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Flavobacterium psychrophilum is the causative agent of bacterial cold‐water disease and rainbow trout syndrome in freshwater salmonid fish worldwide, generating injuries and high mortality rates. Despite several studies on this bacterium, the infection mechanism remains unknown due to limitations in the employed animal models. In this work, we propose using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model for studying bacterial pathogenicity. To substantiate this proposal, zebrafish infection by F. psychrophilum strain JIP 02/86 was characterized. Zebrafish larvae were infected using the bath method, and morphological changes and innate immune system activation were monitored using transgenic fish. Salmonid‐like infection phenotypes were observed in 4.74% of treated larvae, as manifested by fin, muscle and caudal peduncle damage. Symptomatic and dead larvae accounted for 1.35% of all challenged larvae. Interestingly, infected larvae with no infection phenotypes showed stronger innate immune system activation than specimens with phenotypes. A failure of function assay for myeloid factor pu.1 resulted in more infected larvae (up to 43.5%), suggesting that low infection rates by F. psychrophilum would be due to the protective actions of the innate immune system against this bacterium in zebrafish larvae. Our results support the use of zebrafish as an infection model for studying F. psychrophilum. Furthermore, the percentage of infected fish can be modulated by disturbing, to varying extents, the differentiation of myeloid cells. Using this evidence as a starting point, different aspects of the infection mechanism of F. psychrophilum could be studied in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolutionary processes in plants such as hybridization and polyploidy are relevant to speciation and little studied in subtropical South America. In subtropical South America, the genus Mimosa is highly diverse, comprising 30% of polyploid species. The origin and genetic and morphological structure of polyploids in Mimosa are only very recently investigated, as well as their relevance to speciation, morphological variation, and distribution. Mimosa subser. Dolentes–Brevipedes, a taxonomic complex from that region, exhibits polyploidy, with specific and infraspecific taxa confusedly circumscribed. Studies of its population biology would facilitate the elucidation of evolutionary processes in Mimosa and resolution of taxonomic conflicts. We performed a multidisciplinary study of this complex, analysing seven populations and 87 individuals by means of morphometry, and AFLP fingerprinting throughout its area of distribution. Five populations included several taxa and intermediate individuals. Morphometric analyses revealed three clusters, distinguished mainly by leaf morphology and inflorescence. One population was tetraploid, one was tetraploid/octoploid and the rest octoploid. Genetic differentiation was high (PhiPT = 0.277) and expected heterozygosity was moderate (He = 0.190; H = 0.271). Multivariate molecular analyses revealed genetic divergence between highland and lowland grasslands. Structural genetic analyses revealed three clusters: two mixed, distinctly predominant in lowland/highland grasslands; another, exclusively from Mercedes. Molecular analysis of variance showed significant differences between highland/lowland grasslands and cytotypes. Cytotypes and populations differed partially by morphology. Tetraploids were morphologically similar to the sympatric octoploids, showing similar genetic structure and gene flow; furthermore, tetraploids are involved in origin of these higher polyploids. The systematics of this complex requires revision: subseries Dolentes and some Brevipedes species could be considered as one subseries. Admixture of genetic clusters and intermediates can be explained by hybridization and introgression. A marginal population differed from the others by morphology and genetics thus suggesting incipient speciation at the geographic edges of this complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio ordalii is an extracellular, Gram‐negative bacterium that produces vibriosis in salmonids. While pathogenesis is not fully understood, this bacterium has numerous likely genes for adhesion, colonization, invasion factors and, as recently suggested, intracellular behaviour. