurasian continent.

HIV and AIDS in southeast Asia

Cereals with waxy (i. e, glutinous) endosperm, such as rice, foxtail millet and common millet, are staples commonly found not only in Japan but also in various countries of East Asia. In the present article the geographical distributions of the waxy endosperm of seven species of cereals and their ethnobotanical significance are discussed. Based on recent findings and analyses of waxy and non-waxy perisperms in Anraranthus hypochondriacus collected in Nepal, the origin and dispersal of waxy perisperm of this species are also reported. Waxy endosperm is found in Oryza sativa (rice), Zea nays (maize), Hordeum vulgare (barley), Coix lacryma-jobi var, nta-yuen (Job's tears), Setaria italica (foxtail millet), Panicum uniliaceum (common millet) and Sorghum bicolor (sorghum). Cryza sativa: The waxy endosperm of Oryza sativa was first reported by Gris in 1860. After examining many indigenous varieties to nine geographical regions ranging from India to Japan, Iizuka et al. (1977) concluded that (1) in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal there were almost no waxy forms, (2) waxy varieties were abundant in samples from Indochina, Thailand and Burma, whereas (3) rather high frequencies were observed for non-waxy varieties from Japan and northern China. Watabe (1967) indicated that glutinous rice cultivation in Southeast Asia appears to center in northern and northeastern Thailand and Laos spreading to the surrounding regions of Burma, Yunnan, Vietnam and Cambodia. Zea mays: Waxy maize was found by Collins (1909) in a collection of specimens from China. This type of maize has generally been reported from northern Burma, Assam, China, Korea and Japan. Maize was domesticated first in the New World, but the waxy variety clearly originated from East Asia having developed after the introduction of maize from the New World. Hordeum vulagre: The waxy form of barley is found only in China, Korea and Japan. In Japan it was found sporadically in areas facing the Seto Inland Sea and in northern Kyushu. According to Nakao (1950), this form can be classified into three varieties which have in common naked and purple-colored grains. Coix lacryna jobi var. ma-yuen: Kempton (1921) observed both waxy and non-waxy forms of Job's tears in samples from Burma, India, the Philippines and China. However, in East Asia, only the waxy form is commonly grown. Setaria italica: Of the 406 samples collected by the author at various locations ranging from Europe to East Asia, 221 had waxy endosperm (54.4%) and 185 had non-waxy endosperm (45.6%). The former was found in Japan, Korea, China, Formosa, Luzon Island (the Philip-pines) and Thailand, but only the non-waxy form was isolated in samples from the Batan Islands (the Philippines), Halmahera Island (Indonesia), Nepal, India, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Europe. The obvious gaps in the geographical distribution of the waxy form of foxtail millet have been recognized in two places. One is the Bashi Channel between Formosa (includ-ing the Lan Yi Islands) and the Batan Islands. The other seems to be between Nepal-India and Assam. It is assumed that the gap at the Bashi Channel is related to the importance of the waxy variety in the ritual life of the native tribes inhabiting the Formosan mountains and the Lan Yu Islands. No reasonable explanation, however, of the other can be given at present. Panicum miliaceum: In spite of the wide occurrence of this species in Eurasia, studies of the geographical distribution of its waxy varieties have not been made. To the extent that could be examined by this study, the waxy form was detected only in specimens from Japan, Korea and China. The small number of samples from Afghanistan, Central Asia and Europe included only the non-waxy form. Sorghum bicolor: The waxy form of this species has been reported from Java, India, the Philippines, China and Japan. According to the present survey, the waxy form is very common in Korea and Japan. However,

We have determined the distribution of Y-chromosomal haplotypes and haplogroups in the Yong population, one of the largest and well-known ethnic groups that began migrating southward from China to Thailand centuries ago. Their unique mass migration pattern provided great opportunities for researchers to study the genetic links of the transboundary migration movements among the peoples of China, Myanmar and Thailand. We analysed relevant male-specific markers, such as Y-STRs and Y-SNPs, and the distribution of 23 Y-STRs of 111 Yong individuals and 116 nearby ethnic groups including the Shan, Northern Thai, Lawa, Lua, Skaw, Pwo and Padong groups. We found that the general haplogroup distribution values were similar among different populations; however, the haplogroups O1b-M268 and O2-M112 constituted the vast majority of these values. In contrast with previous maternal lineage studies, the paternal lineage of the Yong did not relate to the Xishuangbanna Dai people, who represent their historically documented ancestors. However, they did display a close genetic affinity to other prehistoric Tai-Kadai speaking groups in China such as the Zhuang and Bouyei. Low degrees of genetic admixture within the populations who belonged to the Austroasiatic and Sino-Tibetan linguistic families were observed in the gene pool of the Yong populations. Resettlement in northern Thailand in the early part of the nineteenth century AD, by way of mass migration trend, was able to preserve the Yong's ancestral genetic background in terms of the way they had previously lived in China and Myanmar. Our study has revealed similar genetic structures among ethnic populations in northern Thailand and southern China, and has identified and emphasized an ancient Tai-Kadai patrilineal ancestry line in the Yong ethnic group.

