Dark Brown Body Research Articles

Isolation and Cultural, Morphological Characterization of Sclerotium rolfsii Causing Seedling Blight in Rice

In Telangana state, India, around June 2021, the seedling blight of rice was seen in nursery beds 10 days after sowing (DAS). Sclerotium rolfsii was the disease's causative agent. Infected plant samples were gathered in farmer's paddy nurseries in the Telangana state of India during kharif 2021 as part of the Rice Production Oriented Survey (POS) in farmer fields in Katkur (Village), Akkannapeta (Mandal), Siddipet (District). The farmer uses a seed called PAN 152 from a private company. The affected rice seedlings showed the typical signs of soft rot, yellowing and white cottony mould growth. Spherical-shaped dark brown sclerotial bodies were also seen in the basal stem region of the infected seedlings. Cultural and morphological identification was done for identifying the microbe.

New Stem Boring Pest of Quinoa in the United States

Abstract Climate change and its impact on agricultural crops is driving the expansion of cropping systems to plants better adapted to rising temperatures, prolonged periods of drought, poor soils, and high salinity. One such crop is quinoa, Chenopodium quinoa Willd (Caryophyllales: Amaranthaceae), a traditionally Andean grain that has been recently adopted in dry, high-elevation regions of Colorado, Idaho, and Washington. However, in 2021, a stem-boring fly, Amauromyza karli Hendel (Diptera: Agromyzidae), was reported in quinoa grown in Colorado’s San Luis Valley and abruptly halted expansion of this climate-resilient crop. This new agromyzid pest has caused complete yield loss in some instances and contributed to substantial declines in quinoa acreage from 3,000 acres in 2021 to 900 acres in 2022. Distinguishing morphological features of A. karli adults include a yellow head, light yellow halteres, a dark brown body, and a dark brown femur and tibia that are yellow near the tips. Larvae feed within quinoa stems and destroy the pith, which disrupts nutrient transport and causes death or significant declines in yield and quality. Here, we summarize the impact of A. karli on quinoa, and discuss life history and management for other agromyzid species that can inform management of A. karli. Research focused on effective integrated management tactics including use of biological control, host plant resistance, and systemic insecticides is urgently needed to suppress this pest.

A radiolucent bronchial foreign body in a two‐ and a half‐month‐old Labrador Retriever with acute onset respiratory distress

AbstractA two‐ and a half‐month‐old intact male Labrador Retriever was presented to the Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for acute onset respiratory distress with concern for a potential foreign body. Upon intake by the emergency service, the puppy was exhibiting expiratory dyspnoea. Radiographs revealed marked gas distension of the oesophagus and stomach. No radiopaque foreign bodies were identified. Bronchoscopy revealed a dark brown foreign body in the right middle lobe bronchus. The foreign material was pliable and crumbled upon removal attempts with a snare retrieval device. The majority of the foreign body was removed en masse; it most closely resembled faecal material. Three‐view thoracic radiographs performed 1 day post‐endoscopy revealed aspiration pneumonia. The dog was discharged from the hospital with doxycycline, and the pneumonia was nearly resolved at the 1‐week recheck. The dog was sent home with another 2 weeks of doxycycline and made a full recovery at home.

Non-molting dwarf (nm-d) as a mutant of Bombyx mori with a defect in purine synthesis

There are several known non-molting mutations of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, including non-molting dwarf (nm-d). Larvae with this mutation hatch normally and start eating leaves, but die before the completion of the first ecdysis. Genetic analysis of the nm-d mutation would contribute to the isolation of essential genes for the larval development of lepidopteran insects. To identify the causative gene of the nm-d locus, we conducted RNA-seq based rough mapping. Using two sets of RNA-seq data, one from a pooled sample of normal larvae, and one from a pooled sample of nm-d larvae, the nm-d locus was narrowed to a 500 kb region. Among the genes located in this region, a nm-d-specific exon loss was identified in the Bombyx homolog of the ATIC (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase/Inosine 5′-monophosphate cyclohydrolase) (BmATIC) gene, which catalyzes the final two steps of the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway in mammals. PCR and subsequent sequencing analysis revealed that a region containing exon 9 of the BmATIC gene is deleted in the nm-d larvae. A knockout allele of the BmATIC gene (BmATICKO), that was generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, revealed that first instar knockout larvae died while exhibiting the dark brown larval body that is a typical feature of mutants that lack uric acid in the integument. Lethal larvae resulted from crosses between +/BmATICKO moths. The uric acid content in the whole-body of the first instar was drastically reduced in the nm-d larvae compared to normal larvae. These results indicated that the BmATIC gene is responsible for the nm-d phenotype, and that nm-d larvae have a defect in purine biosynthesis, including uric acid. We also discuss the possibility that the BmATIC mRNA is maternally transmitted to eggs. Our results indicated that RNA-seq based mapping using pooled samples is a practical method for the identification of the causative genes of lethal mutations.

Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Prepupa Phase Fermentation by Organic Acids to Decrease Chitin Content

Black Soldier Fly has high protein but there are anti-nutrients, namely the presence of chitin content that cannot be digested by livestock such as poultry and monogastrics. Chitin is a natural polysaccharide that is abundantly found from crustacean organisms and insects. Chitin is usually bound to the shell or exoskeleton, proteins, minerals and pigments. Black Soldier Fly in the prepupa phase has high protein, dark brown body and a rather hard exoskeleton which causes a high chitin content. The aim of this research was to determine the concentration of propionic and formic acids which could reduce the chitin content of the prepupa phase of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) fermentation. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments, namely P1 = (BSF added 50% propionic acid + 50% formic acid), P2 = (BSF added 80% propionic acid and formic acid + 20% aquadest), P3 = (BSF added 60% propionic and formic acids + 40% aquadest), P4 = (BSF added 40% propionic and formic acids + 60% aquadest), P5 = (BSF added 20% propionic acid and formic acid + 80% aquadest) with three repetitions. The results of this study indicate that the P1 treatment (addition of 50% propionic acid + 50% formic acid) resulted in the lowest reduction in chitin content, namely (11.00%), pH value (4.7), total titrated acid (0.014%) and organoleptic (light brown color, very sour aroma and harsh texture).

Two New Moray Eels of Genera Diaphenchelys and Gymnothorax (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from Taiwan and the Philippines.

Two new moray eels of the genera Diaphenchelys and Gymnothorax from Taiwan and the Philippines are described. Diaphenchelys laimospila sp. nov. is described based on two specimens that represent the third species and a new geographic record of the genus. It can be distinguished from the other two congeners by the number of cephalic sensory pores, vertebral formula, morphometric measurements, and the coloration pattern. Gymnothorax pseudokidako sp. nov. is a muraenid with a dark brown body covered by pale snowflake-like blotches. It differs from the most similar species Gymnothorax kidako (Temminck and Schlegel) by having a relatively short tail (50.5-53.0% vs. 52.9-56.4% of TL), more dentary teeth (17-26 vs. 16-20), fewer total vertebrae (134-139 vs. 137-143), and the absence of white margin on anal fin (vs. prominent white margin). These two new species were also confirmed by molecular analyses, the mitochondrial COI gene (593 bp) for D. laimospila, and the nuclear EGR3 gene (767 bp) for G. pseudokidako.

A new species of Phenacorhamdia Dahl 1961 (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from the Paranapanema River basin, southeastern Brazil.

A new species of Phenacorhamdia is described from Paranapanema River, Upper Paraná River basin, southeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from congeners by the combination of following characters 45-46 vertebrae; an entirely dark-brown body; nine pleural ribs; eight branched rays in upper lobe of caudal fin; seven branched rays in pectoral fin; 13 anal-fin rays with 9-10 branched; first basal radial inserted at the 13th vertebrae and eight branchiostegal rays.

Ebony affects pigmentation divergence and cuticular hydrocarbons in Drosophila americana and D. novamexicana.

Drosophila pigmentation has been a fruitful model system for understanding the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying phenotypic evolution. For example, prior work has shown that divergence of the tan gene contributes to pigmentation differences between two members of the virilis group: Drosophila novamexicana, which has a light yellow body color, and D. americana, which has a dark brown body color. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and expression analysis has suggested that divergence of the ebony gene might also contribute to pigmentation differences between these two species. Here, we directly test this hypothesis by using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to generate ebony null mutants in D. americana and D. novamexicana and then using reciprocal hemizygosity testing to compare the effects of each species' ebony allele on pigmentation. We find that divergence of ebony does indeed contribute to the pigmentation divergence between species, with effects on both the overall body color as well as a difference in pigmentation along the dorsal abdominal midline. Motivated by recent work in D. melanogaster, we also used the ebony null mutants to test for effects of ebony on cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles. We found that ebony affects CHC abundance in both species, but does not contribute to qualitative differences in the CHC profiles between these two species. Additional transgenic resources for working with D. americana and D. novamexicana, such as white mutants of both species and yellow mutants in D. novamexicana, were generated in the course of this work and are also described. Taken together, this study advances our understanding of loci contributing to phenotypic divergence and illustrates how the latest genome editing tools can be used for functional testing in non-model species.