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify possible intracellular behaviour for V. ordalii Vo‐LM‐18 and ATCC 33509T in the fish‐cell lines SHK‐1 and CHSE‐214. Confocal microscopy revealed Vo‐LM‐18 and ATCC 33509T inside cytoplasm in both fish‐cell lines at 4 hr post‐inoculation (hpi). At 8 and 16 hpi, the proportion of fish cells invaded by both strains increased. Moreover, intracellular V. ordalii were observed after 8 hpi inside mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF), demonstrating that entry was not due to a cellular phagocytosis process. Flow cytometry confirmed immunocytochemistry results, with both V. ordalii evidencing statistically significant differences in the number of infected cells between 8 and 16 hpi. Interestingly, V. ordalii infection did not significantly damage fish cells, as determined by LDH liberation. Viable counts at 8 hpi detected, on average for both lines, 176 ± 47 CFU/ml of culturable intracellular Vo‐LM‐18 and ATCC 33509T cells. These in vitro findings support the facultative intracellular behaviour of V. ordalii and may be of importance for understanding pathogenicity and survival in aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gran Chaco is a wide ecologic-geographic region comprising northern Argentina, western Paraguay, southern Bolivia and the southwestern extreme of Brazil. This region exhibits extreme temperatures, annually regular frosts, and sedimentary soils; it has been dramatically threatened by agriculture expansion in recent decades. Therefore, increasing knowledge of plant diversity is critical for conservation purposes. We present a Legume checklist of the Gran Chaco ecoregion including conservation status of its endemic species. Leguminosae is the third most diverse plant family in the Neotropics. Assuming a rigorous spatial definition of the Gran Chaco, we recorded 98 genera, 362 species, and 404 specific and infraspecific taxa. Endemic/typical taxa were 17%, comparable to adjacent tropical plant formations, and they were found in higher percentages in Caesalpinioideae (24%) and Cercidoideae (33%) than Papilionoideae (11%) subfamily. We also analyzed the plant diversity comparing lineages and subregions. The Gran Chaco Legumes are predominantly widespread generalists, or they belong to either Chaco sensu stricto or Neotropical Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest (SDTF) lineages. Though the Humid Chaco registered the highest species richness, Dry Chaco and Sierra Chaco, the most threatrened subregions, exhibited the highest percentages of exclusive and proper Chaco-lineage species. These results suggest that diversification of Legumes has been most relevant in Dry Chaco and Sierra Chaco, probably by their more demanding and harsh environmental conditions limiting the dispersion of generalists or intrusive-invading species. This study is paramount to reach an improved delimitation of the Gran Chaco ecoregion in transitional areas with the SDTF and Cerrado formations. Conservation status is critical in genera of high economic interest, such as Arachis, Mimosa and Prosopis. At least one third of endemic taxa exhibit a critical status of conservation or are endangered, many of them being relevant to inbreeding program or exhibiting multiple economic uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spring viraemia of carp (SVC) is an infectious disease responsible for severe economic losses for various cyprinid species, particularly common carp (Cyprinus carpio carpio). The causative agent is the SVC virus (SVCV), a member of the Sprivivirus genus, Rhabdoviridae family, and a List 1 pathogen notifiable by the World Organization for Animal Health. This study describes the diagnosis of an SVCV pathogen isolated in October 2015 from wild common carp inhabiting a natural lagoon in central Mexico. While neither an epidemic nor fish mortalities were reported, the collected killed specimens exhibited clinical signs of disease (e.g., exopthalmia, moderate abdominal distension and haemorrhaging, as well as internal haemorrhages and adhesions). Histological results of injuries were consistent with the pathology caused by SVCV. This finding was supported by the isolation of a virus in EPC and BF‐2 cells and subsequent RT‐PCR confirmation of SVCV. The phylogenetic analyses of partial SVCV glycoprotein gene sequences classified the isolates into the Ia genogroup. These findings make this the first report of SVCV detection in Mexico, extending the southern geographical range of SVCV within North America. However, since this pathogen was detected in fish inhabiting a natural body of water without tributaries or effluents, it is difficult to estimate the risk of SVCV for other wild/feral cohabitating cyprinid species in the lagoon. The status of this virus is also unknown for other bodies of water within this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Weissella ceti, a Gram‐positive nonmotile bacterium, is currently an emerging pathogen within rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farms in China, Brazil, the United States, and Japan. This study is the first