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Premise A set of polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci was developed and tested for use in population genetic analyses of Anthericum ramosum (Agavaceae) and related species. Methods and Results Sequences of 110 primers were extracted in silico from Illumina MiSeq genome skimming data. The degree of polymorphism of 19 loci was tested in four A. ramosum populations collected in Central and Eastern Europe. The average number of alleles per loci ranged from two to 17, and levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 1.000 and from 0.100 to 0.900, respectively. Primers were successfully amplified in the closely related species A. liliago (12 loci) and Chlorophytum comosum (six loci), whereas they mostly failed to amplify in the phylogenetically more‐distant species Muscari comosum (three loci) and M. tenuiflorum (no amplification). Conclusions This newly developed set of polymorphic nuclear microsatellite markers will be useful for population genetic investigation of A. ramosum and closely related species.

We describe Muscari sabihapinari (Asparagaceae: Scilloideae) as a new species from the Adana and Sivas provinces in South Anatolia, Turkey. It grows in rocky-stony steppe habitats. Muscari sabihapinari shows general aspect similar to that of M. anatolicum, M. atillae and M. discolor but is easily distinguished from them by its bulb, leaf and flower characteristics. A complete morphological description, identification key, pollen characteristics, detailed photographs, comparative photographs and comparison table with the closely related species are presented.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of Muscari comosum (L.) Mill. 1768, geophyte plant extract on some nonspecific immune parameters of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (L. 1758). For this purpose, the plant was collected and extracted in ethanol solvent. Three different fish groups were formed, and each group was duplicated (total 300 fish). The plant extract was applied to the fish by intraperitoneal injection in two different concentrations (0.5 mg/fish and 2 mg/fish). Following injections on the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th d, blood samples were collected from each group. Some of the nonspecific immune parameters in blood and serum samples such as leukocyte level, phagocytic activity (NBT (+) cells), lysozyme activity, and the percentage of white blood cells were determined. The results indicate that in line with the parameters observed, the group given 0.5 mg/fish was not as effective as the one given 2 mg/fish but more effective than the control group. The nonspecific immune parameters of blood samples of the gilthead seabream in the 2 mg/fish experimental group showed that maximum levels on measured parameters of blood were reached at the first week postinjection. The applied concentrations of plant extract did not inhibit growth performance in any of the groups.

Muscari vuralii Y. Bagci & Dogu sp. nov. (Liliaceae/Hyacinthaceae) from the Karaman (C4 Karaman–Turkey) is described and illustrated. It is closely related to M. coeleste Fomin and M. macbeathianum Kit Tan. Diagnostic morphological characters are discussed and a key to related Muscari species in Turkey is given. The geographical distribution of the new species is mapped. Notes are also presented on its ecology, biogeography and conservation status.

Nature is a rich source of taste-active compounds, in particular of plant origin, many of which have unusual tastes. Many of these are found in traditional food, where spontaneous plants are used as ingredients. Some taste-active compounds were identified in the bulbs of Muscari comosum, a spontaneous plant belonging to the family of the Liliaceae, very common in the Mediterranean area, and used in traditional gastronomy (called 'lampascioni' in South Italy). The bulbs were extracted with a series of solvents of different polarity. The different fractions were submitted to a preliminary sensory evaluation, and the most interesting ones, characterized by a strong bitter taste and some chemestetic properties, were submitted to further purification and structural analysis. From the ethereal extract, several 3-benzyl-4-chromanones and one stilbene derivative were isolated. Pure compounds were examined for their taste activity by means of sensory evaluation, and proved to be responsible for the characteristic taste of this food. Some of these compounds have been synthesized de novo to confirm their structure.

