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The genus Scapania (Dumort.) Dumort. has a primarily Laurasian distribution and includes over 100 species. Despite 102 species listed by Soderstrom et al. (2016) and 115 by L. Soderstrom and A. Hag...

The new liverwort species Chiastocaulon raetzelii is described from New Caledonia. Chiastocaulon raetzelii is characterized by very fragile, caducous leaves, stems therefore often becoming completely denuded of leaves; only bract leaves of the androecia are permanent and often the only ones remaining on the stem. Plants are minute with leafy shoots to 1 mm wide. Leaves on leafy shoots are arranged in opposing pairs, they are obovate-truncate to spathulate, with 3–7 teeth per leaf, teeth are filiform, consisting of long rectangular cells, and occupy about 1/3 to 1/4 of the entire leaf length. The species is compared to C. oppositum and C. geminifolium, which are the most similar morphologically.

Thirteen liverworts and the same number of mosses are reported from recent collections in New Caledonia and from some type specimens kept in PC. Among them, 13 are new to this French oversea territory (seven liverworts and six mosses, including the new genus Rhaphidostichum M.Fleisch.). Ectropothecium papillosulum Ther. is a new synonym of E. sodale (Sull.) Mitt. and Isopterygium sarasinii Ther. is proposed as a synonym of I. albescens (Hook.) A.Jaeger. Hymenostomum francii Ther. is transferred to Weissia Hedw. as W. francii (Ther.) Thouvenot comb. nov. and H. aristatulum Broth. & Paris is transferred to Trichostomum Bruch as T. tonghoueensis Thouvenot nom. nov. The occurrences in New Caledonia of nine species are confirmed. That includes three liverworts and one moss only known from their types, one liverwort only known from the types of synonyms, one liverwort and one moss new to North Province, and a new locality for the liverwort Cololejeunea morobensis (Pocs) Pocs that complement single earlier report. As a result, New Caledonian bryophyte flora includes 1064 species or infraspecific taxa (522 mosses, 528 liverworts and 14 hornworts). All the species involved are commented, three of them are described, seven illustrated and a key to the New Caledonian Myurium Schimp. species is provided.

Five liverwort species (Cheilolejeunea krakakammae, Cololejeunea latilobula, Cylindrocolea abyssinica, Telaranea nematodes, Thysananthus humilis) and five moss species (Calyptothecium planifrons, Calymperes tenerum, Fissidens usambaricus, Leptotrichella nitidula, Trichostomum lorifolium) are reported as new for the bryophyte flora of Angola. Fossombronia indica is reported as new for the country of São Tomé and Príncipe, Gulf of Guinea, West Africa. An additional two hepatic species (Lejeunea acuta, Solenostoma dusenii) are reported as new for Príncipe.

Fissidens strictidens Brugg.-Nann. & Frank Mull., sp. nov., belonging to Fissidens subg. Aloma Kindb., and Fissidens pseudoanomalus Brugg.-Nann. & Frank Mull., sp. nov., belonging to Fissidens subg. Pachyfissidens (Mull.Hal.) Kindb. sect. Pachyfissidens, are described and figured from material collected in Kachin State, Myanmar. Fissidens biformis Mitt., Fissidens crispulus var. robinsonii (Broth.) Z.Iwats. & Z.H.Li, Fissidens guangdongensis Z.Iwats. & Z.H.Li, Fissidens linearis var. obscuriretis (Broth. & Paris) I.G.Stone, Fissidens pokhrensis Nork. ex S.S.Kumar, Fissidens serratus Mull.Hal., and Fissidens wichurae Broth. & M.Fleisch. are newly recorded for Myanmar.

Although numerous papers have already been published on the New Caledonia bryophytes, our knowledge of the bryophyte flora of the territory still remains incomplete. Here we report 13 species new to New Caledonia: six liverworts (Bazzania caudistipula, B. loricata, B. wooroonooran, Ceratolejeunea belangeriana, Riccardia albomarginata, R. colensoi) and seven mosses (Austinia tenuinervis, Chionoloma crassicostatum, Diphyscium longifolium, Ectropothecium dealbatum, Fabronia australis, Schwetschkea pygmaea, Trichosteleum subfalcatulum). The occurrence in New Caledonia of one hornwort (Dendroceros granulatus), four liverworts (Acrolejeunea securifolia subsp. caledonica, Bazzania subtilis, Kurzia caduciloba, Spruceanthus thozetianus) and one moss (Chionoloma dubium) is confirmed and additional data on the species are provided. New combinations and synonymies are proposed for four liverworts (Mastigobryum bernieri f. falcifolium = Bazzania bernieri, Cryptolophocolea subcostata ≡ Lophocolea subcostata, Heteroscyphus confertus ≡ Chiloscyphus confertus, Heteroscyphus rotundiphyllus ≡ Chiloscyphus rotundifolius) and three mosses (Radulina borbonica = Trichosteleum insigne, Trichosteleum stigmosum = Trichosteleum piliferum, Trichostomum noumeanum ≡ Hymenostomum noumeanum). Finally, one name is suppressed (Mastigobryum pancheri) and three species are rejected from the bryoflora of New Caledonia (Bazzania falcifolia, Pseudosymblepharis angustata, Spruceanthus sulcatus).