to isolate, identify, and characterize W. ceti isolates from rainbow trout farmed in Mexico. In late 2015, a severe disease outbreak caused a 60% mortality rate among 20,000 fish. The diseased rainbow trout (100–300 g average) exhibited severe cachexia, body darkening, abdominal distension, exophthalmia, haemorrhages, and corneal opacity. Internally, diseased fish had pale gills; multifocal, disseminated whitish spots on the liver; haemorrhages in the swim bladder, ovary, and on the parietal surface of the muscle; and hearts with pseudo‐membrane formation. Histologically, lesions were characterized by corneal oedema, degenerative and necrotic hepatitis, and meningitis. A brain (W‐1) and kidney (W‐2) isolate were identified as W. ceti through polyphasic taxonomy, which included phenotypic characterization and 16S rRNA sequencing. RAPD and ERIC‐PCR analyses demonstrated genetic homogeneity among the Mexican isolates. Virulence tests in rainbow trout through intraperitoneal W. ceti injections at concentrations of 1 × 104, 1 × 105, and 1 × 106CFU per fish resulted in cumulative mortality rates of 25%, 62.5%, and 87.5%, respectively, as well as the same clinical signs of hemorrhagic septicaemia as were recorded for the natural outbreak. The present report is the first to confirm the presence of W. ceti in Mexico, thus extending the known geographical distribution of this pathogen across the Americas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied leaflets of 18 taxa of the genus Mimosa, specifically the Dolentes-Brevipedes taxonomic complex, focusing on micromorphology, type, shape, and density of trichomes. Within the nonglandular trichomes we described 3 types of nonbranched and 2 types of branched trichomes. We also described 2 types of stalked glandular trichomes, extending the recent classifications of trichomes in Mimosa. Multiseriate trichomes with lateral projections, which resemble incipient branching, are described here for many taxa. Most studied taxa have pubescent leaflets and show great variability in trichome density values. We also found 3 different types of blade margins with variation in type, alignment, and orientation of trichomes. Results show that the micromorphology of blade trichomes allows distinguishing groups of taxa in this complex, which could be a new tool for performing taxonomic treatment of both subseries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five species of Mimosa for the Brazilian Flora are reported: M. strigillosa, M. leimonias, M. petraea, M. oligophylla, and M. barnebiana. The three first ones are registered from Mato Grosso do Sul, while the remainder are registered from Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. Descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps and morphologic, geographic and ecological comments are included. Original descriptions of M. petraea and M. leimonias are expanded, including fruit characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is a Gram-negative bacterium, responsible for the bacterial cold-water disease and the rainbow trout fry syndrome in freshwater salmonid fish. At present, there is only one commercial vaccine in Chile, made with two Chilean F. psychrophilum isolates and another licensed in Europe. The present study analyzed neutrophil migration, as a marker of innate immune activation, in zebrafish (Danio rerio) in response to different F. psychrophilum bath vaccines, which is the first step in evaluating vaccine effectiveness and efficiency in fish. Results indicated that bacterins of the LM-02-Fp isolate were more immunogenic than those from the LM-13-Fp isolate. However, no differences were observed between the same bacteria inactivated by either formaldehyde or heat. Importantly, the same vaccine formulation without an adjuvant only triggered a mild neutrophil migration compared to the complete vaccine. Observations also found that, after a year of storage at 4°C, the activation of the innate immune system by the different vaccines was considerably decreased. Finally, new vaccine formulations prepared with heat and formaldehyde inactivated LM-02-Fp were significantly more efficient than the available commercial vaccine in regard to stimulating the innate immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mimosa carolina (Leguminosae), a new species from the Parque Nacional Chapada das Mesas, located in the northern limit of the Brazilian Cerrado, is described and illustrated. In addition, a phylogenetic reconstruction was performed to recover the position of this species in relation to the main clades of the genus Mimosa. This new species is assigned to sect. Habbasia ser. Bipinnatae and exhibits relevant morphological differences with all described species of this series, most notably