Nesomyrmex micheleae, a new ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Dhofar Governorate, Oman, with a synoptic list, distribution map and key to the Arabian Nesomyrmex

ABSTRACT A new species of the myrmicine ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910, N. micheleae Sharaf sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Oman based on the worker caste. The new species is a member of the N. angulatus species group and can be diagnosed by the golden yellow gaster that contrasts with the dark brown body; the irregular longitudinal rugulose sculpture on the cephalic surface; and the finely punctate mesonotum and propodeal dorsum. A synoptic species list, an updated key and a distribution map to the Arabian Nesomyrmex species are presented. Continued ant species discoveries are central to large-scale diversity patterns, conservation biology and macroecology. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FBCEACA7-E543-4B10-AB9D-D63319DCB31F http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1D2EC498-3B2E-43CD-A3C0-1C6C237471E2

Channa brunnea, a new species of snakehead (Teleostei: Channidae) from West Bengal, India

Channa brunnea, a new species of snakehead fish lacking pelvic fins, from West Bengal, India, is distinguished from its pelvic fin-less congeners by possessing an uniform dark brown body, ochre to bright-orange blotches on the caudal fin, fewer dorsal and anal-fin rays (35-37 vs. 47-51 and 24 vs. 28-32, respectively), fewer vertebrae (43 vs. 45-57), and fewer lateral-line scales (43-46 vs. 51-63). Though Channa brunnea superficially resembles C. bleheri, it can be distinguished from the latter by possessing dark-brown oblique markings on the upper half of the body; transverse scale rows (4½-5½ vs. 3½); pre-anal scales (22-26 vs. 17-20); 2 rows of teeth in the fifth ceratobranchial, the outer row with 16 large conical teeth (vs. 3 rows of teeth, the outer row with 13 large conical teeth); dentary with 20 large, stout, conical teeth in the inner row (vs. 32 medium-sized conical teeth); and a Kimura's two parameter (K2P) distance of 9.8-10.6%.

Striped bodypainting protects against horseflies.

Bodypainting is widespread in African, Australian and Papua New Guinean indigenous communities. Many bodypaintings use white or bright yellow/grey/beige stripes on brown skin. Where the majority of people using bodypainting presently live, blood-sucking horseflies are abundant, and they frequently attack the naked brown regions of the human body surface with the risk of transmitting the pathogens of dangerous diseases. Since horseflies are deterred by the black and white stripes of zebras, we hypothesized that white-striped paintings on dark brown human bodies have a similar effect. In a field experiment in Hungary, we tested this hypothesis. We show that the attractiveness to horseflies of a dark brown human body model significantly decreases, if it is painted with the white stripes that are used in bodypaintings. Our brown human model was 10 times more attractive to horseflies than the white-striped brown model, and a beige model, which was used as a control, attracted two times more horseflies than the striped brown model. Thus, white-striped bodypaintings, such as those used by African and Australian people, may serve to deter horseflies, which is an advantageous byproduct of these bodypaintings that could lead to reduced irritation and disease transmission by these blood-sucking insects.

Digestive gland inclusion bodies in queen conch (Lobatus gigas) are non-parasitic.

Unusual inclusion bodies occur within the epithelial cells of the digestive gland of queen conch, Lobatus gigas, and have previously been described as apicomplexan parasites. The aim of this study was to investigate the parasitic features of these inclusion bodies in queen conch. L. gigas from St. Kitts (Caribbean Sea) consistently (100% of n = 61) showed large numbers of ovoid to tri-bulbous dark brown inclusion bodies (15 × 30 µm) within vacuolar cells. Histochemical stains demonstrated iron, melanin, and glycoprotein and/or mucopolysaccharide within the inclusion bodies. Microscopic features indicative of a host response to injury were lacking in every case, as were consistent morphological forms to indicate distinct parasitic stages. Transmission electron microscopy failed to reveal cellular organelles of parasitic organisms and DNA extractions of purified inclusion bodies did not yield sufficient concentrations for successful PCR amplification. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed a number of elements, particularly iron, within the inclusion bodies. We conclude that the inclusion bodies are not an infectious agent, and hypothesize that they represent a storage form for iron, and potentially other elements, within a protein matrix. Similar structures have been described in the digestive glands of other invertebrates, including prosobranchs.

