Species diversity of thrips (Thysanoptera) in selected avocado orchards from Mexico based on morphology and molecular data

Avocado is one of the most important crops in the world, and Mexico is the largest producer of this fruit. Several insect pests affect its production, and thrips are amongst the most important. A key step in the design of control methods is accurate species identification. Despite this, formal reports on species diversity of thrips in Mexico are very scarce. Morphological identification can sometimes be time-consuming and inconclusive. Therefore, we explored the species diversity of thrips in Mexican avocado orchards （Michoacan state） based on partial sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I （COl）. Forty-four specimens were analysed, which represented approximately 8% of all individuals collected from five localities distributed in three Municipalities. All specimens were analysed using the COl marker, and specimens within the genera Frankliniella were also analysed using a marker within the D2 domain of the 28S （28SD2） nuclear ribosomal DNA. Molecular identifications were confirmed using morphological taxonomy. Overall, six genera were found （Neohydatothrips, Scirtothrips, Frankliniella, Arorathrips, Caliothrips and Leptothrips）. AII genera contained only one species, except Frankliniella, for which there were six species. Data from the two molecular markers suggest the existence of cryptic species within Mexican F. occidentalis populations.

Effect of Algae on Melon(Cucumis melo subsp.agrestis var.conomon)Growth and Development under Drought-Stress Conditions

Due to climate change,it is necessary to develop plant varieties that are resilient to climate conditions and resistant to abiotic and biotic stresses.The use of microalgae,which are microorganisms that contain carbohydrates,proteins,lipids,and vitamins,against drought tolerance is a new approach.The aim of the current study was to determine the drought-related mechanisms in the conomon melon genotype and develop drought-tolerant melon cultivars.Morphological,physiological,pomological,and molecular analyses were carried out on the algae-treated genotypes.It has been determined that commercial algae application provides the best results in leaf temperature,leaf relative water contents(LRWC),plant height,fruit length,fruit diameter,and yield,while Cag Cag(a special river in the region)stream algae application gives better results in main stem diameter.It was determined that the number of nodes in the control(without algae)plots was higher than in the other two treatments.Yield and LRWC and plant height values of genotype 7 were the best values among other genotypes.The leaf temperature measurement was lower on genotype 9 than on the other genotypes.While the highest fruit length value was measured in genotype 1,genotype 8 was superior in the main stem diameter,fruit diameter,and the number of nodes among the remaining plant materials.In terms of yield,it was determined that the interaction between genotype 2 and the commercial algae resulted in the best outcomes.In addition,the results of the genetic evaluation revealed that the materials used were not genetically distant from each other and more detailed genetic evaluations are needed.The molecular kinship analysis revealed that the genotypes used in the study were divided into three distinct groups,with individuals within each group exhibiting a high degree of relatedness to one another.As a result of the study,it was found that the application of microalgae had significant effects on improving the drought tolerance of Cucumis melo subsp.agrestis var.conomon genotypes.

Are Acila divaricata and Acila mirabilis One Species or Two Distinct Species? Evidence from COI Mitochondrial DNA

Acila divaricata （Hinds, 1843） and A. mirabilis （Adams and Reeve, 1850） are common benthic bivalves in China. A number of researchers have proposed that the latter species is a junior synonym of the former species. Because of morphological similarities, it is difficult to distinguish these two species based on visual examination only. For better understanding of their taxon-omy, the mitochondrial CO1 gene fragments of five individuals of A. divaricata from the East China Sea and six individuals of A. mirabilis from the Yellow Sea were sequenced in this study. The phylogenetic relationships of the obtained COI sequences, together with nineteen sequences of three species of the genus Nucula, were analyzed. The pairwise intra- and inter-specific distances for the CO1 sequences ranged from 0.002 to 0.017 and from 0.128 to 0.134, respectively, and no overlap was found. Phylogenetically, A. divaricata and A. mirabilis form distinct clades and cluster into a sister to all other Nucula species. The results indicated that A. di-varicata and A. mirabilis are two distinct species. The differences in the morphology and distribution between the two species were briefly discussed.

