New species of Pseudanos Winterbottom, 1980 (Characiformes: Anostomidae), with notes on the taxonomy of P. gracilis and P. trimaculatus

A new species of Pseudanos (Characiformes, Anostomidae) is described from the Rio Negro in Brazil, and the Rio Casiquiare and Rio Atabapo, in Venezuela. Specimens of the new species were previously mistakenly identified as Pseudanos gracilis. The new species is diagnosed by having three branchiostegal rays (vs. four in P. gracilis and most specimens of P. winterbottomi), dark transversal bars on dorsum absent (vs. present in P. trimaculatus), dark spots present on the center of each body scale, forming conspicuous, straight dark lines (vs. dark spots absent in P. gracilis and in some specimens of P. trimaculatus), four midlateral dark blotches on body (vs. usually two, sometimes three or four in P. trimaculatus, or body lacking midlateral blotches and presenting instead a broad midlateral stripe in P. winterbottomi), angle of dorsal and ventralmost radii of body scales between 40 degrees and 90 degrees (vs. angle between 110 degrees and 180 degrees in P. gracilis and P. trimaculatus), and cranial fontanel opened along its entire length (vs. cranial fontanel partially closed in P. trimaculatus). Type specimens and extensive additional material of Pseudanos gracilis and P. trimaculatus were examined and comments on the taxonomy of both species are provided. Pseudanos irinae is herein considered a junior synonym of P. trimaculatus. In addition, an updated key to identification of valid species of Pseudanos is presented.

Dihydrocinnamic acid derivatives from Hortia species and their chemotaxonomic value in the Rutaceae

Phytochemical studies of Hortia brasiliana and Hortia oreadica (Rutaceae) have led to the identification of three novel dihydrocinnamic acids: 5-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-8-propanoic acid, 5,6-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-8-propanoic acid and erythro-2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3-(1,2,3-trihydroxy-3-methylbutyl) benzenepropanoic acid from H. brasiliana and the second compound and six known dihydrocinnamic acids from H. oreadica. Engler included Hortia as the single Neotropical genus in the Toddalioideae subtribe Toddaliinae. However, the range of dihydrocinnamic acid derivatives found in H. brasiliana and H. oreadica show that they contain similar compounds to other species of Hortia and clearly point to their phytochemical affinities with other Rutoideae species. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multivariate analyses of UV-Vis absorption spectral data from cachaca wood extracts: a model to classify aged Brazilian cachacas according to the wood species used

Multivariate analyses of UV-Vis spectral data from cachaca wood extracts provide a simple and robust model to classify aged Brazilian cachacas according to the wood species used in the maturation barrels. The model is based on inspection of 93 extracts of oak and different Brazilian wood species by a non-aged cachaca used as an extraction solvent. Application of PCA (Principal Components Analysis) and HCA (Hierarchical Cluster Analysis) leads to identification of 6 clusters of cachaca wood extracts (amburana, amendoim, balsamo, castanheira, jatoba, and oak). LDA (Linear Discriminant Analysis) affords classification of 10 different wood species used in the cachaca extracts (amburana, amendoim, balsamo, cabreuva-parda, canela-sassafras, castanheira, jatoba, jequitiba-rosa, louro-canela, and oak) with an accuracy ranging from 80% (amendoim and castanheira) to 100% (balsamo and jequitiba-rosa). The methodology provides a low-cost alternative to methods based on liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to classify cachacas aged in barrels that are composed of different wood species.

Two New Species of Stenophragma Skuse from Western Australia (Diptera, Mycetophilidae, Sciophilinae)

Stenophragma Skuse was originally described for S. meridianum (Skuse), from Australia. Since then seventeen species have been added to the genus-from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, and Canada. We add two new species to the genus Stenophragma-S. bickeli n.sp. and S. collessi n.sp.-from Western Australia. An identification key for the Australian species of Stenophragma is provided. Comments are made about possible relationships among these new species and the remaining Australasian species of the genus. OLIVEIRA, SARAH SIQUEIRA, AND DALTON DE SOUZA AMORIM. 2012. Two new species of Stenophragma Skuse from Western Australia (Diptera, Mycetophilidae, Sciophilinae). Records of the Australian Museum 64(2): 149-158.