the prostate habit, glabrous stems, and absence of internal spicules. Our results indicate that this new entity is clearly nested in a strongly supported clade with other striated-corolla species of ser. Bipinnatae. Therefore, ser. Bipinnatae appears to be monophyletic, and a morphologically and ecologically cohesive group within Mimosa. An updated identification key for this series is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is the etiologic agent of bacterial coldwater disease (BCWD) and rainbow trout fry syndrome (RTFS), which cause significant worldwide losses in aquaculture. Juvenile rainbow trout are particularly susceptible to F. psychrophilum infection, the main external clinical signs of which are extensive necrotic myositis and ulcerative lesions. Despite the economic relevance of this pathogen in aquaculture, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying F. psychrophilum infection and pathogenesis. In this study, cultured skeletal muscle cells from rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) were co-incubated with the virulent strain of F. psychrophilum JIP02/86 (ATCC 49511). Trypan blue exclusion analysis at 48 h post-incubation revealed decreased cellular viability. Direct bacteria-myoblast contact was found a key factor in inducing F. psychrophilum cytotoxicity. Apoptosis was characterized by nuclear DNA fragmentation, decreased plasma membrane integrity, increased caspase activity, and the proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1). Moreover, bacterial infection induced an early inhibition of NF-κB signaling, as well as a differential expression of the pro- and anti-apoptotic genes, bax and bcl-2 . These findings suggest that F. psychrophilum induces rainbow trout muscle apoptosis through the modulation of the NF-κB signaling as a mechanism for nutrient acquisition and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle in mammals can express and secrete immune-related molecules during pathogen infection. Despite in fish is known that classical immune tissues participate in innate immunity, the role of skeletal muscle in this function is poorly understood. To determine the immunocompetence of fish skeletal muscle, juvenile fine flounder ( Paralichthys adpersus ) were challenged with Vibrio ordalii . Different Toll-like receptors, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, Il-1β, and IL-8), and immune-effector molecules (NKEF and the antimicrobial peptides hepcidin and LEAP-2) were analyzed. Infection initially triggered IL-1β upregulation and P38-MAPK/AP-1 pathway activation. Next, the NFĸB pathway was activated, together with an upregulation of intracellular Toll-like receptor expressions ( tlr3, tlr8a tlr9, and tlr21 ), TNFα production, and leap-2 expression. Finally, transcriptions of il-1β , il-8, tnfα, nkef-a , and hepcidin were also upregulated. These results suggest that fish skeletal muscle is an immunologically active organ that could play an important role against pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain T-12 T , an orange, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped strain, was isolated in November 2013 from water samples collected from an Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) fry culturing system at a fish farm in Chile. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences (1394 bp) revealed that strain T-12 T belonged to the genus Flavobacterium , showing close relationships to Flavobacterium bernardetii F-372 T (99.48 %) and Flavobacterium terrigena DS-20 T (98.50 %). The genome size of strain T-12 T was 3.28 Mb, with a G+C content of 31.1 mol%. Genome comparisons aligned strain T-12 T with Flavobacterium bernardetii F-372 T (GCA_011305415) and Flavobacterium terrigena DSM 17934 T (GCA_900108955). The highest digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were 42.6 % with F. bernardetii F-372 T (GCA_011305415) and 33.9 % with F. terrigena DSM 17934 T (GCA_900108955). Pairwise average nucleotide identity (ANI) calculations were below the species cutoff, with the best results with F. bernardetii F-372 T being: ANIb, 90.33 %; ANIm, 91.85 %; and TETRA, 0.997 %. These dDDH and ANI results confirm that strain T-12 T represents a new species. The major fatty acids were iso-C 15 : 0 and C 15 : 1 ω6 с . Detected polar lipids included phospholipids ( n =2), aminophospholipid ( n =1), aminolipid ( n =1) and unidentified lipids ( n =2). The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK7 (80 %) followed by MK-6 (20 %). Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genomic data support the classification of strain T-12 T (=CECT 30410 T =RGM 3222 T ) as representing a novel species of Flavobacterium , for which the name Flavobacterium facile sp. nov. is proposed.

