Length Of ITS1 Research Articles

Diagnosis and characterization of the ribosomal DNA-ITS of potato rot nematode (Ditylenchus destructor) populations from Chinese medicinal herbs

The potato rot nematode (Ditylenchus destructor) is a very economically important nematode in agronomic and horticultural plants worldwide. In this study, 43 populations of D. destructor were collected from different hosts across China, including 37 populations from Chinese herbal medicine plants. Obtained sequences of ITS-rDNA and D2–D3 of 28S-rDNA genes of D. destructor were compared and analyzed. Nine types of significant length variations in ITS sequences were observed among all populations. The differences in ITS1 length were mainly caused by the presence of repetitive elements with substantial base substitutions. Reconstructions of ITS1 secondary structures showed that the minisatellites formed a stem structure. Ten haplotypes were observed in all populations based on mutations and variations of helix H9. Among them, 3 known haplotypes (A–C) were found in 7 populations isolated from potato, sweet potato, and Codonopsis pilosula, and 7 unique haplotypes were found in other 36 populations collected from C. pilosula and Angelica sinensis compared with 7 haplotypes (A–G) according to Subbotin’ system. These unique haplotypes were different from haplotypes A–G, and we named them as haplotypes H–N. The present results showed that a total of 14 haplotypes (A–N) of ITS-rDNA have been found in D. destructor. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS-rDNA and D2–D3 showed that all populations of D. destructor were clustered into two major clades: one clade only containing haplotype A from sweet potato and the other containing haplotypes B–N from other plants. For further verification, PCR-ITS-RFLP profiles were conducted on 7 new haplotypes. Collectively, our study suggests that D. destructor populations on Chinese medicinal materials are very different from those on other hosts and this work provides a paradigm for relevant researches.

Differential patterns of definitive host use by two fish acanthocephalans occurring in sympatry: Pomphorhynchus laevis and Pomphorhynchus tereticollis.

Parasites with complex life-cycles and trophic transmission are expected to show low specificity towards final hosts. However, testing this hypothesis may be hampered by low taxonomic resolution, particularly in helminths. We investigated this issue using two intestinal fish parasites with similar life-cycles and occurring in sympatry, Pomphorhynchus laevis and Pomphorhynchus tereticollis (Acanthocephala). We used species-specific ITS1 length polymorphism to discriminate parasite species from 910 adult acanthocephalans collected in 174 individual hosts from 12 fish species. Both P. laevis and P. tereticollis exhibited restricted host range within the community of available fish host species, and transmission bias compared to their relative abundance in intermediate hosts. The two parasites also exhibited low niche overlap, primarily due to their contrasting use of bentho-pelagic (P. laevis) and benthic (P. tereticollis) fish. Furthermore, parasite prevalence in intermediate hosts appeared to increase with taxonomic specificity in definitive host use. Comparison of P. laevis and P. tereticollis adult size in the two main definitive hosts, barbel and chub, suggested lower compatibility towards the fish species with the lowest parasite abundance, in particular in P. laevis. The determinants of low niche overlap between these two sympatric acanthocephalan species, and the contribution of definitive host range diversity to parasite transmission success, are discussed.

ITS-PCR sequencing approach deciphers molecular phylogeny in chickpea

Twenty chickpea accessions belonging to ten different countries of the world have been subjected to phylogeny and length variations from nuclear ribosomal DNA (nr DNA). ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 regions of Cicer accessions were used for amplification in two sets, each comprising a reverse and forward ITS primers. Lengths of ITS-1 of C. arietinum and C. reticulatum ranged from 340 to 350 bp whereas that of ITS-2 from 400 to 410 bp. In all the 20 accessions investigated, GC content in ITS-1 ranged from 40 to 55% and in ITS-2 from 42 to 55%. Sequencing of polymerase chain reaction product from ITS-1 showed variability in 278 and 290 bp due to adenine and guanine nucleotide base pairs. BLAST search for ITS-1 region revealed highest homology (99%) with four strains of C. arietinum accessions. Whereas, ITS2 showed 100% homology with C. arietinum and 99% homology with that of C. echinospermum.