Identification and expression analysis of microRNAs and targets in the biofuel crop sugarcane

Abstract Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs, some of which are conserved in diverse plant genomes. Therefore, computational identification and further experimental validation of miRNAs from non-model organisms is both feasible and instrumental for addressing miRNA-based gene regulation and evolution. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important biofuel crop with publicly available expressed sequence tag and genomic survey sequence databases, but little is known about miRNAs and their targets in this highly polyploid species. Results In this study, we have computationally identified 19 distinct sugarcane miRNA precursors, of which several are highly similar with their sorghum homologs at both nucleotide and secondary structure levels. The accumulation pattern of mature miRNAs varies in organs/tissues from the commercial sugarcane hybrid as well as in its corresponding founder species S. officinarum and S. spontaneum. Using sugarcane MIR827 as a query, we found a novel MIR827 precursor in the sorghum genome. Based on our computational tool, a total of 46 potential targets were identified for the 19 sugarcane miRNAs. Several targets for highly conserved miRNAs are transcription factors that play important roles in plant development. Conversely, target genes of lineage-specific miRNAs seem to play roles in diverse physiological processes, such as SsCBP1. SsCBP1 was experimentally confirmed to be a target for the monocot-specific miR528. Our findings support the notion that the regulation of SsCBP1 by miR528 is shared at least within graminaceous monocots, and this miRNA-based post-transcriptional regulation evolved exclusively within the monocots lineage after the divergence from eudicots. Conclusions Using publicly available nucleotide databases, 19 sugarcane miRNA precursors and one new sorghum miRNA precursor were identified and classified into 14 families. Comparative analyses between sugarcane and sorghum suggest that these two species retain homologous miRNAs and targets in their genomes. Such conservation may help to clarify specific aspects of miRNA regulation and evolution in the polyploid sugarcane. Finally, our dataset provides a framework for future studies on sugarcane RNAi-dependent regulatory mechanisms.

Identification of differentially expressed genes from Trichoderma harzianum during growth on cell wall of Fusarium solani as a tool for biotechnological application

Background: The species of T. harzianum are well known for their biocontrol activity against many plant pathogens. However, there is a lack of studies concerning its use as a biological control agent against F. solani, a pathogen involved in several crop diseases. In this study, we have used subtractive library hybridization (SSH) and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) techniques in order to explore changes in T. harzianum genes expression during growth on cell wall of F. solani (FSCW) or glucose. RT-qPCR was also used to examine the regulation of 18 genes, potentially involved in biocontrol, during confrontation between T. harzianum and F. solani. Results: Data obtained from two subtractive libraries were compared after annotation using the Blast2GO suite. A total of 417 and 78 readable EST sequence were annotated in the FSCW and glucose libraries, respectively. Functional annotation of these genes identified diverse biological processes and molecular functions required during T. harzianum growth on FSCW or glucose. We identified various genes of biotechnological value encoding to proteins which function such as transporters, hydrolytic activity, adherence, appressorium development and pathogenesis. Fifteen genes were up-regulated and sixteen were down-regulated at least at one-time point during growth of T. harzianum in FSCW. During the confrontation assay most of the genes were up-regulated, mainly after contact, when the interaction has been established. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that T. harzianum expressed different genes when grown on FSCW compared to glucose. It provides insights into the mechanisms of gene expression involved in mycoparasitism of T. harzianum against F. solani. The identification and evaluation of these genes may contribute to the development of an efficient biological control agent.

Phylogenetic identification of marine bacteria isolated from deep-sea sediments of the eastern South Atlantic Ocean

The deep-sea environments of the South Atlantic Ocean are less studied in comparison to the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. With the aim of identifying the deep-sea bacteria in this less known ocean, 70 strains were isolated from eight sediment samples (depth range between 1905 to 5560 m) collected in the eastern part of the South Atlantic, from the equatorial region to the Cape Abyssal Plain, using three different culture media. The strains were classified into three phylogenetic groups, Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, by the analysis of 16s rRNA gene sequences. Gammaproteobacteria and Firmicutes were the most frequently identified groups, with Halomonas the most frequent genus among the strains. Microorganisms belonging to Firmicutes were the only ones observed in all samples. Sixteen of the 41 identified operational taxonomic units probably represent new species. The presence of potentially new species reinforces the need for new studies in the deep-sea environments of the South Atlantic.

A new species of Anchoviella Fowler, 1911 (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae) from the Amazon basin, Brazil

Anchoviella juruasanga is described from the drainages of rios Negro, Madeira, Tapajós, Trombetas, Tocantins, and Jari, in the Amazon basin, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by having a short upper jaw, with its posterior tip extending between the verticals through anterior and posterior margins of the pupil (vs. posterior tip of upper jaw extending beyond the vertical through posterior margin of the pupil). Anchoviella juruasanga is also distinct from other strictly freshwater Amazonian species of the genus by the distance from tip of snout to posterior end of upper jaw between 8 and 11% in standard length (vs. 14% or more in A. alleni, A. carrikeri, A. guianensis, and A. jamesi). The anal-fin origin slightly posterior to or at the vertical through the base of the last dorsal-fin ray further distinguishes the new species from A. alleni (anal-fin origin posterior to the vertical through the last anal-fin ray by at least 14% of head length) and A. jamesi (anal-fin origin anterior to the vertical through the last anal-fin ray). An identification key for the Amazonian species of Anchoviella, including marine and estuarine species known to occur in the lower portion of the basin, is presented.