Caesalpinioideae is the second largest subfamily of legumes (Leguminosae) with ca. 4680 species and 163 genera. It is an ecologically and economically important group formed of mostly woody perennials that range from large canopy emergent trees to functionally herbaceous geoxyles, lianas and shrubs, and which has a global distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. Following the recent re-circumscription of 15 Caesalpinioideae genera as presented in Advances in Legume Systematics 14, Part 1, and using as a basis a phylogenomic analysis of 997 nuclear gene sequences for 420 species and all but five of the genera currently recognised in the subfamily, we present a new higher-level classification for the subfamily. The new classification of Caesalpinioideae comprises eleven tribes, all of which are either new, reinstated or re-circumscribed at this rank: Caesalpinieae Rchb. (27 genera / ca. 223 species), Campsiandreae LPWG (2 / 5-22), Cassieae Bronn (7 / 695), Ceratonieae Rchb. (4 / 6), Dimorphandreae Benth. (4 / 35), Erythrophleeae LPWG (2 /13), Gleditsieae Nakai (3 / 20), Mimoseae Bronn (100 / ca. 3510), Pterogyneae LPWG (1 / 1), Schizolobieae Nakai (8 / 42-43), Sclerolobieae Benth. & Hook. f. (5 / ca. 113). Although many of these lineages have been recognised and named in the past, either as tribes or informal generic groups, their circumscriptions have varied widely and changed over the past decades, such that all the tribes described here differ in generic membership from those previously recognised. Importantly, the approximately 3500 species and 100 genera of the former subfamily Mimosoideae are now placed in the reinstated, but newly circumscribed, tribe Mimoseae. Because of the large size and ecological importance of the tribe, we also provide a clade-based classification system for Mimoseae that includes 17 named lower-level clades. Fourteen of the 100 Mimoseae genera remain unplaced in these lower-level clades: eight are resolved in two grades and six are phylogenetically isolated monogeneric lineages. In addition to the new classification, we provide a key to genera, morphological descriptions and notes for all 163 genera, all tribes, and all named clades. The diversity of growth forms, foliage, flowers and fruits are illustrated for all genera, and for each genus we also provide a distribution map, based on quality-controlled herbarium specimen localities. A glossary for specialised terms used in legume morphology is provided. This new phylogenetically based classification of Caesalpinioideae provides a solid system for communication and a framework for downstream analyses of biogeography, trait evolution and diversification, as well as for taxonomic revision of still understudied genera., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Anne Bruneau, Luciano Paganucci de Queiroz, Jens J. Ringelberg, Leonardo M. Borges, Roseli Lopes da Costa Bortoluzzi, Gillian K. Brown, Domingos B. O. S. Cardoso, Ruth P. Clark, Adilva de Souza Conceição, Matheus Martins Teixeira Cota, Else Demeulenaere, Rodrigo Duno de Stefano, John E. Ebinger, Julia Ferm, Andrés Fonseca-Cortés, Edeline Gagnon, Rosaura Grether, Ethiéne Guerra, Elspeth Haston, Patrick S. Herendeen, Héctor M. Hernández, Helen C. F. Hopkins, Isau Huamantupa-Chuquimaco, Colin E. Hughes, Stefanie M. Ickert-Bond, João Iganci, Erik J. M. Koenen, Gwilym P. Lewis, Haroldo Cavalcante de Lima, Alexandre Gibau de Lima, Melissa Luckow, Brigitte Marazzi, Bruce R. Maslin, Matías Morales, Marli Pires Morim, Daniel J. Murphy, Shawn A. O’Donnell, Filipe Gomes Oliveira, Ana Carla da Silva Oliveira, Juliana Gastaldello Rando, Pétala Gomes Ribeiro, Carolina Lima Ribeiro, Felipe da Silva Santos, David S. Seigler, Guilherme Sousa da Silva, Marcelo F. Simon, Marcos Vinícius Batista Soares, Vanessa Terra.)

Strain LB-N7 T , a novel Gram-negative, orange, translucent, gliding, rod-shaped bacterium, was isolated from water samples collected from an open system of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) smolts in a fish farm in Chile during a flavobacterial infection outbreak in 2015. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences (1337 bp) revealed that strain LB-N7 T belongs to the genus Flavobacterium and is closely related to the type strains Flavobacterium ardleyense A2-1 T (98.8 %) and Flavobacterium cucumis R2A45-3 T (96.75 %). The genome size of strain LB-N7 T was 2.93 Mb with a DNA G+C content 32.6 mol%. Genome comparisons grouped strain LB-N7 T with Flavobacterium cheniae NJ-26 T , Flavobacterium odoriferum HXWNR29 T , Flavobacterium lacisediminis TH16-21 T and Flavobacterium celericrescens TWA-26 T . The calculated digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain LB-N7 T and the closest related Flavobacterium strains were 23.3 % and the average nucleotide identity values ranged from 71.52 to 79.39 %. Menaquinone MK-6 was the predominant respiratory quinone, followed by MK-7. The major fatty acids were iso-C 15 : 0 and anteiso-C 15 : 0 . The primary polar lipids detected included nine unidentified lipids, two amounts of aminopospholipid and phospholipids, and a smaller amount of aminolipid. Phenotypic, genomic, and chemotaxonomic data suggest that strain LB-N7 T (=CECT 30406 T =RGM 3221 T ) represents as a novel bacterial species, for which the name Flavobacterium psychraquaticum sp. nov. is proposed.