Pseudanoplocephala crawfordi is a member of genus Hymenolepis based on phylogenetic analysis using ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA sequences

Pseudanoplocephala crawfordi is one of the important zoonotic cestodes causing economic significance and public health concern. In the present study, the phylogenetic position of P. crawfordi isolated from pigs was re-inferred using molecular markers of internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA (ITS rDNA) and partial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (pnad1) mitochondrial DNA. The lengths of ITS1, ITS2 rDNA and pnad1 were 757 bp, 628 bp and 458 bp, respectively. Sequence differences in the ITS1, ITS2 rDNA and pnad1 between P. crawfordi and Hymenolepis species were smaller than that between cestodes within genus Hymenolepis. Phylogenetic analyses based on three gene fragments showed that P. crawfordi was grouped into cluster of Hymenolepis species. These results suggested that P. crawfordi would be one member of genus Hymenolepis but not in a new genus Pseudanoplocephala.

NrDNA-ITS区序列在植物系统与进化研究中的应用

本文就核rDNA (nrDNA)的ITS区序列在植物系统与进化研究中的应用进行了讨论。nrDNA是植物系统发育研究中广泛应用的重要核基因片段。5.8S rDNA把nrDNA的内转录间隔区分为ITS1和ITS2两部分。被子植物中ITS1的长度为165~298 bp，ITS2的长度为177~266 bp；裸子植物中ITS片段较长，且其长度变化主要由ITS1的长度变异所致。由于ITS序列变异较快，能够提供较丰富的变异位点和信息位点，已成为被子植物较低分类阶元的系统发育和分类研究中的重要分子标记，为探讨多倍体复合体网状进化关系，异源多倍体的起源提供了重要的系统学信息。 The application of nuclear rDNA ITS sequences in plant phylogeny and evolution analysis was discussed in this paper. Nuclear rDNA is an important nuclear gene fragment, which had been widely used in phylogenetic studies. The internal transcribed spacer of nuclear rDNA was divided into ITS1 and ITS2 by 5.8S rDNA. The length of ITS1 ranges from 165 bp to 298 bp in angiosperms, and the length of ITS2 ranges from 177 bp to 266 bp. ITS sequence is relatively longer in gymnosperms. It much depends on the length of ITS1. As mutate quickly, ITS sequences are capable of providing many variable sites and informative sites, which has become an important molecular marker in plant systematic development and classification researches within low-order angiosperm categories. AT the same time, it can prove important systematic information for exploring polyploidy reticulate evolution and allopolyploid origins.

Integrative taxonomy identifies a new species of Phyllodistomum (Digenea: Gorgoderidae) from the twospot livebearer, Heterandria bimaculata (Teleostei: Poeciliidae), in Central Veracruz, Mexico

Phyllodistomum inecoli n. sp. is described from the twospot livebearer, Heterandria bimaculata (Teleostei: Poeciliidae), collected in the Río La Antigua basin, Veracruz, Mexico. The new species is described and characterised by using a combination of morphology, scanning electron microscopy, and sequences of nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Diagnostic characters of the new species of Phyllodistomum include a genital pore opening at the level of the caecal bifurcation; oval vitellarium, situated just posterior to the ventral sucker and not extended laterally and anterior extracaecal uterine loops variable in extension (reaching the anterior, median or posterior margin of the ventral sucker). P. inecoli n. sp. most closely resembles P. brevicecum, a species described as a parasite of the central mudminnow, Umbra limi, in other parts of North America; however, the genital pore in P. brevicecum is situated between the caecal bifurcation and the ventral sucker, the ovary is larger, the vitellarium is lobed and extended laterally and the anterior portion of the uterus extends to the posterior margin of the ventral sucker. Comparison of about 1,500–2,200 nucleotides of cox1 and 28S rDNA and ITS1 strongly supports the status of P. inecoli as a new species. Bayesian inference analysis of combined datasets of 28S rDNA and cox1 sequences showed that P. inecoli n. sp. and the other species found in freshwater fishes of Mexico, including the species complex of P. lacustri, are not sister species. Phylogenetic analysis based on 28S rDNA sequences of several gorgoderid taxa revealed the close relationship of P. inecoli n. sp. with several species of Phyllodistomum, Gorgodera and Gorgoderina with cystocercous cercariae developing in sphaeriid bivalves. Dot-plot analysis of ITS1 sequences of P. inecoli n. sp. revealed the presence of eight repetitive elements with different length, which together represent almost half the length of ITS1.