Tortella opaca, an African moss species described from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, is taxonomically assessed and stated to be conspecific with Neotropical Weissia jamaicensis. A lectotype of Tortella opaca is selected. The discovery of Weissia jamaicensis in Uíge Province, northern Angola, and in Lusaka Province, Zambia, is reported. Diagnostic features of W. jamaicensis are given in relation to similar species and are illustrated, and the phytogeographic importance of its records in the Palaeotropics is highlighted.

Bryostroma acrocarpum is a novel ascomycete species that infects the acrocarpous moss Archidium ohioense. Characteristically, the ascomata develop singly at the shoot apices. The combination of microniche occupation, ascomatal, hymenial, and hyphal features places this ascomycete in the muscicolous genus Bryostroma. This eighth species of Bryostroma is the first recorded outside Europe and only the second bryophilous fungus known to occur in New Caledonia.

Muller, F. 2017. Didymodon sicculus und Tortula pallida neu fur die Flora von Deutschland von Binnensalzstellen in Ostdeutschland. — Herzogia 30: 387–396.Didymodon sicculus wird als neu fur die Flora von Deutschland von Binnensalzstellen in Thuringen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Brandenburg gemeldet. Die Art wurde an einer Fundstelle auch mit Sporophyten festgestellt und die Sporophytenmerkmale werden beschrieben. Tortula pallida wurde rezent an zwei Binnensalzstellen in Thuringen erstmals sicher fur Deutschland nachgewiesen. Belege von fruheren Funden von Bad Salzungen in Thuringen, die vormals als Tortula viridifolia oder allgemein in die Verwandtschaft von Tortula caucasica gehorig angesehen wurden, wurden revidiert und konnen ebenfalls Tortula pallida zugeordnet werden. Die diagnostisch wichtigen Merkmale beider Arten werden beschrieben, diskutiert und abgebildet. Didymodon erosus wird erstmals aus Sachsen angegeben.

Seifert, E. & Muller, F. 2017. Orthotrichum shawii im Erzgebirge — Erstfund fur Sachsen und Deutschland. — Herzogia 30: 343–352.Der Erstfund von Orthotrichum shawii in Sachsen und Deutschland wird mitgeteilt. Der Fundort im Mortelgrund bei Sayda wird charakterisiert und die epiphytische Begleitflora vorgestellt. Die bestimmungskritischen Merkmale von Orthotrichum shawii werden aufgezeigt und diskutiert. Die Fundumstande, der Bestimmungsweg und die Diskussionsergebnisse werden zusammengefasst. Es wird die allgemeine Verbreitung der seltenen Art beschrieben.

Porella biedermannii from the Region del Maule in central Chile is described and illustrated. The species is characterized by ovate leaf lobes with curved inwards apices and dentate or appendiculate ventral base, obliquely inserted, oblong-ovate leaf lobules with distinctly reflexed apices and dentate margins, underleaves with distinctly reflexed apices and dentate margins, and stem surfaces covered with numerous filiform paraphyllia. The paper also reports 22 species of liverworts and two hornworts as new from the Region del Maule, and three liverwort species as new from Region Coquimbo of central Chile.

Zusammenfassung: Ratzel, S. & Muller, F. 2017. Alleniella besseri erstmals im pleistozanen Tiefland Mitteleuropas nachgewiesen. — Herzogia 30: 289–295. Alleniella besseri, eine schwerpunktmasig europaisch verbreitete Art konnte in Ost-Brandenburg, inmitten der Mittelstadt Frankfurt (Oder) an einem Sekundarstandort (auf Beton einer Eisenbahnunterfuhrung) und damit erstmals im pleistozanen Tiefland Mitteleuropas nachgewiesen werden. Die Art besiedelt in Mitteleuropa ublicher Weise primare Felshabitate auf kalkhaltigem oder intermediarem Gestein (z. B. Kalke, Diabas), tritt kaum sekundar auf und war deshalb — aus edaphischen Grunden — kaum in diesem Gebiet zu erwarten. Der Fundort wird kurz vorgestellt und die Begleitarten am Fundort werden aufgefuhrt. Die Moospflanzen weisen zahlreiche, am Hauptstammchen sitzende, knospenformige Antheridienstande auf.

