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Variability of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Isolates the Causal Agent of Anthracnose Disease of Cassava and Yam Plants in Ghana

Cassava and yam plants are important staple foods of millions of people in the tropical world and provide food security in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Their production however is affected by anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, (Penz.) Penz. and Sacc contributing to 30-70% economic loss in both crops. A study was carried out to determine if variations exist between isolates of C. gloeosporioides on the two crops occurring in different agro-ecological zones of Ghana. Anthracnose-diseased samples of cassava and yam plant parts (leaves and stem/vine) were collected from four agro-ecological zones of Ghana (Forest, Forest-Savannah Transition, Guinea and Coastal Savannah). Isolations of the causal organism C. gloeosporioides were made. The isolates were investigated on the basis of growth characteristics on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA): presence or absence of setae, colour of cultures, dimensions of conidia. Pathogenicity of isolates was determined and molecular analysis conducted using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Results showed both similarities and variations in cultural, morphological and growth characteristics of the pathogen. Isolates from yam caused pathogenic lesions on cassava and yam plant sections and vice versa. Forty-four isolates of C. gloeosporioides from cassava and yam compared by RAPD analysis grouped the isolates into three main clusters. Within two of the clusters are six polymorphic sub-groups relating to host and geographical origin. The different polymorphic sub-groups indicated that there are several sub-populations of C. gloeosporioides isolates, which either singly or in association, involved in the yam and cassava anthracnose infections in the field. Isolates from different ecological zones, with similar morphological features, clustering in a polymorphic sub-group suggest a common origin for some of them.

Phylloporia minutipora and P. radiata spp. nov. (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) from China and a key to worldwide species of Phylloporia

Phylloporia is a monophyletic genus within the Hymenochaetaceae as recovered by nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (nLSU) sequences. According to the summarization of 38 species accepted in this genus, Phylloporia is characterized by an absence of setae and the presence of abundant thick-walled, colored and tiny basidiospores, although its other morphological characters are highly diverse. Nine herbarium specimens from China, fitting the morphological concept of Phylloporia, were morphologically and phylogenetically studied in detail. The phylogeny inferred from nLSU sequences shows that the nine specimens formed three terminal lineages within the Phylloporia clade. Two lineages being composed of four specimens from Hainan and three from Guizhou were newly described as Phylloporia minutipora and P. radiata, respectively. In Phylloporia, P. minutipora is distinct by a combination of annual, sessile and imbricate basidiocarps, distinctly concentrically sulcate pileal surface with obtuse margin, angular pores of 12–15 per mm, duplex context separated by a black zone, a dimitic hyphal system, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores of 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 μm, while P. radiata is distinct by a combination of annual, sessile and imbricate basidiocarps, faintly sulcate and radially striate pileal surface, sharp pileal margin, angular pores of 8–10 per mm, duplex context separated by a black zone, a monomitic hyphal system, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores of 2.5–3.5 × 2–2.5 μm. The third lineage, comprising two specimens from Hainan, was morphologically determined as Phylloporia pulla. This species was recently combined to Phylloporia based on only morphological characters, and the current study for the first time generated its molecular sequences for phylogenetic reference. A key to all 40 species of Phylloporia is provided.

Larval morphology and chaetotaxy of Macrogyrus oblongus (Boisduval, 1835) (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae)

ABSTRACTThe larvae of the grooved whirligig beetle Macrogyrus oblongus (Boisduval, 1835) are described and illustrated including detailed morphometric and chaetotaxic analyses of selected structures. Larvae of Macrogyrus Régimbart, 1882 exhibit the characters traditionally recognised as autapomorphies of the Gyrinidae. The first instars bear egg bursters on the parietal, a potential additional autapomorphy. Putative larval autapomorphies of the tribe Dineutini are the presence of additional setae on the mandible, the absence of the seta TR2, and the presence of pore-like additional structures on the ultimate palpomeres. Macrogyrus larvae differ from those of the other known dineutine genera (Andogyrus Ochs, 1924 and Dineutus MacLeay, 1825) in the absence of a neck constriction and in the distal position of the pore LAc. Other useful characters to distinguish genera within Dineutini are the presence or absence of additional setae on the cardo and coxa, and the posterior margin of the lacinia dentate or smooth.