Characterization ofDicrocoelium dendriticumisolates from small ruminants in Shaanxi Province, north-western China, using internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA

The genetic variations in internal transcribed spacers (ITS) spanning ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2 rDNA of Dicrocoelium dendriticum, isolated from sheep and goats in four geographical regions in Shaanxi province, were examined. The lengths of ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2 rDNA sequences for D. dendriticum were 749bp, 161bp and 234bp, respectively. Intra-specific sequence variations of D. dendriticum were 0-0.5% for ITS-1 and 0-1.3% for ITS-2 rDNA, while the inter-specific variations among species in genus Dicrocoelium in ITS-2 rDNA were 3.4-12.3%. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of ITS-2 rDNA showed that all D. dendriticum isolates in the present study were grouped with reference D. dendriticum isolates from sheep and goats, and D. dendriticum isolates from cattle and Japanese serow were clustered in a sister clade. However, the phylogenetic tree could not reveal geographically genetic relationships of D. dendriticum isolates in different origins and hosts. These findings provided basic information for further study of molecular epidemiology and control of D. dendriticum infection in Shaanxi province as well as in the world.

Genetic diversity of nuclear ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 rDNA sequence in Clonorchis sinensis Cobbold, 1875 (Trematoda: Opisthorchidae) from the Russian Far East

The present study examined the molecular organisation and sequence variation in the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) region, including the two internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.8S gene of the Clonorchis sinensis from the Russian Far East. The relevant sequences from other parts of this species' area were downloaded from GenBank. The results showed 100% identity for all investigated 5.8S–ITS2 rDNA sequences. In contrast, two levels of intraspecific variations were revealed in the complete ITS1 sequences. The intra-genomic variation resulted from a C/T polymorphism in a single position. The inter-individual differences between the ITS1 sequences were both due to nucleotide and size polymorphisms resulting from a varying number of five-nucleotide repeats and followed by two ITS1 length variants. These variant frequencies correlate with the clonorchiasis level in some geographical localities. ITS1 differences, both in the mutation profile and mutation localisation, were revealed between northern and southern geographical samples. The presence of GC boxes that are identical to known regulatory motifs in eukaryotes was detected within the ITS1 sub-repeats. The predicted secondary structures for ITS1 consist of two large branches, one of which was invariable, while another depended on ITS1 length. The predicted secondary structure for ITS2 includes four helices around the core. The main differences between C. sinensis and other opisthorchids were localised on the tops of helices 2, 3, and 4. A phylogenetic MST reconstruction subdivided all ITS1 sequences into two well differentiated clusters, each with the major widespread ribotype, and showed that ribotype diversity in both Russia and Korea is much lower than in China. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of complete ITS1 sequences in C. sinensis population genetics and can be considered as a basis for further studies of the parasite infection because they may help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of pathogen evolution and adaptation.

Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and genetic variations in Lilium native to Korea

Internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA cistrons were studied in wild Lilium species native to Korea and compared with those species in the genus distributed in other countries to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among Lilium species. Sequence analysis data of Lilium plants collected from China and Japan were also included to study the inter- and intra-specific relationships in the genus. Lilium species formed a monophyletic clade and were separated in two clusters that belonged to the section Sinomartagon and Martagon. The phylogenetic relationships of Lilium species inferred from the ITS sequences using the maximum likelihood method were highly congruent with previous studies of cytogenetic evidence and classification (Comber, 1949) based on the morphological characters. The length of ITS1 and ITS2 regions in Lilium species native to Korea was uniform, however, nucleotide polymorphisms were noted. A region with a conserved sequence was observed from position 330–340 among all the species. Comparison of the sequence analysis of Lilium accessions native to different countries revealed the presence of six insertions/deletions (indels) and 121 substitutions (transitions and transversions) in both regions of ITS1 and ITS2. Indels were responsible for variation of ITS length in different accessions. The sequences of Lilium species collected from each country had less variations than those of species collected from different countries. Sequences variations in both ITS regions suggested that they could be used for assaying genetic diversity in Lilium at the inter- and intra-specific level.