Anatomical Study of Male Reproductive Organs of the Indonesian Short-Nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus titthaecheilus Temminck, 1825)

Bats are one of the mammals of Chiroptera order. Chiroptera Order has two sub-orders, Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera. One of the species of Megachiroptera is <em>Cynopterus titthaecheilus</em> (<em>C. titthaecheilus</em>). Local name for <em>C. titthaecheilus</em> is the Indonesian short-nosed fruit <em>bat</em>. Characteristics of <em>C. titthaecheilus</em> are dark brown body hair and no tragus in the ear. Population of <em>C. titthaecheilus</em> in Indonesia are relatively abundant, but research about anatomy of male reproduction organs of this species is still rare. The purpose of this study was to determine the anatomical features of male <em>C. tittahecheilus</em> reproductive organs. Observations of macroscopic anatomy include observation of morphology, size, weight and volume of penis, testiscle, epididymis, vas defferens, prostate and seminal vesicles. Observation on microscopical anatomy of male reproduction organ is using histological slide preparations stained by <em>Hematoxylin-Eosin</em>.

Morphological and molecular characterization of the cyanobiont-bearing dinoflagellate Sinophysis canaliculata from the Canary Islands (eastern central Atlantic)

Morphological and molecular characterization of the cyanobiont-bearing dinoflagellate Sinophysis canaliculata from the Canary Islands (eastern central Atlantic)

First Report of Sclerotium rolfsii Causing Southern Blight and Leaf Spot on Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in India

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an economically important crop grown worldwide. In India, it is grown for both green bean and dry pods (seeds). During 2012-2014, sudden wilt and leaf spots were observed during early growth to preflowering stage in the Mysore and Mandya districts of Karnataka State. The disease incidence was 30 to 35% in nearly 45 to 48 ha. Symptoms include wilting of foliage, tan lesions on stems at ground level, and gradually drying of the whole plant. Leaf spot symptoms on 30- to 45-day-old plants were water-soaked lesions with concentric necrotic spots (5 to 12 mm). White mycelial strands with spherical dark brown sclerotial bodies at the stem-soil interface were observed. Infected tissues were disinfected with 2% sodium hypochlorite solution for 3 min, and plated on potato dextrose agar and incubated at 28 ± 2°C. A single associated fungal pathogen was consistently isolated. It was characterized by dense, aerial, whitish cottony mycelium. Uniformly globoid sclerotia were observed after 10 to 12 days of incubation. Whitish sclerotia (1 to 3 mm) turned to dark brown at maturation. Based on etiology, and morphological and cultural characteristics, the pathogen was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. (syn. Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) Tu & Kimbrough) (Mordue, 1974). Identity was further confirmed through PCR amplification of internally transcribed spacer (ITS) region using ITS1/ITS4 universal primer. Amplified PCR product (550 to 570 bp) was sequenced and BLASTn search comparison revealed 99% homology to Sclerotium rolfsii (GenBank Accession Nos. DQ093668 and JX914480). Representative sequence of S. rolfsii was deposited in GenBank as KP412468.1 and KP412469.1. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on 15-day-old common bean plants (cv. S-9) by soil infestation and foliar inoculation of sclerotial bodies obtained from a 12-day-old culture of S. rolfsii. The experiment was conducted on 30 plants along with control plants. Soil infestation with sclerotia resulted in wilting and crown rot symptoms with 90% disease and 100% leaf spot incidence and no such symptoms were observed on control plants. The fungal pathogen was reisolated from inoculated plants and the identity was confirmed through morphological and cultural characteristics. Southern blight and leaf spot diseases of common bean are a major constraint for its production in India. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of S. rolfsii causing southern blight and leaf spot of common bean in India.

The Holarctic genus Aeolothrips (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) from Iran, with description of two new species.