A revision of the family Cerococcidae Balachowsky (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha, Coccomorpha) with particular reference to species from the Afrotropical, western Palaearctic and western Oriental Regions, with the revival of Antecerococcus Green and description of a new genus and fifteen new species, and with ten new synonomies.

A revision of the family Cerococcidae Balachowsky (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha, Coccomorpha) with particular reference to species from the Afrotropical, western Palaearctic and western Oriental Regions, with the revival of Antecerococcus Green and description of a new genus and fifteen new species, and with ten new synonomies.

Mitospore stages of Disciotis, Gyromitra and Morchella in the inland Pacific Northwest USA

Colonies of Costantinella species growing on soil, moss and woody debris in the autumn in the inland Pacific Northwest USA were established in culture. Five different mitospore taxa were distinguished based on colony color, presence or absence of setae and internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) rDNA amplicon size. Sequence data from the largest and second largest subunits of RNA polymerase II, translation elongation factor 1-α, D1 and D2 domains of nuclear large subunit rDNA and ITS were used to connect each of the distinct mitospore taxa to corresponding vernal-fruiting Pezizales, including Disciotis cf. venosa, Gyromitra cf. esculenta and three species of Morchella. Both meiospore and mitospore stages of Morchella brunnea and M. populiphila collected in spring and autumn within a meter of each other at two urban sites had identical multilocus haplotypes, providing evidence connecting the two stages of the life cycle. Among other Morchella mitospore stages collected, some had identical haplotypes to previously sampled meiospore stages, while others were distinct, possibly representing undescribed species. Mitospore isolates with sequences assigning them to Disciotis or Gyromitra had different haplotypes from meiospore stages occurring in the same area. Meiospore stages of Disciotis and Gyromitra sampled as part of the study were also genetically distinct from European collections of D. venosa and G. esculenta, indicating more diversity is present in these taxa than is reflected in the current taxonomy. The widespread occurrence of mitospore stages of these fungi suggests that the life cycles of morels, false morels and allied taxa are more complex than previously recognized.

First Report of Seedling Blight of Eastern Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) by Colletotrichum fioriniae in Virginia

Colletotrichum fioriniae is a member of the large cosmopolitan C. acutatum species complex (2). Known agricultural hosts of C. acutatum include apple, European blueberry, grape, olive, papaya, and strawberry (2). In contrast, the life history of C. fioriniae ranges from an epizootic of certain scale insect populations to an endophyte of plants (3,4). The present study extends the phytopathology of C. fioriniae to include poison ivy seedlings. Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) drupes were collected from solitary lianas in Roanoke and Montgomery counties, Virginia. These drupes were subjected to experiments aimed at producing sterile seedlings (1); however, there was extensive blighting and wilting in the germinated seedlings. Associated with the drupes and seedlings was a fungus with white to pale olivaceous grey mycelium with orange blister-like conidiomata and sclerotial masses enclosing the drupe mesocarp as well as conidiomata emerging from blighted, necrotic leaves. Condiomata were plated onto acidified potato dextrose agar (APDA) and oatmeal agar (OA). This consistently yielded colonies identical to those described from diseased tissues and were putatively identified as C. acutatum based on the presence of acervuli containing hyaline, smooth-walled, aseptate conidia with acute ends, the absence of setae, and formation of red pigments in culture (2). Conidial dimensions of four isolates most closely aligned with reported measurements for C. fioriniae (4): mean length ± SD × width ± SD = 15.1 ± 1.7 × 4.9 ± 0.3 μm, L/W ratio = 3.04 on OA. Fungal DNA was isolated and used as template in PCR reactions using oligonucleotide primer pairs corresponding to the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and a portion of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) genes. The resulting PCR fragments were sequenced and used as queries in BLASTN searches of the GenBank NR database. All of the amplified ITS DNA sequences (497 bp KF944356 and KF944357) were identical to Glomerella/Colletotrichum fioriniae (JN121190 and KF278459). Similarly, the amplified (672 bp) GAPDH sequences (KF944354 and KF944355) were 99.6% similar over the 254 bp overlapping with C. fioriniae (JQ948622). Pathogenicity of two randomly chosen C. fioriniae isolates, TR-123 and TR-126, was confirmed by placing 4.75 mm diam. inoculated agar plugs from 8-day-old fungal cultures or a sterile plug (negative control) at the base of an axenic young seedling ~1.5 to 6.5 cm in height with at least one set of true leaves (1). Each treatment was replicated five times. Acute wilt and blighting of leaves and production of orange acervuli on cotyledons disease symptoms developed by 3 weeks post inoculation (WPI). By 7 WPI all but one of the Colletotrichum-inoculated plants were dead, whereas all of the control plants were healthy with significantly lower area under the disease progress curve values. Colletotrichum was consistently re-isolated, and confirmed morphologically and molecularly, from six of seven diseased seedlings, whereas two of two randomly chosen control seedlings remained asymptomatic and did not yield Colletotrichum. In summary, C. fioriniae may represent a natural biocontrol agent against poison ivy and scale insect herbivores thereof.