The enormous species richness of flowering plants is at least partly due to floral diversification driven by interactions between plants and their animal pollinators [1, 2]. Specific pollinator attraction relies on visual and olfactory floral cues [3-5]; floral scent can not only attract pollinators but also attract or repel herbivorous insects [6-8]. However, despite its central role for plant-animal interactions, the genetic control of floral scent production and its evolutionary modification remain incompletely understood [9-13]. Benzenoids are an important class of floral scent compounds that are generated from phenylalanine via several enzymatic pathways [14-17]. Here we address the genetic basis of the loss of floral scent associated with the transition from outbreeding to selfing in the genus Capsella. While the outbreeding C. grandiflora emits benzaldehyde as a major constituent of its floral scent, this has been lost in the selfing C. rubella. We identify the Capsella CNL1 gene encoding cinnamate: CoA ligase as responsible for this variation. Population genetic analysis indicates that CNL1 has been inactivated twice independently in C. rubella via different novel mutations to its coding sequence. Together with a recent study in Petunia [18], this identifies cinnamate: CoA ligase as an evolutionary hotspot for mutations causing the loss of benzenoid scent compounds in association with a shift in the reproductive strategy of Capsella from pollination by insects to self-fertilization., Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe, 904

1. Asterella chilensis (Nees & Mont.) A.EvansContributors. P. Drapela, J. R. Flores and G. M. SuarezUruguay. Rivera. Tranquera, 31°09'56.2″S, 55°46'41.0″W, 175 m a.s.l., 27 February 2012, leg. G. S...

Didymodon vulcanicus J.A.Jimenez, Hedd. & Frank Mull. is described and illustrated as a new species from volcanic regions of tropical Africa. The species is distinguished morphologically by its lanceolate or more rarely ovate-lanceolate leaves that are strongly incurved distally when dry, acute apices, upper and middle laminal cells arranged in longitudinal rows with a low dorsal papilla over the transverse walls which reaches the two immediate cells, basal cells not or hardly differentiated from the medial cells, and the presence of gemmae in the leaf axils. Drawings and light microscope photographs of the main characters are given, and possible confusion with other closely related taxa is discussed.

The genus Macromitrium is one of the richest genera of mosses in New Caledonia, although unrevised to date, with 44 names currently accepted. A new species, Macromitrium humboldtense, is described and illustrated here. It is characterized by 1) a soft and shaggy habit, when dry with the leaves irregularly individually twisted and loosely spirally arranged, with their thin points unevenly oriented; 2) branches relatively short and crowded; 3) branch leaves large (> 3.6 mm), narrowly lanceolate, regularly tapering from basal 1/8 of the leaf, long acuminate, ending in a piliform apex; 4) upper cells papillose, basal cells mainly smooth; 5) setae long (> 15 mm), calyptrae glabrous. Comparison with piliferous species of Macromitrium in neighbouring countries is given. Ecological and geographical features for the three long cuspidate Macromitrium in New Caledonia are discussed.

Eight species of liverworts (Cheilolejeunea incisa, Cololejeunea dozyana, Drepanolejeunea dactylophora, Lejeunea mizutanii, Leptolejeunea serrulata, Phaeolejeunea amicorum, Plagiochila sciophila, Spruceanthus thozetianus) are reported as new for New Caledonia. Species endemic to New Caledonia and hitherto only known from one or very few localities were reported from additional localities. Sporophytes of Macromitrium larrainii as well as male plants of Pogonatum neo-caledonicum were found for the first time and are described. Bazzania erosa is excluded from the bryophyte flora of New Caledonia.

Muller, F. 2015. Distribution, threat and conservation of Grimmia plagiopodia in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany). — Herzogia 28: 484–495. Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt) represents an important distribution area for the moss Grimmia plagiopodia, a species rare in Central Europe and Germany. Search for historic and recent distribution data reveal a strong decline in the number of records as well as populations sizes in this area. The few recent records are located in the middle Saale valley and in the lower Unstrut valley; in the northern Harz foreland the species seems to be extinct. The species colonizes sandstone blocks and smaller sandstone rocks within semi-arid grasslands and drystone walls of sandstone at sun exposed sites. Within semi-arid grasslands, the chances for a permanent preservation are good if stable measurements of habitat management, e.g. sheep and goat grazing, removal of woody regrowth, are undertaken. Conservation of this species on stone walls is more difficult since all of the cor...

