毛乌素沙地四种关键植物幼苗出土及生长对沙埋和水分的响应

飞播是毛乌素沙地植被恢复与重建的重要手段。但此项技术仍存在一些问题，如飞播后成苗率较低等。柠条(Caragana korshinskii)、羊柴(Hedysarum laeve)、籽蒿(Artimisia sphaerocephala)与油蒿(Artimisia ordosica)是毛乌素沙地广泛分布的物种，也是飞播的主要物种。本文以飞播植被恢复技术为突破口，研究沙埋和土壤水分对种子萌发，幼苗出土和生长的影响，探讨幼苗出土和生长对沙生环境的适应对策。对采用合适的物种进行生态工程建设，提高生态工程的稳定性及可持续性具有重要意义。同时，本项研究有助于加深半干旱区植物对沙生环境适应机理的认识。 以上述4种植物为研究对象，设定7个沙埋深度和9个水分梯度，研究种子萌发和幼苗出土对沙埋和单次供水的响应。设定7个沙埋深度，选择3个沙丘部位，研究沙丘不同部位对植物种子萌发的影响。设定6个沙埋深度、4个水分梯度，研究两种蒿属植物幼苗生长对不同沙埋和供水的响应。得出如下主要结论： (1) 对于种子质量相对较大的柠条和羊柴而言，在一次性10-20 mm供水量条件下，幼苗主要在0.5-2 cm埋藏深度之间出土，但在埋藏深度为5 cm时这两个物种仍有少部分幼苗能够出土;对于种子质量相对较轻的油蒿和籽蒿而言，在一次性10-20 mm供水量时，幼苗主要在0.5 cm埋藏深度出土，油蒿和籽蒿幼苗在埋藏深度为1.5和2 cm时不能出苗。沙埋深度为0.5 cm时，4个物种出苗率较高、出苗时间较短、出苗速率较快。 (2) 实验期内(30天)在一次性供水量分别为5、7.5和7.5mm时，柠条、羊柴和油蒿出土幼苗全部死亡;在一次性供水量高于15-20 mm时，出土幼苗死亡率低于50%;籽蒿在供水量高于10 mm时出土幼苗死亡率低于50%;随供水量的增加4个物种出土幼苗的死亡率降低。 (3) 结合毛乌素沙地降雨特点与本文实验结果，0.5 cm的沙埋及7.5 mm以上的单次降雨量是上述4种植物自然条件下出苗较高的重要条件。 (4) 在沙丘顶部，2-7 cm沙埋深度之内各个物种不同沙埋深度的种子萌发率差异不显著。沙丘背风坡中部和底部，4个物种在沙埋深度为1 cm时的种子萌发率均显著高于5、7 cm时的萌发率。当沙埋深度为1-5 cm时，柠条和羊柴种子在坡面不同位置的萌发率均高于20%，且显著高于7 cm沙埋深度时的萌发率。在背风坡底部时，柠条、羊柴、油蒿和籽蒿的种子萌发率达到最大值，分别为45.2±3.27%、48.4±5.21%、20.8±4.63%和22.4±4.83%。4个物种的种子萌发率从沙丘顶部到背风坡中部到底部呈递增趋势，表明背风坡中部和底部的环境条件要比顶部更适合种子萌 发。 (5) 部分沙埋促进幼苗生长。2种蒿属植物幼苗在沙埋深度为0.25、0.5 H时比在0、0.75 H时具有更高的生物量、叶面积、相对生长速率（RGR）和净同化速率（NAR）。在75 mm/月供水量时，油蒿幼苗具有较高的生物量和叶面积，但当供水量达到100 mm/月时其幼苗生长受到抑制。油蒿幼苗在遭遇较深（0.5、0.75 H）沙埋时的根冠比要显著高于未沙埋幼苗的根冠比;籽蒿幼苗根冠比在不同沙埋条件下没有显著变化。籽蒿幼苗在50 mm供水量时具有较高的RGR。油蒿幼苗在75 mm供水量时具有较高的RGR和NAR。