Currently, three species ofMuscari subg. Botryanthus are recognized in the Iberian Peninsula: two diploids (2n = 18), M. atlanticum and M. cazorlanum, and one morphologically variable species with three different ploidy levels, M. neglectum (2n = 36, 45, 54). We have made a comparative study of numerous Iberian populations to clarify the taxonomy and evolution of this group. To this end we carried out morphological and cytogenetic analyses, and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Comparative and UPGMA analyses of the morphological characteristics show that the different ploidy levels of M. neglectum represent different species. We describe the pentaploid and hexaploid levels as two new species, M. olivetorum (2n = 45) and M. baeticum (2n = 54), each with an exclusive combination of morphological characters and a characteristic ecological behavior pattern. Phylogenetic study of ITS shows that the two new species are not autopolyploids from M. neglectum but allopolyploids. These findings are supported by the additivity of the three ITS variants found in M. olivetorum with the ITS of M. neglectum and M. baeticum, and also by morphology. Possible parents for both new species are proposed. Absence of homogenization between homeologous M olivetorum nrDNA loci is explained by the absence of sexual reproduction and by nucleolar dominance, indicating that this is a recent species.

Parasitism on the pupae of other Trichoptera is predicted for all 10 members of the Orthotrichia aberrans species group in the Hydroptilidae. This prediction is based on evidence from two species: the northern Australian Orthotrichia muscari Wells and the New Guinean/northern Australian Orthotrichia gressitti Wells, immatures of both of which are reported here from philopotamid cases in a recent collection of Trichoptera from Cape York. This paper includes description of seven new Hydroptilidae from northern Queensland: three in Hellyethira Neboiss –H. digitata sp. nov., H. sheldoni sp. nov. and H. davidi sp. nov.; and four in Orthotrichia Eaton – two aberrans-group species, O. trispinata sp. nov. and O. specana sp. nov., and two adornata/kokodana-group species, O. bertie sp. nov. and O. acina sp. nov.

1 A parasitoid habit is confirmed in larvae of an Australian micro-caddisfly, Orthotrichia muscari Wells, being the first known incidence of this habit in the order Trichoptera. 2 Larvae of O.muscari are non-specific parasites of pupae of other caddisfly species. 3 O.muscari is in an Australian/New Guinean/SE Asian species group in Orthotrichia, all members of which probably share the habit. Their larvae and pupae have atypical features that are interpreted as adaptations to their uncharacteristic niche.

That the pollen grains of various plants might be induced to germinate under artificial conditions has been known for a long time. Several investigators have adopted this mode of attack in seeking to determine the requirements for pollen-tube growth. Extending the earlier findings of BobilioffPreisser (2) and Knight (5) with Vinca minor and the apple respectively, the present writer (Brink, 3) has shown that pollen tubes of Scilla, Chionodoxa, Puschkinia, Muscari, and Vinca equal in length to those growing in the pistils of these forms may be secured on a culture medium consisting of cane sugar, sterile yeast, and agar. It was demonstrated also that, in the Scilla tubes grown under artificial conditions, the nuclei were in position to function had fertilization been possible. These results show that pollen-tube growth, constituting as it does an essential link in the process of sexual reproduction among the higher plants, may be imitated in vitro, at least in regard to the prime factors of length of tube and nuclear distribution. They lend support to the view, moreover, that this method of approach may ultimately furnish the facts necessary to an interpretation of the physiological processes involved and throw light upon certain related phenomena of primary interest in plant genetics. From the results of the studies noted above and others, various helpful conclusions have been drawn. The methods employed, however, left much to be desired from the quantitative standpoint. With the media used, an adequate knowledge of the conditions of the experiments was often impossible. These experiments served, however, for the discovery of some of the more important variables and made it clear that further progress was dependent upon the development of a methodology that would permit of their effective control. Only under such conditions could a precise measurement of the various factors contributing to growth be made. The method described here for determining the effect of hydrogen-ion concentration on the development of pollen tubes is based upon the results of experiments on the influence of neutral salts. While the writer hopes to publish these results shortly, brief statement of some of the findings must be made at this time, since it was only through a knowledge of the effects of 1 Papers fromi the Department of Genetics, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Wisconsin, no. 4I. Published with the approval of the Director of the Station.