Hentschel, J., Eckstein, J., Koperski, M., Marstaller, R., Muller, F., Preussing, M. & Schutze, P. 2015. Remarkable bryophyte records for Sachsen-Anhalt (Germany). — Herzogia 28: 378–404. Records of threatened and remarkable bryophyte species for Sachsen-Anhalt are presented. New records are Andreaea rothii subsp. falcata, Bryum torquescens, Conardia compacta, Distichium inclinatum, Metzgeria fruticulosa, Orthotrichum scanicum, Ulota macrospora and Zygodon dentatus. Recent records of species previously thought to be extinct in Sachsen-Anhalt are Buxbaumia viridis, Cololejeunea calcarea, Hedwigia stellata, Syntrichia laevipila and Tritomaria exsecta. The status of Barbula convoluta var. sardoa, Heterocladium flaccidum, Phascum cuspidatum var. papillosum and Riccia glauca var. subinermis is still a matter of controversy; new information on their occurrence in Sachsen-Anhalt is presented. The regional distribution of Conocephalum salebrosum, Cryphaea heteromalla, Orthotrichum pulchellum and Tortula...

Muller, F. 2014. Tortula randii (Pottiaceae) new for Slovakia and comments on its distinction from Tortula cernua. — Herzogia 27: 413–417. The rare moss Tortula randii(Desmatodon randii) is reported as new for Slovakia from the area of a travertine spring in the district of Levoca. The species grows here in the halophilous community Scorzonero parviflorae-Juncetum gerardii together with other halophilous vascular plants and mosses. General distribution and habitat preferences of the species are summarized. Sometimes, especially from North American bryologists, T. randii is treated as a synonym of T. cernua. Based on literature reports and field observations, T. randii is distinct and worthy of species recognition.

Bryophytes, with their reduced morphologies and challenging taxonomy, appear as ideal candidates for the application of the fast‐developing tools of molecular species delimitation. Here, we apply species delimitation techniques to the moss genus Rhynchostegiella, which has long served as a convenient repository for small pleurocarpous species. Species delimitation analyses, including the Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent approach and its Bayesian variant, congruently identified 13 putative species within Rhynchostegiella. To avoid inflation in the number of species with sympatric distributions that can only be recognized molecularly, we identified only one species when two or more molecular species were monophyletic, sympatric, and morphologically impossible to tell apart. After exclusion of 33 species from the genus based on earlier revisions or studies of type specimens, we recognized 11 Rhynchostegiella species. Eight of these species were already described, but were recircumscribed. In particular, the widespread R. litorea is split into three species with narrower distribution ranges: R. litorea s.str. occurs across continental Europe, western Asia and Africa (excluding Macaronesia), while R. pseudolitorea sp. nov. and R. tubulosa sp. nov. are Macaronesian and Aegean‐Cypriotic endemics, respectively. The Macaronesian endemic R. macilenta is reduced to synonymy with R. teneriffae while the Macaronesian endemic status of R. bourgeana is re‐instated. Altogether, Rhynchostegiella thus includes four Macaronesian endemic species, namely R. azorica, R. bourgeana, R. pseudolitorea, and R. trichophylla, making it the bryophyte genus with the highest number of Macaronesian endemic species. Given the difficulties in identifying some of those species from morphology, as highlighted in the identification key presented here, we describe easy‐to‐use DNA “barcodes” that can be a useful tool for specimen identification when key morphological characters lead to uncertain identification., J.P. was funded by the Spanish “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad” through the Juan de la Cierva Program – Incorporation (IJCI-2014-19691). The project “Lista Roja de los Briófitos de las Islas Canarias” funded by the Canary Islands Government (P1042004-028) provided support to J.P, J.M.G.-M. and A.V

Biedermann, S., Muller, F. & Seifert, E. 2014. New records and rediscoveries for the bryophyte flora of Saxony. — Herzogia 27: 215 –219. Bryum veronense, Cololejeunea rossettiana, Haplomitrium hookeri, Orthotrichum stellatum, Scapania helvetica, Ulota macrospora, Ulota phyllantha, and Ulota rehmannii are reported for the first time from Saxony. Especially remarkable there are the records of Orthotrichum stellatum (second recent record in Germany) and Ulota rehmannii (third record in Germany). For Antitrichia curtipendula, last recorded in Saxony in 1923, recent records were found. Ulota macrospora is reported as new for the Czech Republic.

Muller, F., Gunther, K.-F., Hentschel, J. & Long, D. G. 2014. First record of Mannia triandra (Aytoniaceae, Hepaticae) in the Harz Mts and Saxony-Anhalt (Germany). — Herzogia 27: 147–156. The first record for the Harz Mts and Saxony-Anhalt of Mannia triandra is reported. The site is located at the rock massif Kleine Rabenklippe at the Rappbode Reservoir near Hasselfelde. The circumstances of the finding and the locality including accompanying bryophytes are described. Among other species Grimmia lisae, Mannia fragrans and Schistidium flaccidum, a species thought lost in Saxony-Anhalt, are particularly noteworthy.