The genusParadoxostoma(Ostracoda: Podocopida: Paradoxostomatidae) from South Korea, with description of one new species

Three species of the genus Paradoxostoma Fischer, 1855 are reported from the South Korean East Coast: Paradoxostoma flaccidum Schornikov, 1975, P. brunneum Schornikov, 1974, and one new species, P. sokchoensis, new species. The first species was previously reported from the East Sea off the Korean peninsula, with additional Paradoxostoma as part of a species list of an ecological study carried out in South Korea. Paradoxostoma sokchoensis is most closely related to P. depressum Okubo, 1977 and P. assimile Okubo, 1978. Three major differences between the new species and the other two species are: 1) the presence of an unusual group of setulae on the antennule, 2) absence of seta on first segment of L6, and 3) a more slender anterior margin of the carapace.

Potamalpheops tyrymembe sp. n.: the first southwestern Atlantic species of the shrimp genus Potamalpheops Powell, 1979 (Caridea: Alpheidae).

A new species of the alpheid shrimp genus Potamalpheops Powell, 1979, P. tyrymembe sp. n., is described based on several specimens collected from burrows of the ucidid crab Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) and other, unknown burrowing decapods, on a mangrove flat between the Baiano and Serra rivers, Povoado de Tremembé, Maraú, state of Bahia, Brazil (14º08'51.9"S, 39º05'04.4"W). The new species belongs to the P. monodi (Sollaud, 1932) species group, based on the presence of two pairs of spiniform setae on the distal margin of the telson and non-enlarged male chelipeds. It is characterized by a short rostrum and absence of setae on the pterygostomial angle of the carapace.

Molecular characterization and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum sp. from guava

Guava (Psidium guajava) fruit is vulnerable to postharvest diseases, such as anthracnose. In the present study, molecular characterisation and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum associated with antharcnose disease of guava fruit were conducted. From anthracnose lesion of guava, 20 isolates were successfully recovered. Based on colony colours, conidia, appressoria and presence or absence of setae, and ITS regions and ß-tubulin gene sequences, the isolates were identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Phylogenetic analysis based on combined data-sets using neighbour-joining method showed that C. gloeosporioides isolates did not group with C. gloeosporioides epitype strain, and thus the isolates were referred to as C. gloeosporioides species complex or C. gloeosporioides sensu lato. Pathogenicity tests using wounded treatment showed that C. gloeosporioides isolates from guava were pathogenic causing anthracnose on the fruits. The present study showed that C. gloeosporioides sensu lato is the most common species causing antharcnose disease of guava fruit.

