Morphological Data Research Articles

Synonymy of the water mite subgenera Orientmomonia and Kondia in the genus Momonia (Momoniidae, Acari): an evaluation based on morphology and molecular data

Sympatric male and female specimens of the water mite genus Momonia were examined to clarify their taxonomic status based on morphology and molecular data. From the results of morphological examinations, the male was identified as Momonia (Orientmomonia) koreana Pešić, 2014, and the female was Momonia (Kondia) sp. In addition, molecular analysis revealed that both male and female belong to the same species. Consequently, the subgenus Orientmomonia Pešić, 2014, is regarded as the junior synonym of the subgenus Kondia Sokolow, 1926. The diagnosis of the subgenus Kondia is revised, and the specific status of Momonia koreana is corrected to Momonia (Kondia) koreana Pešić, 2014.

Morphological and Textural Data Fusion for Breast Cancer Classification Based on Inter and Intra group Variances

Morphological and Textural Data Fusion for Breast Cancer Classification Based on Inter and Intra group Variances

A new species of Homidia (Collembola: Entomobridae) from Korea, with notes on its DNA data

A new species, Homidia pseudokoreana sp. nov., from South Korea described based on morphological data and DNA barcodes. This species is morphologically characterized by the body color pattern with a longitudinal dark stripe on medial area of Th. II to Th. III, coxal macrochaetal formula as 3/4+1,3/4+2, and unguis III with three inner teeth. In this study, DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were used as DNA barcode to distinguish species. It showed distinct differences in genetic distances between Homidia species. DNA barcoding was a useful tool when identifying morphologically closely related species in Homidia.

Taxonomic revision of the formerly monotypic orchid genus Dactylostalix

The Calypsoinae orchid genus Dactylostalix, previously considered a monotypic genus endemic to Japan and the Russian Far East (the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island), is now redefined to encompass two species. This reclassification is based not only on the examination of type specimens and literature but also on molecular data. While Pergamena uniflora has long been regarded as a synonym of Dactylostalix ringens, it is distinguishable by its shorter scape, smaller flower, less spotted tepals, drooping sepals and lateral petals, labellum with smaller, narrowly triangular to ovate lateral lobes, more distinct keels on the adaxial surface of the lip, and a slender column with a smaller stigma and weakly developed clinandrium. We propose the new combination Dactylostalix uniflora, recognizing it as a distinct species within the genus Dactylostalix. Phylogenetic analysis utilizing genome-wide markers has also demonstrated that the two species are genetically distinct. Our findings, obtained through the integration of morphological data and molecular phylogenetics, indicate that D. uniflora represents a distinct evolutionary lineage from D. ringens. Examination of type specimens has led us to conclude that Calypso japonica, Dactylostalix maculosa, and Dactylostalix ringens f. punctatus are junior synonyms of D. ringens. Additionally, we designate the lectotypes for P. uniflora (= D. uniflora), C. japonica, and D. maculosa.

Percutaneous computed tomography-guided drainage of presacral fluid collections: a comprehensive analysis of 93 cases in a single-center experience

PurposeTo retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided drainage of presacral fluid collections.MethodsThe records of patients who underwent percutaneous CT-guided drainages of presacral fluid collections at our institution from January 2015 to October 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics and morphological data, procedural details, complications, and outcomes were analyzed.ResultsIn all, 93 patients with 95 presacral fluid collections received percutaneous CT-guided drainages. A total of 117 procedures were performed with 18 patients who required re-drainages. Technical and radiological success rate of drainage placement procedures was, respectively, 98% and 78%. One of 93 [1%] patients experienced a minor complication from drainage placement. No major complications occurred. The preferred approach was left infrapiriformis transgluteal in prone position. Median drainage size was 10 Fr (range 6–14 Fr).ConclusionsPercutaneous CT-guided drainage is a safe and effective treatment option for presacral fluid collections, which in selected cases can be used as an alternative to surgery or as a preparatory phase for it, with minor complications occurring rarely.

Review of the genus Karschia Walter, 1889 from Xizang, China (Solifugae, Karschiidae).

The species of the genus Karschia Walter, 1889, collected from Xizang, China, were reviewed. A total of six species were recognized using morphological and molecular data, Karschia (Karschia) tibetana Hirst, 1907 is redescribed based on newly collected males and females, and five new species, Karschia (Karschia) dingyesp. nov., Karschia (Karschia) lhasasp. nov., Karschia (Karschia) zhuisp. nov., Karschia (Karschia) shigatsesp. nov., and Karschia (Karschia) namlingsp. nov., are described.