Se estudio la influencia del pH de las cortezas de dos especies arboreas del genero Nothofagus sobre la riqueza de liquenes y briofitos. Las especies arboreas consideradas en este estudio fueron: N. dombeyi y N. obliqua situadas en dos localidades preandinas: una dentro del Reserva Nacional "Radal Siete Tazas" y la otra en la Reserva Nacional "Altos de Lircay", Chile central. En cada localidad, un total de 20 forofitos fueron examinados: 10 N. dombeyi y 10 N. obliqua. En cada forofito, el total de liquenes y briofitos fue inventariado, el diametro de cada uno de los forofitos fue medido a la altura del DAP y ademas 10 g de corteza por forofito fue extraida para verificacion del pH. El pH de las cortezas fue determinado por medio del metodo de Mezger (1996) y mas tarde fue relacionado con la riqueza de liquenes y briofitos encontrada en los forofitos muestreados de cada especie arborea, en ambas localidades. En ambas localidades, el pH de las cortezas de los forofitos de N. dombeyi fueron mas acidas que aquellas de N. obliqua. Los analisis estadisticos analisis revelan una diferencia estadisticamente significativa entre el pH de una especie a otra. El pH de la corteza de forofitos de N. dombeyi y N. obliqua, en ambas localidades, no se correlaciona con la riqueza de los diferentes grupos (liquenes, musgos y hepaticas) analizados, sin embargo, y de acuerdo a los inventarios realizados, se pudo observar que algunas especies de liquenes presenta una estrecha relacion con el pH de las cortezas de una u otra de las especies arboreas estudiadas y solo un bajo porcentaje de estas se mostraron indiferentes al pH de los forofitos. Los musgos prefieren cortezas mas cercanas a la neutralidad como las de N. obliqua, mientras que las hepaticas prefieren cortezas mas acidas como las de N. dombeyi.

Summary Allelopathy is a phenomenon where plants have deleterious effects on growth of surrounding plants through the production of chemical substances. Soil hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi may enhance transport processes of allelochemicals by providing ‘highways’ connecting plants below-ground. In three studies ranging from high ecological realism to experimental control, we showed that the presence of mycorrhizal hyphae may strongly contribute to the transport of allelochemicals. We analysed the accumulation of naturally released juglone in the field in intact or disrupted hyphal connections and determined its growth reducing effects on sensitive target plants in a bioassay. Secondly, we tested the effects of Juglans regia leaf litter addition in the presence or absence of the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on target plants, and finally, we added pure juglone to Lycopersicon lycopersicum plants in the presence or absence of Rhizophagus. Throughout, we found increased juglone transfer if mycorrhizal hyphae were present, resulting in reduced growth of target plants. Our results point to mycorrhizal hyphae playing an important role in extending the bioactive zone of allelochemicals. We suggest that hyphal networks increase the effectiveness of allelochemicals in natural systems and play a crucial role in chemical interaction processes and hence influence plant community structure.

Muller, F. & Baumann, M. 2018. New and remarkable bryophyte records from the Polish part of the Giant Mountains. – Herzogia 31: 807–816. Schistidium umbrosum is reported as new for Poland. Encalypta microstoma was rediscovered in Poland. Grimmia reflexidens and Lescuraea patens are new for the Polish part of the Giant Mountains. Anomobryum concinnatum and Lescuraea saxicola were rediscovered for the whole Giant Mountains, and Amphidium lapponicum, Bryum muehlenbeckii, Lescuraea mutabilis, Saelania glaucescens and Schistidium flexipile were rediscovered for the Polish part of the Giant Mountains.

A new species, Pleurozia pocsii (Pleuroziaceae) from New Caledonia, is described and illustrated. The species belongs in subgenus Diversifolia B. M. Thiers. Pleurozia pocsii is easily distinguished from the other species of the genus by the laciniate dorsal and ventral leaf lobe apices of the explanate-lobuled leaves, the laciniate bracts of the sterile gynoecia, and the strongly bulging cells at the apex of the dorsal lobules of the saccate-lobuled leaves.

Convolvulaceae provide a rich source of tropane alkaloids, however, 2-substi-tuted tropanes have been described for only few species of this taxon. In this note, 2,7-diesters such as ipvelutine [7β-acetoxy-2α-(tigloyloxy)tropane] isolated from the vegetative parts of the Australian Ipomoea velutina R. BR. are described as a new group of tropane diesters.