Analysis of the secondary structure of ITS transcripts in peritrich ciliates (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea): Implications for structural evolution and phylogenetic reconstruction

Despite extensive previous morphological work, little agreement has been reached about phylogenetic relationships among peritrich ciliates, making it difficult to study the evolution of the group in a phylogenetic framework. In this study, the nucleotide characteristics and secondary structures of internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2) of 26 peritrich ciliates in 12 genera were analyzed. Information from secondary structures of ITS1 and ITS2 then was used to perform the first systematic study of ITS regions in peritrich ciliates, including one species of Rhabdostyla for which no sequence has been reported previously. Lengths of ITS1 and ITS2 sequences varied relatively little among taxa studied, but their G+C content was highly variable. General secondary structure models of ITS1 and ITS2 were proposed for peritrich ciliates and their reliability was assessed by compensatory base changes. The secondary structure of ITS1 contains three major helices in peritrich ciliates and deviations from this basic structure were found in all taxa examined. The core structure of peritrich ITS2 includes four helices, with helix III as the longest and containing a motif 5'-MAC versus GUK-3' at its apex as well as a YU-UY mismatch in helix II. In addition, the structural motifs of both ITS secondary structures were identified. Phylogenetic analyses using ITS data were performed by means of Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and neighbor joining methods. Trees had a consistent branching pattern that included the following features: (1) Rhabdostyla always clustered with members of the family Vorticellidae, instead of members of the family Epistylididae, in which it is now classified on the basis of morphology. (2) The systematically questionable genus Ophrydium closely associated with Carchesium, forming a clearly defined, monophyletic group within the Vorticellidae. This supported the hypothesis derived from previous study based on small subunit rRNA gene sequences that Ophrydium and its few relatives are morphologically anomalous vorticellids, not sufficiently distinct to be given familial status and should be placed within a more broadly defined family Vorticellidae. This study validated for the first time a secondary structure of ITS1 and ITS2 from peritrich ciliates and demonstrated its potential in helping to resolve deep phylogenetic relationships.

ITS에 의한 한국내 전복 속 분류군의 유전적 계통분류학적 연구

전복속에 속하는 종은 아시아를 포함한 세계에 광범위하게 서식한다. 전복속 종은 한국과 중국에서는 식용뿐만 아니라 약용으로도 이용된다. 한국내 전복속(genus Haliotis)에 속하는 분류군에 대해 ITS에 의한 계통관계를 조사하였다. 전복속 전체 종에서 5.8S exon은 160 핵산서열로 일정하였다. ITS1은 종에 따라 다양하였는데, 오분자기(H. diversicolor aquatilis)에서 272 핵산서열인 반면, 시볼트전복은 294 핵산서열이었다. ITS2 핵산서열 역시 종에 따라 다양하였다. 전체 서열은 오분자기는 722 핵산서열인 반면, 시볼트전복은 752 핵산서열이었다. ITS 전체 서열은 763 핵산서열에서 78개는 절약법에 정보적이었고, 57개는 변이로 비정보적이였고, 459는 일정하였다. 오분자기는 다른 전복속 종과 다른 분지를 나타내었다. ITS 서열로 한국내 분류군과 유럽종간 구분이 잘 되었다. ITS 서열로 종 동정에 이용할 수 있었으며, 종의 보전이나 생식질 보전에 기초로 이용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다. Abalone (genus Haliotis) is a woody species with a long life span that is primarily distributed throughout the world, including Asia. This species is regarded as a very important marine gastropod mollusk in Korea and China, and also in food industries around the world. We evaluated a representative sample of the five species with nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS) to estimate genetic relationships within the genus. Aligned nucleotide sequences of the length of the 5.8S subunit of all taxa of Haliotis were found to constant of 160 bp nucleotides. However, aligned nucleotide sequences of the length of ITS1 were varied within genus Haliotis, varying from 272 in H. diversicolor aquatilis to 292 in H. discus hannai. Aligned nucleotide sequences of the length of ITS2, especially, vary from 722 in H. diversicolor aquatilis to 752 in H. sieboldii. Total alignment length is 763 positions, of which 78 are parsimony-informative, 57 variable but parsimony-uninformative, and 459 constant characters. H. discus hannai was similar to H. discus, while H. diversicolor aquatilis was more distinct. ITS analysis may be useful in germ-plasm classification several taxa of genus Haliotis.

Internal repetition and intraindividual variation in the rDNA ITS1 of the anopheles punctulatus group (Diptera: Culicidae): multiple units and rates of turnover.