Morphological and molecular data on helminths of Didelphis virginiana and Philander vossi (Mammalia: Didelphidae) from the Yucatán Peninsula, southeast Mexico

In the present study, helminths from six Didelphis virginiana and one Philander vossi are reported using morphological techniques (clearing, staining, and scanning electron microscopy). Additionally, the 28S rRNA sequences of individuals from nine helminth taxa are provided. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with the new 28S rRNA sequences to confirm the identification and the genealogical relationships of the parasites. Thirteen helminth taxa were identified, comprising the trematodes Brachylaima sp. and Platynosomum illiciens, the cestode Mathevotaenia sp., the nematodes Cruzia americana, Cruzia tentaculata, Viannaia arriaguensis, Viannaia sp., Travassostrongylus sp., Strongyloides sp., Turgida turgida, Trichuris minuta, and Trichuris sp., and the acanthocephalan Oligacanthorhynchus microcephalus. All opossums were infected with at least four helminth taxa. In total, 17 new 28S rRNA sequences from nine helminth taxa were provided. These data, combined with previous records in Mexico, increase the number of helminth taxa parasitizing D. virginiana and P. vossi to 41 and 29, respectively. However, these reports are incompletes and concentered in localities of some states. It is possible that new surveys in the Nearctic and even Neotropical regions will reveal a higher helminth diversity in these mammals in the country.

Evaluation of Bitemark Analysis's Potential Application in Forensic Identification: A Systematic Review.

to investigate the available literature systematically and evaluate the scientific evidence published over the past decade concerning the potential application of bitemark analysis in forensic identification. Two researchers meticulously searched electronic databases from January 2012 to December 2023, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Adhering to the PRISMA statement guidelines, this review employed appropriate medical subject headings (MeSHs) and free-text synonyms. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied during article retrieval. The findings yielded controversial outcomes. Approximately two-thirds of the articles concluded that bitemark analysis is useful in forensic identification, while the remaining articles did not report statistically significant outcomes and cautioned against relying solely on bitemark analysis for identification. The authors assert that bitemark analysis can be a reliable and complementary method for forensic identification, contingent upon the establishment and adoption of a universally accepted global protocol for data collection, processing, and interpretation. Undoubtedly, recent years have witnessed a notable increase in research focused on bitemark identification, driven by the goal of achieving quantitative, objective, reproducible, and accurate results.

Three new species of Neohelicomyces (Tubeufiales, Tubeufiaceae) from freshwater and terrestrial habitats in China.

Neohelicomyces species are a group of helicosporous hyphomycetes with the potential to produce secondary metabolites. During our investigation of helicosporous fungi, six collections were isolated from both terrestrial and freshwater habitats in Guizhou Province, China. Based on multigene phylogenetic analysis (ITS, LSU, tef1α and rpb2), coupled with morphological data, three new Neohelicomyces species, viz. N.guizhouensis, N.helicosporus and N.hydei were established. A list of accepted Neohelicomyces species with molecular data was provided. The strain of Neohelicomycespallidus (UAMH 10535) was synonymised under N.denticulatus based on molecular data.

Changes in the level of tyrosinase expression in the retinal pigment epithelium during the development of experimental optic nerve degeneration