The mechanisms of action of fluoride have been discussed controversially for decades. The cavity-preventive effect for teeth is often traced back to effects on demineralization. However, an effect on bacterial adhesion was indicated by indirect macroscopic studies. To characterize adhesion on fluoridated samples on a single bacterial level, we used force spectroscopy with bacterial probes to measure adhesion forces directly. We tested the adhesion of Streptococcus mutans , Streptococcus oralis , and Staphylococcus carnosus on smooth, high-density hydroxyapatite surfaces, pristine and after treatment with fluoride solution. All bacteria species exhibit lower adhesion forces after fluoride treatment of the surfaces. These findings suggest that the decrease of adhesion properties is a further key factor for the cariostatic effect of fluoride besides the decrease of demineralization.

The new species, Cheilolejeunea hyalomarginata (Lejeuneaceae) from New Caledonia, is described and illustrated. The species is easily distinguished from all other species of Cheilolejeunea by the hyaline denticulate margin of the leaf lobe. Further diagnostic characters include the entire underleaves, the lobular apex connate with 4–6 lobe cells, and the spinose, unicellular, strongly thick-walled lobular tooth with a very small lumen at the base.

Five species of mosses (Anomodon pseudotristis, Calymperes afzelii, C. motleyi, Mesonodon flavescens, Mitthyridium flavum) are reported as new for New Caledonia. Anomodon and Mesonodon are new genus reports for New Caledonia. Calomnium iwatsukii, a species endemic to New Caledonia and hitherto only known from the type locality, is recorded from a second locality. Sporophytes of Sphagnum novo-caledoniae were found for the first time and are described. The following sporophytic features of S. novo-caledoniae are rare or absent among the genus Sphagnum: sporophytes developed on elongated branches, capsules immersed in perichaetial leaves, pseudopodium extremely short, pseudostomata absent from capsule surface.

Summary Myxococcus xanthus is a Gram-negative bacterium that differentiates into environmentally resistant spores. Spore differentiation involves septation-independent remodelling of the rod-shaped vegetative cell into a spherical spore and deposition of a thick and compact spore coat outside of the outer membrane. Our analyses suggest that spore coat polysaccharides are exported to the cell surface by the Exo outer membrane polysaccharide export/polysaccharide co-polymerase 2a (OPX/PCP-2a) machinery. Conversion of the capsule-like polysaccharide layer into a compact spore coat layer requires the Nfs proteins which likely form a complex in the cell envelope. Mutants in either nfs, exo or two other genetic loci encoding homologues of polysaccharide synthesis enzymes fail to complete morphogenesis from rods to spherical spores and instead produce a transient state of deformed cell morphology before reversion into typical rods. We additionally provide evidence that the cell cytoskeletal protein, MreB, plays an important role in rod to spore morphogenesis and for spore outgrowth. These studies provide evidence that this novel Gram-negative differentiation process is tied to cytoskeleton functions and polysaccharide spore coat deposition.

Vasculogenesis and hematopoiesis are closely linked in developing vertebrates. Recently, the existence of a common progenitor of these two tissues, the hemangioblast, has been demonstrated in different organisms. In Xenopus early vascular and hematopoietic cells differentiate in a region called the anterior ventral blood island (aVBI). Differentiating cells from this region migrate out to form embryonic blood and part of the vascular structures of the early frog embryo. A number of members of the ETS family of transcription factors are expressed in endothelial cells and some of them play important roles at various stages of vascular development. The loss of ER71 function in mice led to a complete loss of blood and vascular structures. Similarly, knock down of the zebrafish homolog of er71, etsrp, greatly affected development of vascular structures and myeloid cells. We have identified the Xenopus ortholog of er71 and could show that er71 function in Xenopus is required for vasculogenesis, but not for the development of hematopoietic cells. Developmental Dynamics 239:3436–3445, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A new species, Marchesinia principensis (Marchantiophyta, Lejeuneaceae), is described and illustrated from Príncipe, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa. It was discovered in cloud-mist hardwood forests at elevations of 500–690 m. This new species most closely resembles Marchesinia excavata, but differs in the broad reniform underleaves, 5–6 × as wide as the stem, >2 × as wide as long, the narrow angle (< 90°) that the ventral margin of the lobe makes with the keel, and the usually flat ventral margin of the lobe. M. principensis is, furthermore, a more robust plant than M. excavata.

Seven moss species are reported as new for Chile. Several moss species are reported as new for administrative regions of Chile. Fourteen names have been placed in synonymy and two new combinations proposed.

(2009). New national and regional bryophyte records, 21. Journal of Bryology: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 132-139.

Fissidens tumescens is described and illustrated from Dominica and Guadeloupe in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The species belongs to subgenus Aloma, and is most similar to F. neglectus. Its distinctive features include: slender leafy stems; intralaminal, unistratose limbidia that extend to about ½–¾ the length of the vaginant laminae of most leaves; smooth, tumid laminal cells that vary from unistratose to bistratose; and, marginal laminal cells often papillose on the margins.