Comparative morphology of the first zoea of twelve brachyuran species (Crustacea: Decapoda) from the Amazon region

The laboratory-hatched first zoeal stage of twelve brachyuran species collected in the estuarine area of the Caeté River in the Amazonian region are described and illustrated in the present study: P. americanus Saussure, 1857, Eurytium limosum (Say, 1818), Sesarma curacaoense De Man, 1892, S. rectum Randall, 1840, Armases rubripes (Rathbun, 1897), Aratus pisonii (H. Milne Edwards, 1837), Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787), Uca rapax (Smith, 1870), U. maracoani (Latreille, 1802), U. thayeri Rathbun, 1900, Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) and Pachygrapsus gracilis (Saussure, 1858). Through intraspecific comparisons of the respective larval stage, an identification key was generated and provided. Most of the studied species presented morphological differences (e.g. type and presence or absence of setae) when compared to the same species previously described in the literature.

Review of Paracerella Imadate (Protura: Acerentomidae, Nipponentominae) with identification key and description of a new species

Paracerella americana Imadate is redescribed based on the type material. The original description is corrected and supplemented with new characters, including head chaetotaxy, seta length, porotaxy and shape of the male squama genitalis. Paracerella monterey sp. nov. is described from specimens that were originally part of the "Paracerella americana type series". Paracerella americana is characterized by presence of seta P1a on tergites I-VI and absence of seta on tergite VII, presence of 4 P-setae on sternite I, and concave hind margin of the comb on tergite VIII. Paracerella monterey sp. nov. is characterized by absence of seta P1a on tergites I-VII, presence of 2 P-setae on sternite I, and straight hind margin of the comb. A key to Paracerella species is provided.

Two new species of Austrolimnius Carter & Zeck (Insecta: Coleoptera: Elmidae) from Southeastern Brazil

The genus Austrolimnius Carter & Zeck has its greatest known diversity in Oceania, but its fauna in the Americas is poorlyknown. In this paper, two new species—Austrolimnius uncatus sp. nov. and A. bocainensis sp. nov.—are described and illus-trated based on adult specimens collected at Serra da Bocaina National Park, São José do Barreiro Municipality, São PauloState, and Nova Friburgo Municipality, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Austrolimnius uncatus sp. nov. is characterized by the longsetae on the mesotarsus, the medial expansion of the hind tibiae, and the hook-like shape of the male genitalia. Austrolimniusbocainensis sp. nov. can be recognized by the absence of setae on the mid-tarsus, the cylindrical hind tibiae, and the slightlycurved genitalia with few setae. A pictorial key for the Brazilian species of the genus is given. New records of Brazilian species of the genus are reported.

Coarazuphium tapiaguassu (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Zuphiini), a new Brazilian troglobitic beetle, with ultrastructural analysis and ecological considerations

Coarazuphium tapiaguassu sp. n. was collected in caves SL 30, SL 31 and SL 35 located in Curionópolis (Pará, Brazil). C. tapiaguassu is readily differentiated by the absence of setae on the dorsal surface of the head close to the posterior margin, as the other species of the gens show one, two or tree pairs of setae. Taxa of Coarazuphium exhibit advanced troglobiomorphic characters in comparison to other Brazilian cave beetles. Increased extra-optic sensory structures, presence of particular sensilla, and sensory and gustatory receptors are characters not detected under routine microscopy and thus require ultrastructural methods for their study. Similar analyses are needed in other epigean Zuphiini species for a better interpretation of their functional meaning.

Description of the last stadium larvae ofArgia medullarisHageninSelys andA. variegataFörster (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Detailed descriptions and illustrations are provided of the ultimate instar larvae of Argia medullaris and Argia variegata from Colombia. The principal features are outlined and compared with other species. Argia medullaris differs from other species of the genus by the parallel width of the lateral gills and prominent ligula; the A. variegata larva can be separated from other species by the absence of setae and spines on male and female gonapophyses and its peculiar madicolous habit.

MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NIGERIAN Corchorus species L

A study of accessions of the Corchorus species found in Nigeria was undertaken using quantitative and qualitative characters for evaluation. The quantitative characters include plant height, leaf length and breadth, while the qualitative are growth habit, nature of branching, stem pubescence, stem types, leaf shape, leaf colour, leaf pubescence, serration, nature of apex and base with presence or absence of setae. The result showed that plant height varied from 16.16 cm - 78.62 cm, leaf length and breadth from 5.00cm – 20.00cm and 2.00cm – 7.00cm respectively. Growth habit is determinate with medium branching nature, erect for all accessions studied. Leaf is lanceolate, acute at base with two setae for accessions NHCO26, NHCO3, NHCO25 ovate with one or two setae except accession OS/OD/O4. All leaves are green, pubescence and serrated. Among the accessions, stomata are 100% anisocytic and 100% amphistomatic among the accessions. Stomata were more on the abaxial surface and stomatal index ranges from 37.01 - 51.90. Trichomes were widely distributed, eglandular, solitary and unicellular. Three forms, mainly unicellular filiform, unicellular conical and multiserrate stellate types were recorded. These qualitative features especially the presence of setae, stomatal type and distribution were suggested diagnostics in Nigerian Corchorus. Setae were reported significant in characterizing Nigerian Corchorus species

Fomitiporia in sub-Saharan Africa: morphology and multigene phylogenetic analysis support three new species from the Guineo-Congolian rainforest

Fomitiporia nobilissima sp. nov., F. gabonensis sp. nov. and F. ivindoensis sp. nov., three species from the rainforest of the Guineo-Congolian phytogeographic region in Gabon, are described and illustrated. These species share a pileate basidiome, small basidiospores and an absence of setae. The critical morphological features that differentiate them are the pileus habit or shape, pore surface color, pore diameter and possibly ecology. Each new species forms distinct but closely related clades in phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from nuclear ribosomal LSU, ITS and translation elongation factor 1-α. Other species in sub-Saharan Africa are discussed briefly. A key to six species of Fomitiporia from sub-Saharan Africa is provided. The new combination Fomitiporia apiahyna is proposed.

Surface ultrastructure and evolution of tarsal attachment structures in Plecoptera (Arthropoda: Hexapoda)

The plantar surfaces of the stonefly tarsomeres and pretarsus are examined chiefly using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of 39 Plecoptera exemplar species representing each family within the two suborders Arctoperlaria and Antarctoperlaria. Features examined include the shape and size of the tarsomeres as well as external features of the plantar surfaces of the tarsomeres, unguitractor plate, claws, arolium and orbicula. Characteristics presumed to be part of the stonefly ground pattern were determined by mapping these features on a cladogram of stonefly phylogeny (Zwick 2000, Annual Review of Entomology 45:709–746). This analysis indicates that the following characters are part of the stonefly ground pattern: (1) cylindrical shape of the tarsomeres, (2) an elongate tarsomere 1, (3) a short tarsomere 2, (4) presence of hairy euplantulae on the plantar surfaces of tarsomeres 1 and 2, (5) absence of specialised attachment surfaces on the plantar area of tarsomere 3, (6) absence of setae on the arolium plantar surface, and (7) presence of setae on the orbicula surface. Hairs covering the euplantulae of tarsomeres 1 and 2 and the median longitudinal unscelerotised region of tarsomeres 1–3 are non-setal cuticular projections and appear to be acanthae. Hairy euplantulae are unusual and are only present in one other insect order, the Mantophasmatodea. Specialised tenent setae were not found. The presence of hairy euplantulae as part of the stonefly ground pattern contradicts the recent view (Beutel and Gorb 2006, Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 64:3–25) that stoneflies lack pad-like euplantulae and that the ancestral condition for tarsomeres 1 and 2 may be a narrow median longitudinal unsclerotised band such as that found in representatives of the Austroperlidae. The hypothesis that Plecoptera are the sister clade to the remaining Neoptera suggests that euplantulae might be a synapomorphy of both clades. On the other hand, placement of Plecoptera within a monophyletic Polyneoptera clade within the Neoptera suggests that euplantulae could be an autapomorphy of this subordinate clade.