First record of Pantropical spotted dolphins Stenella attenuata in the Yellow Sea, China

On October 1, 2009, sixteen dolphins were obtained from fishermen by incidental catching in the Yellow Sea, China. As the dolphins＇ skin color was ambiguous, morphological parameters were measured, and mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b （Cyt b） gene sequence was studied to identify the species. Morphological characteristics were consistent with Pantropical spotted dolphins, Stenella attenuata. Furthermore, a partial mitochondrial DNA eytoehrome b （Cyt b） gene sequence as long as 328-bp was studied by extracting genomic DNA from the skins, and six haplotypes were detected in the sixteen dolphins. By comparing homologous sequences available in GenBank （www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov）, all the six haplotypes had maximal genetic similarity with Pantropical spotted dolphin. Eight species of cetacean （whales and dolphins） are now recognised in the Yellow Sea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of Pantropical spotted dolphins from this region. Despite this species being listed as a Grade II National Key Protected Animal since 1988, little is known of its biology in Chinese waters. We recommend remedial research be undertaken to ensure appropriate management.

Morphological and molecular characterization of invasive Biomphalaria straminea in southern China

Background:Schistosomiasis is a common parasitic disease designated as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization.Schistosomiasis mansoni is a form of the disease that is caused by the digenean trematode Schistosoma mansoni,transmitted through Biomphalaria spp.as an intermediate host.Biomphalaria was introduced to Hong Kong,China in aquatic plants shipments coming from Brazil and the snail rapidly established its habitats in southern China.Earlier studies of Biomphalaria spp.introduced to southern China identified the snails as Biomphalaria straminea,one of the susceptible species implicated in S.mansoni transmission in South America.However,recent molecular investigations also indicated the presence of another South American species,B.kuhniana,which is refractory to infection.As such,it is important to identify accurately the species currently distributed in southern China,especially with emerging reports of active S.mansoni infections in Chinese workers returning from Africa.Methods:We combined morphological and molecular taxonomy tools to precisely identify Biomphalaria spp.distributed in Guangdong Province,southern China.In order to clearly understand the molecular profile of the species,we constructed a phylogeny using mtDNA data(COI and 16S rRNA sequences)from six populations of Biomphalaria spp.from Shenzhen City in Guangdong Province.In addition,we examined the external morphology of the shell and internal anatomy of the reproductive organs.Results:Both morphological and molecular evidences indicated a close affinity between Biomphalaria spp.populations from Guangdong and B.straminea from Brazil.The shell morphology was roughly identical in all the populations collected with rounded whorls on one side and subangulated on the other,a smooth periphery,an egg-shaped aperture bowed to one side,and a deep umbilicus.The shape and number of prostate diverticula(ranged from 11.67 to 17.67)in Guangdong populations supports its close affinity to B.straminea rather than B.kuhniana.Molecular analysis did not conflict with morphological analysis.Little genetic differentiation was observed within Biomphalaria populations collected.Phylogenetic analysis of COI and 16S rRNA haplotypes from snails collected and B.straminea sequences from Brazil and China using Bayesian inference revealed that Guangdong populations were clustered in one clade with B.straminea from Hong Kong of China and B.straminea from Brazil indicating their close affinity to each other.Conclusions:Data obtained in the current study clearly show that the populations of Biomphalaria spp.investigated are B.straminea,and we assume that those snails were either introduced via passive dispersal from Hong Kong of China or as a result of multiple introduction routes from Brazil.

Freshwater fungal number

A comprehensive account of fungal classification from freshwater habitats is outlined and discussed in the present review based on literature of biodiversity studies and recent morpho-phylogenetic analyses.A total of 3,870 freshwater fungal species are listed with additional details on the isolation source,habitat,geographical distribution,and molecular data.The Ascomycota(2,968 species,1,018 genera)dominated the freshwater fungal taxa wherein Sordariomycetes(823 species,298 genera)had the largest number,followed by Dothideomycetes(677 species,229 genera),Eurotiomycetes(276 species,49 genera),and Leotiomycetes(260 species,83 genera).Other phyla included in the updated classification of freshwater fungi are:Chytridiomycota(333 species,97 genera),Rozellomycota(221 species,105 genera),Basidiomycota(218 species,100 genera),Blastocladiomycota(47 species,10 genera),Monoblepharomycota(29 species,6 genera),Mucoromycota(19 spe-cies,10 genera),Aphelidiomycota(15 species,3 genera),Entomophthoromycota(6 species,4 genera),Mortierellomycota(5 species,3 genera),Olpidiomycota(4 species,1 genus),Zoopagomycota(3 species,2 genera),and Sanchytriomycota(2 species,2 genera).The freshwater fungi belong to 1,361 genera,386 families and 145 orders.The Pleosporales and Laboulbeniaceae are the largest freshwater fungal order and family comprised of 391 and 185 species,respectively.The most speciose genera are Chitonomyces(87,Laboulbeniomycetes),Verrucaria(50,Eurotiomycetes),Rhizophydium(52,Rhizophydiomycetes),Penicillium(47,Eurotiomycetes),and Candida(42,Saccharomycetes).