BACKGROUND: With optic nerve degeneration of various origins, retinal neurons are the most vulnerable, and their state under these conditions has been studied in sufficient detail. At the same time, the retinal pigment epithelium plays a very important role, realizing the synthesis of melanin and performing antioxidant, phagocytic, transport, protective, and homeostatic functions. Tyrosinase serves as a key enzyme in melanogenesis by cells of this epithelium. The development of methods for early diagnosis of optic nerve atrophy is extremely important due to the fact that functional visual impairments appear later than structural ones, at more advanced stages of the disease. The retinal pigment epithelium cannot be insensitive to the processes that occur during optic nerve degeneration. That is why its study in experimental degeneration of the optic nerve is necessary for a more complete understanding of the processes occurring in the visual analyzer under these conditions. AIM: To study changes in the level of tyrosinase expression in the retinal pigment epithelium at different development stages of experimental optic nerve degeneration based on morphological data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The subjects of the study were 40 rat eyes after creating a model of optic nerve atrophy using methanol. The animals were divided into five groups: the first group — control; the second to fifth groups included animals whose eyes were enucleated 1, 3, 6 and 9 weeks after the creation of the aminophylline-methanol model of optic nerve atrophy, respectively. The retinal pigment epithelium was studied using fluorescent antibodies to tyrosinase Tyrosinase Mouse Monoclonal. Immunofluorescence staining was performed on fixed transverse sections of the eyeball. Statistical analysis and visualization of the obtained data were carried out using the environment for statistical computing R 4.2.2. RESULTS: A comparative analysis of the results obtained revealed that the level of tyrosinase expression in the fifth group was on average 4.21 times [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.49–7.13, p=0.00076], 9.31 times (95% CI 5.47–15.85, p=0.00033), 2.63 times (95% CI 1.51–4.58, p=0.0009) and 3.44 times (95% CI 1.96–6.03, p=0.00055) higher compared to the first, second, third and fourth groups, respectively. The level of tyrosinase in experimental samples in the first, third and fourth groups was statistically higher compared to the level of tyrosinase in the second group by an average of 2.21 times (95% CI 1.33–3.66, p=0.0003), 3.53 times (95% CI 2.08–6.02, p=0.00069) and 2.71 times (95% CI 1.58–4.65, p=0.00022), respectively. CONCLUSION: As degenerative processes develop in the optic nerve fibers under these conditions, the integrity of the retinal pigment epithelium is disrupted, which is characterized by an increase in antibodies to tyrosinase in the retinal pigment epithelium of experimental animals.

Integrating spatial analyses of genomic and physiological data to understand avian responses to environmental change.

Projected rates of climate change over the next century are expected to force species to shift ranges, adapt or acclimate to evade extinction. Predicting which of these scenarios may be most likely is a central challenge for conserving biodiversity in the immediate future. Modeling frameworks that take advantage of intraspecific variation across environmental gradients can be particularly important for meeting this challenge. While these space-for-time approaches are essential for climatic and genomic modeling approaches, mechanistic models that incorporate ecological physiology data into assessing species vulnerabilities rarely include intraspecific variation. A major reason for this gap is the general lack of empirical data on intraspecific geographic variation in avian physiological traits. In this review, we outline the evidence for and processes shaping geographic variation in avian traits. We use the example of evaporative water loss to underscore the lack of research on geographic variation even in traits central to cooling costs in birds. We next demonstrate how shifting the focus of avian physiological research to intraspecific variation can facilitate greater integration with emerging genomics approaches. Finally, we outline important next steps for an integrative approach to advance understanding of avian physiological adaptation within species. Addressing the knowledge gaps outlined in this review will contribute to an improved predictive framework that synthesizes environmental, morphological, physiological, and genomic data to assess species specific vulnerabilities to a warming planet.

Assessment of an AI-based tool for population-wide collection of placental morphological data

ObjectivesAutomated placental assessment could allow accurate and timely morphological/pathological measurements at scale. We undertook a pilot study using an artificial intelligence-based assessment system (AI-PLAX) to ascertain the potential of a state-wide rollout as part of Generation Victoria, assessing the impact of time post-delivery, user, and technology used for image capture, on a range of derived placental data. Study designTen placentas were imaged by three different users and imaging technologies (iPad, iPhone, Samsung) at (0 h), 24 h, and 48 h post-delivery. Using AI-PLAX, disc size (short and long length, perimeter, area), shape (normal, abnormal), cord insertion type (central, eccentric), cord coiling, abruption (retroplacental hematoma), and meconium staining were determined. ResultsWhen analysing the maternal surface of the placenta, time in cold storage post-delivery had modest effects on placental dimensions, with decreases in the short length (24–48 h: −3.7 %), disc area (0–24 h: 4.7 % and 0–48 h: −7.4 %), and perimeter (0–48 h: −3.8 %) observed. There was marginal impact on placental dimensions when the placenta was imaged by different users, including long length (+1.9 %), disc area (+2.9 %), and perimeter (+2.0 %). Measures of placental size were not impacted by the type of technology used to capture the images. When analysing the fetal surface of the placenta, more variance in placental size measures were observed between users. Abruption detection was not affected by any parameter. Time between delivery and imaging impacted apparent meconium staining – likely reflecting changes in fetal surface colour over time. Meconium staining was not affected by technology or user. ConclusionsThis study supports the feasibility of the collection of placenta images for later morphological analysis by AI-PLAX, with measures obtained minimally influenced by time in cold storage, user imaging the placenta, or technology to capture the images.