Two new species of the genus Aeolothrips are described from northeast of Iran. A. bhattii sp.n. from flowering Caroxylon dendroides is remarkable for its strikingly bicolored body with brown head and last three abdominal segments. A. laurencei sp.n. from flowers of Elaeagnus angustifolia is characterized by its large and dark brown body, all yellow tarsi and fore wings with two brown transverse bands connected posteriorly.

A Rare Case of Melanosis of the Hard Palate Mucosa in a Patient with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Imatinib Mesylate, also known as Gleevec or ST1-571, is a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor used as the gold standard medication for the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); Imatinib has indeed deeply revolutionized the CML therapy allowing most patients to have a good quality of life. Despite its beneficial effects, Imatinib has significant side effects such as mucosal pigmentation. A 72-year-old female having an Imatinib induced mucosal pigmentation is presented: she has been treated with Imatinib since 2003 and only in 2014 discovered, during a routine dental visit, having a pigmented lesion on her hard palate mucosa. Histopathologically, the lesion shows the deposition of fine dark brown spherical bodies within the lamina propria and cloaked in between the collagen fibers. There was no sign of inflammation, hyperplasia, or hemorrhage in the tissue.

Immunohistochemical and Molecular Approaches for the Diagnosis of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in Natural Cases of Bovine Abortion

Rapid and precise diagnosis in natural field cases of bovine abortion caused by Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis warrants use of most sensitive and reliable diagnostic methods. In the present study, an array of gross, histopathological, immunohistochemical and real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique(s) for amplification of the gene encoding ISCfe1 insertion site were applied for the diagnosis of C. fetus subsp. venerealis in cases of abortion. Abortion occurred between 4 and 6 months of gestation with an average gestational age of 5 months. Histopathologically, fetal lesions recorded were bronchopneumonia and interstitial pneumonia. C. fetus with the typical morphology of spirals was observed in sections of lung with IHC staining positive reaction. In placenta, there was dense staining of clusters of the organisms which were evident as dark brown bodies showing positive reaction with IHC. Four samples (two from stomach contents, one from pooled fetal tissue and one from vaginal discharges) out of 84 tested cases were positive by real-time PCR for diagnosis of C. fetus subsp. venerealis in cases of abortion. Real time PCR techniques using ISCfe1 insertion site is most sensitive technique for diagnosis of C. fetus subsp. venerealis associated abortion.

Taxonomic revision of SpectracanthicusNijssen & Isbrücker (Loricariidae: Hypostominae: Ancistrini), with description of three new species

A taxonomic review of Spectracanthicus Nijssen & Isbrücker, including Oligancistrus Rapp Py-Daniel, following a phylogenetic study, is presented. Additionally to S. punctatissimus(Steindachner) and S. murinus Nijssen & Isbrücker, three new species are recognized based on the examination of 159 specimens: S. immaculatus n. sp. from rio Tapajós basin, differs from its congeners by its color pattern consisting of a dark gray body, with no dots or spots, and by having very slender teeth; Spectracanthicus tocantinensisn. sp., from the rio Tocantins drainage is distinguished by the color pattern consisting of dark brown or black body with small, yellowish dots (except in S. punctatissimus), presence of thick teeth, infraorbital 4 forming most of the posterior edge of the orbit and the large basipterigium fenestrae; and Spectracanthicus zuanonin. sp., from the rio Xingu basin is diagnosed by its color pattern consisting of large, white spots and by the larger orbital diameter. Other characters based on osteological features are also usefull to distinguish the species. A key to the species of the genus and a brief discussion of their threats and conservation are also provided.

A new species of Caloctenus (Araneae: Ctenidae) from Colombia

The genus Caloctenus Keyserling, 1877 comprises four species of small (3–7 mm) ground-dwelling spiders found in cloud forests and adjacent habitats of the northern Andes of South America, at elevations between 1800 to 2600 m (Silva 2004). All species apparently have a restricted geographic range and most are only known from the type locality. These spiders exhibit a cryptic coloration having a dark brown body with iridescent scales, sparse white plumose hairs and club-shaped red hairs, an ornamentation pattern that makes them indistinguishable from the leaf litter and hard to find. Recent attempts to find more caloctenine spiders in a Peruvian type locality were unsuccessful and it appears their populations, in general, are declining as fast as are their mossy and humid microhabitats.