Plants are endangered at their roots by soil-dwelling rhizophagous insects. These below-ground living herbivores may orient to the source of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), an ubiquitous volatile released by respiring plant roots. Here, we studied the interaction of CO 2 and other plant root-derived chemical stimuli with regard to the chemical orientation of the polyphagous larvae of Melolontha melolontha L. (Scarabaeidae). A soil arena was developed that enabled both determination of the actual soil CO 2 concentration and the behavioural response of an insect to (a) CO 2 gradients per se , (b) chemical stimuli released from respiring, undamaged roots of plants potted into vermiculite in this arena and (c) combinations of CO 2 gradients and root-derived stimuli. In a root-free arena, larvae of M. melolontha oriented to the source of synthetic CO 2 . However, similar CO 2 gradients generated by host plant roots did not attract the larvae. Neither did a synthetic CO 2 gradient combined with aqueous extracts from rhizospheres with undamaged plant roots elicit an attractive effect. Our data suggest that orientation of cockchafer larvae within CO 2 gradients generated by respiring roots is ‘masked’ by an aqueous extract from a rhizosphere with undamaged roots. The results emphasise that effects of behaviour modifying plant-derived compounds need to be investigated against the background of naturally co-occurring chemicals. The significance of our results for orientation of soil living insects is discussed with respect to abiotic conditions in natural soil and the role of soil microorganisms for the attractiveness of plant roots.

Meinungeria mouensis is described as a new genus and species of the Lepidoziaceae from New Caledonia. The new taxon is characterized by white to light green, worm-like, creeping, nearly leafless stems. It differs from all other genera of the Lepidoziaceae in its unique stem anatomy and in the presence of reduced leaves and underleaves composed of 3-4 radially arranged single cells. The transverse section of the stem is composed of a large-celled echlorophyllose hyaloderm (of 9-11 cells with thickened radial walls becoming thicker from the inner to the outer side) surrounding a single layer of 8-9 smaller, thin-walled, chlorophyllose cells and a central strand of 5-7 echlorophyllose, thick-walled cells with yellowish to light brown walls. The species were found on open soil in maquis vegetation on ultrabasic substrates in the southeastern part of the island.

The transcriptional coactivater and tyrosine phosphatase eyes absent (eya) is vital for eye development in Drosophila. We identified a vertebrate member of the Eya family, Xeya3, which is expressed in the anterior neural plate, including the eye field. Overexpression of wild-type Xeya3 or of a phosphatase-negative version of Xeya3 creates massive enlargements of brain and retinal tissues, mainly caused by overproliferation of neural precursor cells. On the other hand, suppression of Xeya3 function induces local apoptosis within the sensorial layer of the anterior neuroectoderm. Thus, Xeya3 is key factor for the formation and size control of brain and eyes in vertebrates. Developmental Dynamics 236:1526–1534, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

An unusual and complex tropane alkaloid pattern has been detected in the root bark of Astripomoea malvacea and in the whole plant of Falkia repens (Convolvulaceae) by GC-MS analysis. The specific profile of both species is characterized by the presence of aliphatic 3- acyloxytropanes/-nortropanes (exclusively in A. malvacea; predominantly in F. repens in cooccurrence with a few aromatic as well as arylalkyl acyl congeners). The principal alkaloid of A. malvacea, astrimalvine A N-oxide [3β -(3-tigloyloxy-2-methylbutyryloxy)tropane N-oxide], isolated and structurally elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, represents the first N-oxide of a 3β -tropanol derivative in the Convolvulaceae. Its minor tertiary congener astrimalvine B [3β -(3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyryloxy)tropane] turned out to be a metabolite of both convolvulaceaous species. This is the first phytochemical report on the African genera Astripomoea and Falkia.

The moss flora of the Los Ruiles Nature Reserve, Maule region (VII), central Chile was investigated. Los Ruiles is a small forest reserve dominated by Nothofagus trees and surrounded by plantations of Pinus radiata. The moss species list contains 72 taxa, among which are 36 species newly reported for the Maule region. Several species reach their northernmost known limit in the reserve, including Achrophyllum magellanicum var. magellanicum, Ancistrodes genuflexa, Cryphaea consimilis, Dendrocryphaea lechleri, Lembophyllum orbiculatum, Leptostomum menziesii, Symblepharis krausei, and Zygodon papillatus. To ensure the survival of these rare or local bryophytes, an increase of the proportion of Nothofagus trees in the forests surrounding the reserve is desirable.

A new species, Cephaloziella biokoensis Vá a & F.Müller, is described and illustrated. The type locality is at the highest point of the island of Bioko (Equatorial Guinea) at an altitude of ca. 2900 m NN. The new species belongs to subgenus Prionolobus (Spruce) Müll.Frib. and is closely related to C. turneri (Hook.) Müll.Frib. The main differences between these two species are shown in a table.