The rapid divergence of repetitive sequences makes them desirable markers for phylogenetic studies of closely related groups, provided that a high level of sequence homogeneity has been maintained within species. Intraspecific polymorphisms are found in an increasing number of studies now, and this highlights the need to determine why these occur. In this study we examined intraindividual variation present in the first ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) from a group of cryptic mosquito species. Individuals of the Anopheles punctulatus group contained multiple ITS1 length variants that ranged from 1.2 to 8.0 kb. Nucleotide and copy number variation for several homologous internal repeats is common, yet the intraspecific sequence divergence of cloned PCR isolates is comparable to that of other mosquito species (~0.2-1.5%). Most of the length variation is comprised of a 5'-ITS1 repeat that was identified as a duplication of a conserved ITS2 region. Secondary structure conservation for this repeat is pronounced and several repeat types that are highly homogenized have formed. Significant interspecific divergence indicates a high rate of evolutionary change for this spacer. A maximum likelihood tree constructed here was congruent with previous phylogenetic hypotheses and suggests that concerted evolution is also accompanied by interpopulation divergence. The lack of interindividual differences and the presence of homogenized internal repeats suggest that a high rate of turnover has reduced the overall level of variation. However, the intraindividual variation also appears to be maintained by the absence of a single turnover rate and the complex dynamics of ongoing recombination within the spacer.

Orientobilharzia turkestanicum is a member of Schistosoma genus based on phylogenetic analysis using ribosomal DNA sequences

In the present study, samples representing Orientobilharzia turkestanicum from cattle, sheep, cashmere goat and goat in Heilongjiang Province, China, were characterized and grouped genetically by sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS, including ITS-1 and ITS2) and 28S ribosomal DNA (28S rDNA). The ITS and 28S rDNA were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then sequenced and compared with that of other members of the Schistosomatidae available in GenBank™, and phylogenetic relationships between them were re-constructed using the neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony methods. The lengths of ITS-1, ITS-2 and 28S rDNA sequences for all O. turkestanicum samples from different hosts were 384 bp, 331 bp and 1304 bp, respectively. While the ITS-1 sequences of O. turkestanicum from each of the four different hosts, and ITS-2 of O. turkestanicum from cattle, sheep and cashmere goat were identical, respectively, the ITS-2 of O. turkestanicum from goat differed from that of O. turkestanicum from cattle, sheep and cashmere goat by one nucleotide. The 28S rDNA sequences of O. turkestanicum from sheep and cashmere goat were identical, but differed from that of O. turkestanicum from cattle and goat by two nucleotides, with the latter two also having identical 28S rDNA sequence. Phylogenetic analyses based on the combined sequences of the ITS-1 and ITS-2, or the 28S rDNA sequences placed O. turkestanicum within the genus Schistosoma, and it was phylogenetically closer to the African schistosome group than to the Asian schistosome group. These results should have implications for studying the origin and evolution of O. turkestanicum and other members of the Schistosomatidae.

Preliminary Analysis of Length and GC Content Variation in the Ribosomal First Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS1) of Marine Animals

Length and guanine-cytosine (GC) content of the ribosomal first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) were compared across a wide variety of marine animal species, and its phylogenetic utility was investigated. From a total of 773 individuals representing 599 species, we only failed to amplify the ITS1 sequence from 87 individuals by polymerase chain reaction with universal ITS1 primers. No species was found to have an ITS1 region shorter than 100 bp. In general, the ITS1 sequences of vertebrates were longer (318 to 2,318 bp) and richer in GC content (56.8% to 78%) than those of invertebrates (117 to 1,613 bp and 35.8% to 71.3%, respectively). Specifically, gelatinous animals (Cnidaria and Ctenophora) were observed to have short ITS1 sequences (118 to 422 bp) with lower GC content (35.8% to 61.7%) than the other animal taxa. Mollusca and Crustacea were diverse groups with respect to ITS1 length, ranging from 108 to 1,118 and 182 to 1,613 bp, respectively. No universal relationship between length and GC content was observed. Our data indicated that ITS1 has a limited utility for phylogenetic analysis as obtaining confident sequence alignment was often impossible between different genera of the same family and even between congeneric species.