A New Genus and Two New Species of Platynine Carabid Beetles from New Guinea (Insecta: Coleoptera: Carabidae: Platynini)

A new genus, Paridiagonum, with the new species, Patidiagonum bidentatum, and a new species of Fortagonum Darlington, 1952, Fortagonum bellorum, are described from Mt. Misim in the vicinity of Wau, central eastern Papua New Guinea. The new genus in body shape is similar to the genus Idiagonum Darlington, 1952, but is distinguished from that genus by absence of setae at the prosternal intercoxal process, presence of three discal punctures on the elytra, bidentate apex of each elytron, deeply excised fourth tarsomeres, and much shorter and wider female gonocoxites 2, which lack the dorso-median ensiform seta. Structure of the fourth tarsomeres, however, suggests relationships with some species described by Darlington (1952) as belonging to Colpodes Macleay (e.g., Colpodes antedens Darlington, 1952, and Colpodes acuticauda Darlington, 1952). The new species of Fortagonum is distinguished from all described species by a combination of characters: chaetotaxy of head, pronotum, and elytra; distinctly fusiform shape of pronotum; rather triangular shape of the unarmed elytra; and structure of the aedeagus.

A review of the genus Tripylina Brzeski, 1963 (Nematoda: Triplonchida), with descriptions of five new species from New Zealand

Tripylina contains six accepted species. Morphologically, five new species can be briefly characterized as follows: T. tearoha sp. nov., T. manurewa sp. nov. and T. tamaki sp. nov. each have a single ventromedian seta and two pairs of lateral setae in the cervical region; T. tearoha sp. nov. differs from T. tamaki sp. nov. by de Man’s Index a (25–30 vs 20– 23), and differs from T. manurewa sp. nov. by the distance of the ventromedian cervical seta from the head end (62–77 vs 78–86 μ m). T. manurewa sp. nov. differs from T. tamaki sp. nov. by de Man’s Index a (24–29 vs 20–23). Molecularly, these three new species can be differentiated by SSU & LSU analysis. Tripylina yeatesi sp. nov. and T. kaikoura sp. nov. are characterised by relatively long bodies, and the absence of ventromedian cervical setae; Tripylina yeatesi sp. nov. differs from T. kaikoura sp. nov. by de Man’s Indices: a (29–30 vs 22–23), b (5.8–6.0 vs 6.0–6.2), c (18–26 vs 14–16) and c’ (2.0–2.6 vs 2.7–3.0), respectively. Among the six previously described species, the main distinguishing features for T. arenicola and T. ursulae are their subventral stoma denticles lying posterior to the dorsal tooth, which differentiates them from T. longa, T. macroseta, T. sheri and T. stramenti. All published species also can be differentiated by: body length; values of De Man’s Indices a, b, c, c’ and V; presence or absence of setae and setal positions. A key is provided for all eleven species of the genus.

Anomotaenia barusi sp. nov. and A. alata (Cestoda, Dilepididae) from Charadrius dubius (Aves, Charadriiformes) in Slovakia, with comments on related species

AbstractDuring a re-assessment of tapeworm collections from wild birds in Slovakia, two Anomotaenia spp. were recovered from the intestine of the little ringed plover Charadrius dubius Scop., 1786. One of them is described as Anomotaenia barusi sp. nov. The new taxon is distinguished from related congeneric species by the different shape and size of the rostellar hooks, the number of testes and the morphology of male and female reproductive organs. The other species was identified as Anomotaenia alata Spassky et Konovalov, 1969. The validity of this species has formerly been questioned because of its striking morphological similarity to the type-species of the genus, A. microrhyncha (Krabbe, 1869), described from the same host, Philomachus pugnax (L.). Present data revealed differences in the number and measurements of the rostellar hooks, the size of the cirrus-sac, the armament of the cirrus and the presence or absence of setae at the polar ends of the inner egg envelope, which supported the validity of A. alata. The finding of A. alata in C. dubius from Slovakia represents a new host and geographical record.