Strain I-SCBP12n T , a novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, motile-by-gliding and rod-shaped bacterium, was isolated from a chinstrap penguin chick ( Pygoscelis antarcticus ) during a 2015 expedition to the Chilean Antarctic territory. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed that strain I-SCBP12n T belonged to the genus Flavobacterium , being closely related to strains Flavobacterium chryseum P3160 T (98.52 %), Flavobacterium hercynium WB 4.2-33 T (98.47 %) and Flavobacterium chilense LM-19-Fp T (98.47 %). The genome size of strain I-SCBP12n T was 3.69 Mb with DNA G+C content 31.95 mol%. Genomic comparisons of strain I-SCBP12n T with type species in the genus Flavobacterium were performed, with obtained average values near 75.17 and 84.33 % for the blast and MUMer analyses of average nucleotide identity, respectively, and 0.86 for the tetranucleotides frequency analysis. These values are far from the accepted species cut-off values. Strain I-SCBP12n T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and the major polar lipids were aminophospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and unidentified lipids. The predominant fatty acids (> 5 %) were iso-C 14 : 0 , iso-C 15 : 0 , anteiso-C 15 : 0 , iso-C 16 : 0 , iso-C 16 : 1 , iso-C 16 : 0 3-OH, C 15 : 1   ω 6 c and summed feature 3 (C 16 : 1   ω 7c/C 16 : 1   ω 6 c ). Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic data supported the assignment of strain I-SCBP12n T (=CECT 30404 T =RGM 3223 T ) to a novel species of Flavobacterium , for which the name Flavobacterium pygoscelis sp. nov.is proposed.

Early natural historians-Comte de Buffon, von Humboldt, and De Candolle-established environment and geography as two principal axes determining the distribution of groups of organisms, laying the foundations for biogeography over the subsequent 200 years, yet the relative importance of these two axes remains unresolved. Leveraging phylogenomic and global species distribution data for Mimosoid legumes, a pantropical plant clade of c. 3500 species, we show that the water availability gradient from deserts to rain forests dictates turnover of lineages within continents across the tropics. We demonstrate that 95% of speciation occurs within a precipitation niche, showing profound phylogenetic niche conservatism, and that lineage turnover boundaries coincide with isohyets of precipitation. We reveal similar patterns on different continents, implying that evolution and dispersal follow universal processes.

Botrytis cinerea is a phytopathogenic fungus that infects over 200 plant species and can cause significant crop losses in local and worldwide agricultural industries. However, its presence in the endemic flora in the Coquimbo Region and its impact on local flora have not been studied yet. In order to determine whether Botrytis spp is present in the native plant in the Coquimbo Region, fifty-two field-samples were analysed. A total of 30 putative Botrytis spp were isolated and phenotypic and genetically characterized. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) analysis of these isolates revealed that it corresponded to genus Botrytis . For further confirmation, nuclear protein-coding genes ( G3PDH, HSP60 , and RPB2 ) were sequenced and showed 100% identity against B. cinerea . Complementary to this, Botrytis can also be clustered in two different groups, group I ( B. pseudocinerea ) and group II ( B. cinerea ), based on DNA polymorphism, the Botrytis isolates were identified as member of group II. On the order hand, we investigated the presence and frequency distribution of the transposable elements boty and flippe r in the isolates obtained. The results indicate that 83.3% of the isolates presented both transposable elements, boty and flipper , indicating that the most prevalent genotype was transpose. In addition, 16.6% of the isolates showed substantially reduced virulence in apple fruit in comparison to B05.10 strain. According to fungicide resistance studies, the results indicate that resistance to Fenhexamid or Boscalid was observed in the 22.6% of isolates. The results show for the first time that B. cinerea has not been described before in fourteen new host plants and contributes to our fundamental understanding of the presence of B. cinerea in the native plant in the Coquimbo Region and the possible ecological impact of this disease on native and endemic plants., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Here, we announce the draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas sp. strain AN3A02, isolated from the rhizosphere of one of the only two species of vascular plants existing in the Antarctic continent, Deschampsia antarctica Desv. This isolate, which inhibited the mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea in dual culture, has a genome sequence of 6,778,644 bp, with a G+C content of 60.4%. These draft genome sequence data provide insight into the genetics underpinning the antifungal activity of this strain., (Copyright © 2020 Poblete-Morales et al.)