Fissidens cagoui Frank Mull., Pursell & Brugg.-Nann., in section Amblyothallia, is described and illustrated. Fissidens pseudopallidus I. G. Stone, hitherto known only from Queensland, Australia, is reported new to the moss flora of New Caledonia. Also, F. rigidulus Hook. f. & Wilson is newly recorded for the island. Records for five other species are appended.

Genetic dissection of the lipid bilayer composition provides essential in vivo evidence for the role of individual lipid species in membrane function. To understand the in vivo role of the anionic phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol, the loss-of-function mutation was identified and characterized in the Arabidopsis thaliana gene coding for phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase 1, PGP1. This mutation resulted in pigment-deficient plants of the xantha type in which the biogenesis of thylakoid membranes was severely compromised. The PGP1 gene coded for a precursor polypeptide that was targeted in vivo to both plastids and mitochondria. The activity of the plastidial PGP1 isoform was essential for the biosynthesis of phosphatidylglycerol in chloroplasts, whereas the mitochondrial PGP1 isoform was redundant for the accumulation of phosphatidylglycerol and its derivative cardiolipin in plant mitochondrial membranes. Together with findings in cyanobacteria, these data demonstrated that anionic phospholipids play an important, evolutionarily conserved role in the biogenesis and function of the photosynthetic machinery. In addition, mutant analysis suggested that in higher plants, mitochondria, unlike plastids, could import phosphatidylglycerol from the endoplasmic reticulum.

We explored the inter- and intrapopulation variability in the larval defensive chemistry of the leaf beetle Chrysomela lapponica with respect to the salicylic glycoside (SG) content of its host species. Secretions of larvae from three populations associated in nature with SG-poor willows contained nearly twice as many components and 40-fold higher concentrations of autogenously produced isobutyrates and 2-methylbutyrates than secretions of larvae from three populations associated with SG-rich willows, which in turn had 200-fold higher concentrations of host-derived salicylaldehyde. Reciprocal transfer experiments showed that the larvae from populations associated with SG-rich willows did not produce appreciable amounts of butyrates on either SG-rich or SG-poor willows, while populations feeding on several SG-poor willow species retained the ability for efficient sequestration of SGs, along with their ability to produce high amounts of isobutyrates and 2-methylbutyrates. Only the populations associated with SG-poor willows demonstrated among-family variation in the composition of defensive secretion and differential responses of individual families to willows with alternative SG levels, which can be seen as the prerequisites for shifting to novel hosts. These non-specialized populations show a dual defensive strategy, which corresponds to the ancestral state of this species, while populations that fully depend on host-derived toxins (feeding on SG-rich willows) or have lost the ability to produce salicylaldehyde (feeding on birches) are most deviant from the ancestral state. The results indicate that defensive strategies may differ between populations within a species, and suggest that this variation reduces extinction risks and maintains the high ecological diversity and wide distribution of C. lapponica.

The food web of Symmorphus cristatus wasps, leaf beetle larvae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and willow (Salix spp.) trees is a model system for studying the chemical ecology of plant, herbivore and predator interactions. However, little is known about the natural history and prey use of the predatory wasps. We conducted detailed observations of nesting behavior and quantified time allocation to nest building activities in Big Pine Creek in the eastern Sierra of California. Symmorphus cristatus exhibits aggressive territorial behavior over nesting and mating sites, but does not respond aggressively to kleptoparasitism by cuckoo wasps Chrysis nitidula. We also compared prey use, nest provisioning and nest architecture of wasps at Big Pine Creek and at Sebastopol, near the central California coast. Using trap-nests we identified two new prey species for S. cristatus at Sebastopol: Plagiodera californica and Chrysomela schaefferi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). There were significant differences in nest ...

Nineteen species of bryophytes are reported for the first time for Reunion. Especially remarkable are the first African record of Anastrophyllum leucocephalum (Tayl.) Steph. and the first records for the East African Islands of Cephaloziella cf. vaginans Steph., Fossombronia foveolata Lindb., Riccia huebeneriana Lindenb., Barbula unguiculata Hedw., Bryum pseudotriquetrum (Hedw.) Schwagr., Chenia leptophylla (Mull.Hal.) R.H.Zander, Dicranella subsubulata (Hampe ex Mull.Hal.) A.Jaeger, Ditrichum punctulatum Mitt., Physcomitrium spathulatum (Hornsch.) Mull.Hal. var. spathulatum and Trichostomum crispulum Bruch var. crispulum . Brachymenium gemmiferum A.J.Shaw & W.R.Buck is regarded as synonymous with Brachymenium exile (Dozy & Molk.) Bosch & Sande Lac.