Ongoing Study Reveals High Aquatic Fungal Diversity; An Untouched Component in Sri Lankan Biodiversity

Sri Lanka is an island nation with diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, grasslands, and vast coasts. The country showcases a rich aquatic ecosystem that includes both coastal and inland waters. Freshwater habitats such as rivers, streams, marshes, and man-made reservoirs are the host for diverse fungal communities. However, documentation and identification of freshwater fungi in Sri Lanka have not yet been done as they face significant challenges, including unexplored taxa, misidentification, and hitherto reliance on morphological data, as well as limited funding, awareness, and expertise. This study aims to assess the limitations, potentials, and conservation efforts related to the identification of fungi in freshwater habitats in Sri Lanka. The assessment has revealed several potential opportunities for future research, including the exploration of novel fungal strains that are found in freshwater habitats, identification and classification of existing fungi, setting up and utilization of the freshwater fungal repository, access to reference databases, and identification of industrial applications.

Phylogeny and morphology of some European cyathocotylid digeneans (Trematoda: Diplostomoidea).

The Cyathocotylidae Mühling, 1898 is a family of primitive diplostomoid trematodes important for understanding the evolution of the superfamily Diplostomoidea. However, cyathocotylids remain poorly studied with the use of molecular techniques. In this study we sequenced the 5.8S + ITS2 region, 28S rRNA, and cox1 genes of two cyathocotylid species and obtained new morphological data on them. We propose Georduboisia nom. nov. instead of the preoccupied name Duboisia Szidat, 1936 (junior homonym of Duboisia Stremme, 1911). Adults of Georduboisia cf. teganuma (Ishii, 1935) and Paracoenogonimus ovatus Katsurada, 1914 were collected from fish-eating birds in the south of the European part of Russia. Georduboisia cf. teganuma was very similar to G.teganuma but differed from it in the shape of the testes. The 28S rRNA gene dataset provided the best-resolved phylogeny of the Cyathocotylidae to date. In the phylogram based on partial sequences of this gene, P. ovatus was close to members of Holostephanoides Dubois, 1983, Neogogatea Chandler & Rausch, 1947 and Gogatea Szidat, 1936. Georduboisia cf. teganuma clustered with members of Cyathocotyle Mühling, 1896 and Holostephanus Szidat, 1936. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 5.8S + ITS2 dataset showed that adults of P. ovatus examined in our study were conspecific with the metacercariae from the musculature of fish collected in Hungary and Italy. It also revealed probable misidentifications of larvae and adults of cyathocotylids whose sequences are deposited in GenBank NCBI.

Are Endomyocardial Ventricular Biopsies Useful for Assessing Myocardial Fibrosis?

Myocardial fibrosis is an important factor in the progression of cardiovascular diseases. However, there is still no universal lifetime method of myocardial fibrosis assessment that has a high prognostic significance. The aim of the study was to determine the significance of ventricular endomyocardial biopsies for the assessment of myocardial fibrosis and to identify the severity of myocardial fibrosis in different cardiovascular diseases. Material and Methods: Endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) of 20 patients with chronic lymphocytic myocarditis (CM), endomyocardial fragments obtained during septal reduction of 21 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and 36 patients with a long history of hypertensive and ischemic heart disease (HHD + IHD) were included in the study. The control group was formed from EMBs taken on 12-14 days after heart transplantation (n = 28). Also, for one patient without clinical and morphological data for cardiovascular pathology, postmortem myocardial fragments were taken from typical EMB and septal reduction sites. The relative area of fibrosis was calculated as the ratio of the total area of collagen fibers to the area of the whole biopsy. Endocardium and subendocardial fibrosis were not included in the total biopsy area. Results: The relative fibrosis area in the EMBs in the CM patient group was 5.6 [3.3; 12.6]%, 11.1 [6.6; 15.9]% in the HHD + IHD patient group, 13.4 [8.8; 16.7]% in the HCM patient group, and 2.7 [1.5; 4.6]% in the control group. When comparing the fibrosis area of the CM patients in repeat EMBs, it was found that the fibrosis area in the first EMBs was 7.6 [4.8; 12.0]%, and in repeat EMBs, it was 5.3 [3.2; 7.6]%. No statistically significant differences were found between the primary and repeat EMBs (p = 0.15). In ROC analysis, the area of fibrosis in the myocardium of 1.1% (or lower than one) was found to be highly specific for the control group of patients compared to the study patients. Conclusions: EMB in the assessment of myocardial fibrosis has a questionable role because of the heterogeneity of fibrotic changes in the myocardium.