A Gram-stain positive, pleomorphic, oxidase-negative, non-motile isolate from the ulcer of a farmed Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ), designated strain T11b T , was subjected to a comprehensive taxonomic investigation. A comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed highest similarities to the type strains of Pseudarthrobacter siccitolerans (98.1 %) and Arthrobacter methylotrophus and Pseudarthrobacter phenanthrenivorans (both 98.0 %). The highest ANI value observed between the assembled genome of T11b T and the publicly available Pseudarthrobacter and Arthrobacter type strain genomes were 81.15 and 80.99 %, respectively. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-9(H 2 ). The polyamine pattern contained predominantly spermidine. The polar lipid profile consisted of the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol and dimannosylglyceride. Minor amouts of trimannosyldiacylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol were also detected. The peptidoglycan was of the type A3α l-Lys-l-Ser-l-Thr-l-Ala (A11.23). In the fatty acid profile, anteiso and iso branched fatty acids predominated (anteiso C 15 : 0 , iso C 16 : 0 , anteiso C 17 : 0 ). Moderate to low DNA-DNA similarities, physiological traits as well as unique traits in the fatty acid pattern distinguished strain T11b T from the next related species. All these data point to the fact that strain T11b T represents a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter for which we propose the name Arthrobacter ulcerisalmonis sp. nov. The type strain is T11b T (=CIP 111621 T =CCM 8854 T =LMG 30632 T =DSM 107127 T ).

We announce the draft genome sequence of strain B2, which belongs to a potentially new Buttiauxella species, isolated from soil associated with rhizosphere of olivillo trees ( Aextoxicon punctatum ). Its size is 4,967,099 bp, and its G+C content is 49.1%. The genome of strain B2 carries genes related to rhizobacteria that promote the growth of plants., (Copyright © 2020 Almasia et al.)

One slightly beige-white pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, strain I-STPP5b T , was isolated from the trachea of a Gentoo penguin chick individual ( Pygoscelin papua ) investigated in Fildes Bay, Chilean Antarctic (62° 12' S, 58° 57' W). I-STPP5b T consists of a 3.4 Mb chromosome with a DNA G+C content of 44.4 mol%. Of the 3056 predicted genes, 1206 were annotated as hypothetical proteins and 51 were tRNAs. Phylogenetic analysis based on nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate shared a 16S rRNA gene sequence identity to the type strains of Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus (98.8 %), Psychrobacter arenosus and Psychrobacter pasteurii (both 98.3 %), Psychrobacter piechaudii (98.2 %) and Psychrobacter sanguinis (98.1 %), but 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other Psychrobacter species were ≤98.0 %. Partial gyrB nucleotide and amino acid sequence similarities among strain STPP5b T and the next related type strains were all below 81.8 and 92.9%, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridisation (DDH) with P. phenylpyruvicus LMG 5372 T , P. arenosus DSM 15389 T and P. sanguinis DSM 23635 T also showed low values (all below 30 %). The main cellular fatty acids of the strain were C 18 : 1 ω9c and C 16 : 1 ω7c and/or C 16 : 1 ω6c. Based on phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, genomic and phenotypic analyses we propose a new species of the genus Psychrobacter, with the name Psychrobacter pygoscelis sp. nov. and strain I-STPP5b T (=CIP 111410 T = CCM 8799 T =LMG 30301 T ) as type strain.