BackgroundThe Mon-Khmer speaking peoples inhabited northern Thailand before the arrival of the Tai speaking people from southern China in the thirteenth century A.D. Historical and anthropological evidence suggests a close relationship between the Mon-Khmer groups and the present day majority northern Thai groups. In this study, mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal DNA polymorphisms in more than 800 volunteers from eight Mon-Khmer and ten Tai speaking populations were investigated to estimate the degree of genetic divergence between these major linguistic groups and their internal structure.ResultsA large fraction of genetic variation is observed within populations (about 80% and 90% for mtDNA and the Y-chromosome, respectively). The genetic divergence between populations is much higher in Mon-Khmer than in Tai speaking groups, especially at the paternally inherited markers. The two major linguistic groups are genetically distinct, but only for a marginal fraction (1 to 2%) of the total genetic variation. Genetic distances between populations correlate with their linguistic differences, whereas the geographic distance does not explain the genetic divergence pattern.ConclusionsThe Mon-Khmer speaking populations in northern Thailand exhibited the genetic divergence among each other and also when compared to Tai speaking peoples. The different drift effects and the post-marital residence patterns between the two linguistic groups are the explanation for a small but significant fraction of the genetic variation pattern within and between them.

Two NE‐trending belts of mainly subaerial dacitic to rhyolitic flows and tuffs occur in the area between the towns of Lampang and Denchai in northern Thailand. In the western belt (Doi Ton), the rocks have been pervasively altered to quartz keratophyre; rocks in the eastern belt (Doi Luang) are generally less altered. Mobile chemical components such as Na 2 O and K 2 O show wide variation, particularly in samples from the Doi Ton belt. However, low Zr/TiO 2 ratios and low Nb and Ta contents support an origin at a convergent plate margin. A positive epsilon Nd value of +4.9 for rhyolite from the Doi Luang belt supports derivation from a primitive crustal source. A rhyolite sample from the Doi Luang belt yielded a U–Pb zircon age of 240 ± 1 Ma (early Mid‐Triassic). The Doi Ton and Doi Luang belts are part of the Lampang volcanic belt, which can be traced to the north into the Lincang–Jinghong volcanic belt in southern China. Comparison with published petrological data from the Lincang–Jinghong belt shows strong similarity, including the widespread development of keratophyric mineralogy and chemistry. The Lampang–Lincang–Jinghong belt formed at an early Mid‐Triassic convergent plate margin, and is similar in age and tectonic setting to the more mafic Phetchabun volcanic belt on the east side of the Nan River suture zone. These data constrain the timing of final amalgamation between the Indochina and Shan‐Thai terranes to Mid‐Triassic or younger.

The genus Gandhara Moore, 1878 is reviewed. Four new species are described: Gandhara typica Volynkin & ern, sp. n. (Nepal, northeast India, northern Myanmar and northern Thailand), Gandhara clava Volynkin & ern, sp. n. (Laos and northern Thailand), Gandhara emgai Volynkin & ern, sp. n. (northern Vietnam), and Gandhara interrogativa Volynkin, ern, S.-Y. Huang & H.-L. Hu, sp. n. (northern Vietnam and southern China). Gandhara typica sp. n. is fixed as the type species of the genus Gandhara whereas Lithosia serva Walker, 1854 considered by authors as the type species of Gandhara by misidentification is transferred to the genus Collita Moore, 1878. Two new combinations are introduced: Gandhara conica (Fang, 2000), comb. n. and Collita serva (Walker, 1854), comb. n. A lectotype is designated for Lithosia serva Walker, 1854 in order to stabilise the nomenclature. Adults as well as male and female genitalia are illustrated.

OF THE ESTIMATED 50 MILLION NEW CASES OF VIRAL HEPATITIS INFECTIONS diagnosed annually,75% occur in Asia, where viral hepatitis is the leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (1). In Thailand, viral hepatitis is hyperendemic and thus an important public health problem. The attempt to control viral hepatitis B by mass vaccination has been set as a national (Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) since 1992 and has resulted in the dramatic decrease of the hepatitis B carrier rate from 30% to 0–5% at the present (2,3). However, the other viral hepatitis infections, especially hepatitis C virus (HCV), are still prevalent. Presently, the prevalence of the hepatitis C carrier is very high, about 5%, or 3.5 million of the total 63 million Thai population. Poverty and poor hygiene are important contributing factors in the infection (4,5). In Thailand, the population is multiethnic. However, many epidemiological studies on HCV have focused on blood donors with Thai and/or Chinese ethnic backgrounds. Available information on HCV infections among ethnic minorities in Thailand is limited. Apart from the general rural population, the minority group of the hilltribers—who settle in northern Thailand, Myanmar, and southern China—can be considered an underprivileged group with respect to primary health care. Here we present a small-scale seroepidemiological report of the results of screening tests for anti-HCV in the hilltribers in a rural district near the Thai–Myanmar border, in the Northern region of Thailand. The setting of this study is Mae Jam District, Chiangmai Province, about 800 km north of Bangkok, the capital city. This district is a rural area near Myanmar where a number of hilltribers settle. The data from 200 hilltribers who received the hepatitis C screening test during year 2000 were reviewed. All laboratory tests were performed by medical technologists using a commercial immunological hepatitis C kit (Hepatitis C, Bhat-Biotec). Of the total 200 subjects, 86 were males and 114 were females. Seropositivity was detected in 15 cases, giving 1 total infection rate equal to 7.5% (Table 1). The rates in males and females were 9.3% (8/86) and 6.1% (7/114), respectively. The infection rate in males is not significantly higher than in females (p . 0.05, proportional Z test). The peak prevalence was found in the age group of 30–50 years old. Of interest is the fact that our setting, due its international borders with Myanmar, has a large number of hilltribers; a number of tropical infections among this population can be found. According to our study, a high prevalence of anti-HCV seropositivity (up to 7.5%) in this population was detected. This rate is about five times higher (p , 0.05, proportional Z test) than in the epidemiology survey among general Thais (1.4%) (6). Our findings are similar to the recent study of Ishida (7), which indicated as high as a 8.5% anti-HCV seropositivity rate among the local ethnic tribers in the same region. However, there are some differences, such as no gender differences in the prevalence in our study. Since this population may carry the disease and transmit it to other populations, effective screening for