Circumscription of the Ganaspis brasiliensis (Ihering, 1905) species complex (Hymenoptera, Figitidae), and the description of two new species parasitizing the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, 1931 (Diptera, Drosophilidae)

Based on host specificity and distribution data, it has been hypothesized that Ganaspis brasiliensis (Ihering, 1905), a natural enemy of the horticultural pest spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, 1931 (SWD), was composed of multiple, cryptic species. Parasitoid wasps assigned to the species name Ganaspis brasiliensis and Ganaspis cf. brasiliensis were investigated using a molecular dataset of ultra-conserved elements (UCEs) and morphology. We report strong evidence for the presence of cryptic species based on the combination of UCE data (1,379 UCE loci), host specificity, ovipositor morphology, and distribution data. We describe these new cryptic species as: Ganaspis lupinisp. nov., and Ganaspis kimorumsp. nov.Ganaspis lupini was formerly recognized as Ganaspis brasiliensis G3, and Ganaspis kimorum as Ganaspis brasiliensis G1. These two new species appear to be restricted to the temperate climates, whereas Ganaspis brasiliensis (formerly recognized as Ganaspis brasiliensis G5) has a more pan-tropical distribution. We investigated the characterization of the ovipositor clip of these species, and hypothesize that G. kimorum, which has a reduced ovipositor clip, has an advantage in ovipositing into fresh fruit, still on the host plant, while attacking SWD; as a corollary, G. brasiliensis and G. lupini, which both have a larger ovipositor clip, are better adapted to attacking hosts in softer, rotting fruit on the ground. As Ganaspis kimorum was authorized for release as a biological control agent against SWD under the name Ganaspis brasiliensis G1, the results here have direct impact on the field of biological control.

Morphological and molecular data confirm the occurrence of Paramphistomum leydeni (Trematoda: Paramphistomidae) in ruminants from Southern Brazil

Species belonging to the family Paramphistomidae Fischoeder, 1901, commonly known as “rumen flukes”, are a group of parasites frequently related to Brazilian livestock production. They inhabit the digestive tract of ruminants and have recognized pathogenicity during the early stages of infection, which can be responsible for economic losses. These trematodes are often associated with Southern Brazil, a region heavily focused on animal farming, which also makes it ideal for the life cycle of paramphistomes. Despite their aforementioned importance, studies regarding their distribution, molecular taxonomy and biology are still scarce in the country. In the present study, rumen flukes collected from cattle (n = 22) and sheep (n = 3) from 9 batches of ruminants from the cities of Jaguarão, Pelotas and Rio Grande, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between May and July 2022, were subjected to morphological and molecular study. The microscopic analysis of histological and manual cuts revealed diagnostical traits compatible with Paramphistomum leydeni Näsmark, 1937, including the presence of tegumental papillae, pharynx of the liorchis type and acetabulum of the leydeni type. Molecular data corroborated the morphological identification, with ITS-2 and cox-1 sequences here obtained presenting 100% and 96.8–99.8% similarity, respectively, to P. leydeni samples previously characterized in different countries from Asia, Europe, and South America. Intensity of infection ranged from 5 to 458 and 1 to3 specimens of P. leydeni in sampled cattle and sheep, respectively. The present study contributes to a better understanding of the taxonomy of the flukes involved in cattle and sheep paramphistomosis in Brazil, suggesting that P. leydeni could be the main paramphistome species found in ruminants in the studied region.

Aptrootia khaoyaiensis (Trypetheliaceae), a new corticolous lichen from the dry dipterocarp forest in central Thailand

Abstract Aptrootia khaoyaiensis Polyiam & Lücking is described as new to science from dry dipterocarp forest in central Thailand, based on morphological assessment and sequence data of the mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU). The new species is characterized by a corticolous habit, a corticate thallus, ascomata typically immersed in the thallus, with a brown to blackish ostiolar region, an inspersed hamathecium, and dark brown, muriform ascospores occurring 1–2 per ascus. Phylogenetic analyses support placement of the new species in Aptrootia; it is morphologically close to A. elatior but differs in the smaller ascospores and the inspersed hamathecium.

First Report of Alternaria alternata Causing Postharvest Fruit Rot of Indian Jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) in China.