ITS 서열을 이용한 조팝나무속의 계통분류학적 연구

Genus Spiraea is a long lived woody species that is primarily distributed throughout Asia and Europe. We evaluated a representative sample of the fourteen taxa in Korea with nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS) to estimate genetic relationships within genus. The molecular data allowed us to resolve well-supported clades in taxa. Aligned nucleotide sequences of the length of ITS1 were nearly constant within genus Spiraea varying from 237 to 238. However, S. pubescens and S. salicifolia were showed 227 bp and 242 bp, respectively. Especially, the 5.8S subunit of all taxa of Spiraea was found to 157-165 bp nucleotides. However, aligned nucleotide sequences of the length of ITS2 vary from 263 to 271 bp. Total alignment length is 670 positions, of which 65 are parsimony-informative, 45 variable but parsimony-uninformative, and 410 constant characters. The phylogenic tree showed Korean taxa of genus Spiraea were well separated each other. S. prunifolia for. simpliciflora and S. blumei are conform one group and S. chartacea is the sister to them. S. fritschiana and S. S. miyabei are conform one group and S. japonica is the sister to them. S. pubescens was recognized as a distinct species.

ITS에 의한 한국내 마가목 속 분류군의 유전적 계통분류학적 연구

마가목 속(genus Sorbus)은 목본류로 아시아와 유럽에 분포되어 있다. 마가목 속 식물은 한국과 중국에서 약용으로 쓰인다. 한국내 마가목 속 식물에 대해 ITS에 의한 계통관계를 조사하였다 마가목 속 전체 종에서 5.8S exon은 165 핵산서열이었다. ITS1은 유럽마가목(S. aucuparia)에서 218 핵산서열인 반면 한국 내 마가목 종은 219 핵산서열이었다. ITS2 핵산서 열은 다양하였는데 S. sambucifolia var. pseudogricilisto에서 는 240 핵산서 열로 가장 적은 반면 S. aucuparia에서는 245 핵산서열이었다. ITS 전체 서열은 625개로 35개는 절약법에 정보적이었다. ITS 서 열로 한국내 분류군과 유럽종간 구분이 잘 되었다. RNA 2차 구조 추정 분석에서 도메인 I과 II는 마가목 속에 잘 보전되어 있는 반면 도메인 III에서는 많은 차이를 나타내었다. ITS 서열로 종 동정에 이용할 수 있었으며, 종의 보전이나 생식질 보전에 기초로 이용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다. Genus Sorbus is a long lived woody species that is primarily distributed throughout Asia and Europe. This species is regarded as very important herbal medicines in Korea and China. Sorbus commixta is primarily distributed throughout Europe. We evaluated a representative sample of the four taxa with nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS) to estimate genetic relationships within genus. Aligned nucleotide sequences of the length of ITS1 were nearly constant within genus Sorbus varying from 219 in S. aucuparia to 218 in the rest species. Especially, the 5.8S subunit of all taxa of Sorbus was found to constant of 165 bp nucleotides. However, aligned nucleotide sequences of the length of ITS2 vary from 240 in S. sambucifolia var. pseudogrcilisto 245 in S. aucuparia. Total alignment length is 629 positions, of which 35 are parsimony-informative, 32 variable but parsimony-uninformative, and 552 constant characters. The base furtherance showed the difference to the by a total taxon: an average A and T are 17.7% and G and C are 30.4%, 34.2%, respectively. All the four taxa beginning with conserved base paired triplets emerging from single strand regions (domain I). Noteworthy, in the RNA secondary structure proposed for the three Korean Sorbus taxa RNA transcript ITS2, which shows a remarkedly well-conserved folding (domain II). When compared to the European Sorbus (S. aucuparia) of ITS2. ITS analysis may be useful in germ-plasm classification several taxa of genus Sorbus.