Dothideales

The type specimens or representative specimens of the potentially dothidealean genera Bagnisiella,Botryochora,Coccostromella,Columnosphaeria,Delphinel la,Dictyodothis,Discosphaerina,Dothidea,Dothiora,Endodothiora,Jaffuela,Mycoporis,Omphalospora,Pachysacca,Plowrightia,Saccothecium,Stylodothis,Sydowia and Yoshinagaia were examined while,fresh specimens of Aureobasidium pullulans,Dothidea insculpta,Plowrightia ribesia and Saccothecium sepincola were made from Italy and Thailand.An introduction and the history of these genera,their family placement,morphology,and molecular phylogeny are provided.Morphology plus GenBank data are used to provide a systematic treatment of Dothideales.Phylogenetic analysis of LSU,SSU and ITS gene regions was carried out and in the resulting phylogenetic tree the taxa cluster in two clades with high bootstrap support.Clade A comprises Dothideaceae,the family type of Dothideales.The family Dothioraceae is not recognized as a distinct family and is synonymized under Dothideaceae.Neocylindroseptoria is introduced to accommodate Cylindroseptoria pistaciae as it forms a well-supported distinct clade in Dothideaceae.Clade B comprises Aureobasidium,Kabatiella,Pseudoseptoria,Saccothecium and Selenophoma species and Columnosphaeria fagi,for which we propose a new family,Aureobasidiaceae.The recently introduced Sydowia eucalypti also clustered within Clade B and therefore based on morphology and molecular phylogeny a new genus Pseudosydowia is introduced for Sydowia eucalypti.Celosporium laricicola is separated in a distinct clade,and therefore it is placed in Dothideales,genera,incertae sedis.The genera Bagnisiella,Botryochora,Coccostromella,Jaffuela,Lucidascocarpa,Mycoporis,Omphalospora,Pachysacca and Yoshinagaia are excluded from Dothideales and their placements are discussed.

Taxonomic study of the genus Niwaella(Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) from East China, with description of four new species

Four loaches, Niwaella brevipinna Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov., N. fimbriata Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov., N. nigrolinea Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov. and N. qujiangensis Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov., are described based on specimens collected from Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces, East China. The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of 28 individuals of seven species from seven locations collected from Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces were amplified and analyzed. Morphological and molecular data showed that N. fimbriata Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov. and N. nigrolinea Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov., N. brevipinna Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov. and N. laterimaculata（Yan ＆ Zheng）, N. qujiangensis Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov. and N. longibarba Chen ＆ Chen are closely related. The seven Chinese Niwaella species, N. brevipinna Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov., N. fimbriata Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov., N. laterimaculata, N. longibarba, N. nigrolinea Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov., N. qujiangensis Chen ＆ Chen, sp. nov., and N. xinjiangensis are clearly distinguished by the combination of the color patter, mental lobes, suborbital spine, caudal peduncle, body shape, and subdorsal scales.

Two new species of the genus Cobitis(Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) from South China

Two spined loaches, Cobitis oxycephala Chen YX ＆ Chen YF, sp. nov. and C. brachysoma Chen YX ＆ Chen YF, sp. nov., are described based on specimens collected from Guangdong and Hainan Provinces, South China. Morphology features and sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of these two new species were analyzed. Morphological and molecular data show that C. oxycephala Chen YX ＆ Chen YF, sp. nov. is closely related to C. dolichorhynchus Nichols, and C. brachysoma Chen YX ＆ Chen YF, sp. nov. is closely related to C. microcephala Chen ＆ Chen. These two new species can be distinguished from their congeners by the combination of characteristics of body shape, color pattern, lamina circularis, mental lobes, suborbital spine, subdorsal scales, and caudal peduncle.