An orange-pigmented, oxidase-positive bacterial strain (I-41R45 T ), isolated from the kidney of a black rock cod fish sampled in the Chilean Antarctic was studied in a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Cells of the isolate were coccoid and stained Gram-negative. A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain I-41R45 T with sequences of type strains of most closely related Paracoccus species showed highest sequence similarities to Paracoccus hibiscisoli (98.4 %), Paracoccus marcusii (98.3 %), Paracoccus haeundaensis and Paracoccus carotinifaciens (both 98.2 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other Paracoccus species were below 97 %. The draft genome of strain I-41R45 T had a size of 4.59 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 65.26 mol% and included the prediction and annotation of 4426 coding genes, 1973 protein-coding genes and 46 tRNAs. The fatty acid profile of strain I-41R45 T consisted mainly of the major fatty acids C 18 : 1 ω 7 c/ω 9t /ω 12t and C 18:0 , typical of the genus Paracoccus . DNA-DNA hybridizations between I-41R45 T and type strains of P. hibiscisoli, P. marcusii and P. haeundaensis resulted in similarity values of 45 % (reciprocal 26 %), 66 % (reciprocal 61 %), and 29 % (reciprocal 36 %), respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization results, together with the differentiating biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties, showed that strain I-41R45 T represents a novel Paracoccus species, for which the name Paracoccus nototheniae sp. nov. (type strain I-41R45 T =CCM 8875 T =CIP 111632 T ), is proposed.

We announce the draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas sp. strain M7D1, isolated from the rhizosphere of a plant in the Atacama Desert bloom event. The genome sequence had 6,170,633 bp with a G+C content of 59.9%. This draft genome sequence gives information about the presence of genes related to iron acquisition, alleviation of abiotic stress, and other essential traits of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria., (Copyright © 2019 Poblete-Morales et al.)

A slightly beige-white pigmented, Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, strain M1A1T, was isolated from seawater samples obtained in Fildes Bay, Antarctica (62°12' S 58° 57' W). Phylogenetic analysis based on nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate shared 98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity to the type strain of Psychromonas arctica, but less than 97 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other species of the genus Psychromonas. DNA-DNA hybridization with Psychromonas arctica DSM 14288T showed low values (21 %, reciprocal 27 %). The main cellular fatty acid of strain M1A1T was summed feature 3 fatty acids (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω8c), followed by C16 : 0. Based on phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, genomic and phenotypic analyses, we propose a novel species of the genus Psychromonas with the name Psychromonas aquatilis sp. nov. and the strain M1A1T (=CIP 111183T=CCM 8710T=LMG 29766T) as type strain.

A group of seven Chilean isolates presumptively belonging to Vibrio tapetis was isolated from diseased fine flounders (Paralichthys adspersus) and red conger eel (Genypterus chilensis) experimentally reared in Quintay (Chile). All isolates were confirmed as members of V. tapetis on the basis of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight MS, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, DNA-DNA hybridization values and G+C content. The ERIC-PCR and REP-PCR patterns were homogeneous among those isolates recovered from the same host (red conger or fine flounders), but distinct from the type strains V. tapetis subsp. tapetis CECT 4600T and V. tapetis subsp. britannicus CECT 8161T. On the basis of atpA, rpoA, rpoD, recA and pyrH gene sequence similarities (99.7-100 %) and clustering in the phylogenetic trees, the red conger isolates (Q20, Q047, Q48 and Q50) were confirmed as representing V. tapetis subsp. tapetis. However, they differed from V. tapetis subsp. tapetis CECT 4600T in their lipase, alpha quimiotripsin and non-acid phosphatase production. On the other hand, the fine flounder isolates (QL-9T, QL-35 and QL-41) showed rpoD, recA and pyrH gene sequence similarities ranging from 91.6 to 97.7 % with the type strains of the two V. tapetis subspecies (CECT 4600T and CECT 8161T) and consistently clustered together as an independent phylogenetic line within V. tapetis. Moreover, they could be differentiated phenotypically from strains CECT 4600T and CECT 8161T by nine and three different biochemical tests, respectively. In conclusion, the presence of V. tapetis in diseased red conger eel and fine flounder was demonstrated, extending the known host range and geographical location for this pathogen. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the three isolates from fine flounder represent a novel subdivision within V. tapetis, for which the name V. tapetis subsp. quintayensis subsp. nov. is proposed and with QL-9T (=CECT 8851T=LMG 28759T) as the type strain. Although QL-9T was isolated from kidney of diseased fine flounder specimens, the challenge assays showed that it was non-pathogenic for this species.