Steinernema texanum n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from Texas, USA

AbstractSteinernema texanum n. sp. is characterised by morphometrics of the infective juvenile with body length = 756 μm, distance from anterior end to the excretory pore = 59 μm, tail = 73 μm, ratio a = 25, H% = 59 and E% = 81. The lateral field pattern of the new species is 2, 7, 2, and is typical for the species. The male of the first generation can be recognised by the spicule and the gubernaculum lengths and shapes, position of the excretory pore, D% = 67 and GS% = 75. The female can be recognised by the vulva with very low epiptygma and two wart-like structures anterior to the tail tip that are always present on the ventral side. Steinernema texanum n. sp. is characterised genetically by the sequence of the ITS region (sequence length = 956 bp, the length of ITS1 = 263 bp, ITS2 = 286 bp, composition of its sequence and by 18 autapomorphies) and by sequence of D2D3 regions (sequence length = 860 bp, its composition and 15 autapomorphies). Steinernema texanum n. sp. is closely related to species in the feltiae-group, which include S. akhursti, S. feltiae, S. hebeiense, S. jollieti, S. kraussei, S. kushidai, S. litorale, S. monticolum, S. oregonense, S. sangi, S. silvaticum and S. weiseri. Isolates of the new species were obtained using the Galleria-baiting technique from soil samples taken near Kingsville, Texas, USA.

Molecular phylogenetics and asexuality in the brine shrimp Artemia

Explaining cases of long-term persistence of parthenogenesis has proven an arduous task for evolutionary biologists. Interpreting sexual–asexual interactions though has recently advanced owing to methodological design, increased taxon sampling and choice of model organisms. We inferred the phylogeny of Artemia, a halophilic branchiopod genus of sexual and parthenogenetic forms with cosmopolitan distribution, marked geographic patterns and ecological partitioning. Joint analysis of newly derived ITS1 sequences and 16S RFLP markers from global isolates indicates significant interspecific divergence as well as pronounced diversity for parthenogens, matching that of sexual ancestors. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods were largely congruent in reconstructing the phylogeny of the genus. Given the current sampling, at least four independent origins of parthenogenesis are deduced. Molecular clock calibrations based on biogeographic landmarks indicate that the lineage leading to A. persimilis diverged from the common ancestor of all Artemia species between 80 and 90 MYA at the time of separation of Africa from South America, whereas parthenogenesis first appeared at least 3 MYA. Common mitochondrial DNA haplotypes delineate A. urmiana and A. tibetiana as possible maternal parents of several clonal lineages. A novel topological placement of A. franciscana as a sister clade to all Asian Artemia and parthenogenetic forms is proposed and also supported by ITS1 length and other existing data.

Phylogenetic Relationships of Sorghum and Related Species Inferred from Sequence Analysis of the nrDNA ITS Region

Analysis of phylogenetic and evolution in six species of Sorghum was based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences in nuclear ribosomal DNA. Results showed that the length of the ITS regions among the six species ranged from 588 to 589 bp and the contents of G + C in ITS (ITS1+5.8S+ITS2) regions ranged from 60.27 to 61.05%; the length of ITS1 ranged from 207 to 208 bp and the contents of G + C in the ITS1 regions ranged from 53.91 to 61.54%. The length of the 5.8S rDNA and ITS2 regions in the six species was 164 and 217 bp respectively, and the contents of G + C ranged from 56.10 to 58.54% in the 5.8S rDNA region and 66.36 to 67.28% in the ITS2 region. Among regions of ITS, ITS1, ITS2, and 5.8S, the best sequence for genetic relationship analysis in the six species was the ITS region. On the basis of the Jaccard coefficient and phylogentic tree, S. sp. was more related to S. propinguum than to other species. This was consistent with the fact that S. sp. is derived from S. propinguum. From the phylogenetic tree based on ITS1, S. halepense, silk sorghum and S. sudanense, are identical in the ITS1 sequence, whereas the phylogenetic tree based one shows that S. sudanense has a closer genetic association with S. almum rather than with S. halepense and silk sorghum.

Pisolithus indicus, a new species of ectomycorrhizal fungus associated with Dipetrocarps in India

Pisolithus is cosmopolitan in both tropical and temperate regions and forms ectomycorrhizal associations with a wide range of woody plants. Pisolithus indicus, a new species associated with Vateria indica (Dipterocarpaceae) is reported in this study from a dipterocarp native forest in the Western Ghats in India, using both morphological and molecular tools. The length of ITS1 and ITS2 regions of the present collection differed with other sequences of Pisolithus available in the databases. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that this species did not show significant homology with existing Pisolithus sequences reported previously and formed a separate branch linking with another Pisolithus isolate from dipterocarps. Molecular and morphological evidence showed that P. indicus is a new species associated with dipterocarps in India.