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., commonly known as Indian jujube or ber, is a popular fruit crops grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of China. It is commonly stored at 4℃, relative humidity of about 90%, combined with waxing or sealing with film bag. In January 2023, a postharvest fruit rot was observed on Indian jujube in three markets located in Nanchang city of Jiangxi province, China, with a disease incidence of 4 to 10%. Initially, brown spots appeared on the surface or base of thefruit, which gradually expanded into irregular brown lesions. Gray-white hyphae developed in the center of the lesions, and ultimately thefruitrotted. To isolate the pathogen, small pieces (5 × 5 mm) of ten infected fruits were surface-sterilized in 75% ethanol for 15 s and then 1% sodium hypochlorite for 30 s, rinsed three times in sterile water, plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 25°C for 3 days. Eight strains with similar morphological characteristics were isolated, and one representative isolate (JXAA-1) was used for morphological and molecular characterization. The colonies on PDA were initially olive green with white margins, and later turned dark olive or black with profuse sporulation. Conidia were borne singly or in a chain, brown, with 1 to 5 transverse septa and 0 to 3 longitudinal septa, obclavate to obpyriform, and measured 12.9 to 33.7 × 7.5 to 12.9 μm (n = 30). On the basis of morphological characteristics, the isolates were tentatively identified as Alternaria spp. (Simmons 2007). To confirm the identification, genomic DNA was extracted from the isolate JXAA-1 with the Fungi Genomic DNA Extraction Kit (Solarbio Biotech, China). The 18S nrDNA (SSU), 28S nrDNA (LSU), internal transcribed spacer of the rDNA (ITS), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1), Alternaria major allergen gene (Alt a 1), endopolygalacturonase (EndoPG) and an anonymous gene regions (OPA 10-2) were amplified and sequenced using primers NS1/NS4, LR7/LR0R, ITS5/ITS4, gpd1/gpd2, EF1-728F/EF1-986R, Alt-for/Alt-rev, PG3/PG2b, OPA10-2L/OPA10-2R, respectively (Woudenberg et al. 2015). The obtained DNA sequences (SSU: PP190241; LSU: PP190242; ITS: PP189927; GAPDH: PP196557; TEF1: PP196558; Alt a 1: PP196559; EndoPG: PP196560; and OPA 10-2: PP196561) showed 100% homology with those of A. alternata (GenBank accession nos. MT000349 [1020/1020 bp]; KP940477 [1312/1312 bp]; MK972909 [583/583 bp]; MN615421 [593/593 bp]; MN046379 [280/280 bp]; MN304714 [490/490 bp]; MN698284 [458/458 bp] and MH975214 [701/701 bp]). A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed by combining all sequenced loci in IQTREE web servers. The isolate JXAA-1 clustered with Alternaria alternata (CBS 121336). The fungus associated with postharvest fruit rot on Z. mauritiana was thus identified as A. alternata. To evaluate the pathogenicity, six surface sterilized fruits were wounded by a sterile scalpel and inoculated with a 10 μl drop of spore suspension (1 × 105 conidia/ml) of isolate JXAA-1. Another six fruits were inoculated with sterilized ddH2O as control and the experiment was repeated three times. All fruits were incubated at 25°C and 80% relative humidity. After 5 days, all the wounded fruit inoculated with A. alternata showed similar symptoms to those observed previously, while the control fruits remained healthy. A. alternata was consistently reisolated from infected fruit and confirmed by morphological and molecular data, fulfilling Koch's postulates. A.alternata has previously been reported causing leaf spot and fruit rot on Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) in China (Bai et al. 2015; Li et al. 2021). But to our knowledge, this is the first report of A. alternata causing postharvest fruit rot on Indian jujube (Z. mauritiana) in China. Therefore, managers should pay more attention to postharvest fruit rot of jujube caused by A. alternata, the foam bag is put on after the membrane bag is sealed, the broken or infected fruit is picked out in time to reduce the spread of pathogenic fungus.

Sex- and cycle-dependent changes in spine density and size in hippocampal CA2 neurons

Sex hormones affect structural and functional plasticity in the rodent hippocampus. However, hormone levels not only differ between males and females, but also fluctuate across the female estrous cycle. While sex- and cycle-dependent differences in dendritic spine density and morphology have been found in the rodent CA1 region, but not in the CA3 or the dentate gyrus, comparable structural data on CA2, i.e. the hippocampal region involved in social recognition memory, is so far lacking. In this study, we, therefore, used wildtype male and female mice in diestrus or proestrus to analyze spines on dendritic segments from identified CA2 neurons. In basal stratum oriens, we found no differences in spine density, but a significant shift towards larger spine head areas in male mice compared to females. Conversely, in apical stratum radiatum diestrus females had a significantly higher spine density, and females in either cycle stage had a significant shift towards larger spine head areas as compared to males, with diestrus females showing the larger shift. Our results provide further evidence for the sexual dimorphism of hippocampal area CA2, and underscore the importance of considering not only the sex, but also the stage of the estrous cycle when interpreting morphological data.