莲（Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.）胚芽的光合特性及其暗萌发过程中的光合系统建成

被子植物成熟的种子一般不合有叶绿素，但是莲（Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.）的胚芽却具有鲜明的绿色，本文较详细地研究了莲胚芽不同于一般被子植物叶组织的色素和光台系统组成，并通过对莲胚芽成熟发育过程中的叶绿素合成和光合系统发育进行分析，探讨了莲胚芽光合特性形成的原因，最后对莲胚芽在黑暗中萌发能发育并建成光合系统的现象进行了研究，主要的结果如下： 1，莲胚芽不仅含有叶绿素和光合系统，而且其色素和光台系统组成均与莲叶以及其它被子植物的叶组织不同。莲胚芽的Chla/b值约为0.8左右，远远低于正常高等植物的Chla/b值(～3)：莲胚芽的色素组成中不含有β-胡萝卜素;莲胚芽的光合系统没有电子传递活性，快速荧光动力学测定结果表明莲胚芽只有较高的固定荧光F。没有可变荧光Fv;原位低温荧光光谱检测表明莲胚芽只在679nm处有一个荧光发射主峰，没有正常的PSII和PSI荧光发射峰(683nm、692nm和730nm);部分变性的叶绿素蛋白复合物凝胶电泳分析结果表明莲胚芽叶绿体类囊体膜上只存在LHCII 一种叶绿素蛋白复合物（其中单体和二聚体形式的LHCII均有发现）;Western Blots检测结果表明莲胚芽的LHCII组成比较单一，同时确证了莲胚芽不含有PSI的核心和天线蛋白组分。莲胚芽LHCII和莲叶LHCII在SDS-PAGE图谱上迁移距离相同，但是光谱分析表明二者不仅在Chla、Chlb的相对含量上不同，而且在叶绿素分子与蛋白的结合状态上也存在差异，这些差异主要是由一部分Chla分子造成的，Chlb分子在二者中的结合状态则比较～致。 2，对莲胚芽成熟过程中的光合系统发育进行研究，结果表明这个过程可以分为建成期（0-20天）、稳定期（20-30天）和降解期（30—40天）三个阶段。在建成期和稳定期内，莲胚芽外面的包被物可能不是完全遮光的，所以莲胚芽能感受到环境光信号，其叶绿素合成已经光合系统建成集中在此阶段内进行：在莲’胚芽成熟后期，莲胚芽外面的包被组织开始木质化，光信号无法再穿透它们，莲胚芽的光合系统发育进入降解期，叶绿素合成停止，己建成的光合系统开始降解，到莲胚芽成熟时，除LHCIl外，光合系统其余的叶绿素蛋白复合物都被降解了，所以莲胚芽具有不同于一般祓子植物叶组织的色素和光合系统组成。对莲胚芽的成熟发育过程进行遮光处理，结果发现遮光发育的莲胚芽发生明显黄化，这表明莲胚芽的叶绿素合成也离不开光照，在莲总基因组中检测不到编码DPOR的三个基因的同源序列，确证了莲胚芽不具有在黑暗中合成叶绿素的能力。 3，在黑暗中萌发生长的莲胚芽能够在相当长的时间内保持其叶绿素稳定，特别是Chla的含量在暗生长10天以内基本没有变化;原位低温荧光光谱检测表明暗萌发过程中莲苗有PSII和PSI的荧光发射峰形成，暗生长10天左右的莲苗具有比较明显的光合系统荧光发射峰，但是与自然光照下的发育过程相比，暗萌发莲苗的光合系统荧光发射峰出现较慢，而且PSI的荧光发射相对较弱;暗萌发莲苗在转绿以及冻融过程中的原位低温荧光光谱变化表明莲苗在黑暗中建成的光合系统不完善并且不稳定;对莲胚芽、暗萌发莲苗以及莲叶的叶绿体吸收光谱进行比较，结果显示暗萌发莲苗的叶绿体发育阶段介于莲胚芽和莲叶之间;叶绿素蛋白复合物凝胶电泳分离，SDS-PAGE，Western Blots免疫检测、以及叶绿素荧光诱导动力学结果均确证暗萌发莲苗有光合系统的发育，特别是PSI的出现;对暗萌发莲苗的光化学活性进行分析，结果表明暗中建成的PSII和PSI均具有电子传递活性：但是放氧复合物的发育不完全，对莲胚芽暗萌发过程光合系统建成的原因进行分析，推测叶绿素可能起了至关重要的作用，光对于莲胚芽萌发过程中的光合系统发育来说可能并不是必需的。

濒危植物大花黄牡丹种子休眠与萌发特性研究

本文以中国极危种大花黄牡丹种子为研究材料，对其种子生物学、休眠与萌发特性进行研究，采用变温层积和激素处理解除种子休眠，并通过生物抑制物测试、胚培养、激素含量动态变化的测定，研究种子休眠的原因，从根本上解决了大花黄牡丹迁地保护过程中种子繁殖的技术难题，并初步探讨了大花黄牡丹致濒因素与种子休眠及萌发特性的关系，结果表明： 1.大花黄牡丹种子饱实度高，活力强，种皮较坚硬，但不存在吸水障碍，干燥条件下易因失水而丧失活力。迁地保护冷室中盆播18个月方可出苗，出苗率约4%;变温层积实验表明该种具有典型的下胚轴休眠和上胚轴生长抑制。 2.胚组织培养表明：带胚乳和种皮的胚不能萌发，剥除种皮和胚乳后，胚根可萌发，胚芽不生长，GA3处理上胚轴可促进生长，说明种皮和胚乳是导致大花黄牡丹种子下胚轴休眠的关键因素，而上胚轴生长抑制与胚本身关系更密切。 3.抑制物质提取实验表明：大花黄牡丹种子胚乳、种皮、胚等各部位的浸提液均存在抑制小白菜种子萌发的物质，且抑制作用依次增强，说明胚乳和胚是其下胚轴休眠的主要原因。经过暖层积（15 ℃/90 d）种子（未解除上胚轴生长抑制）的胚根、子叶、胚轴浸提液对小白菜和已解除休眠的大花黄牡丹种子的萌发均有不同程度的抑制作用，并依次减弱，说明种胚本身的抑制物质是导致生理休眠的主要原因。 4.变温层积处理和外源激素实验表明：新鲜种子采收后15 ℃暖层积3个月生根率可达85%，下胚轴休眠解除对温度要求严格，高于或低于15 ℃及变温条件均不利于下胚轴萌发;暖层积90d、根长大于6 cm种子再经过60～80 d/ 5 ℃冷层积，即可有效解除大花黄牡丹种子上胚轴的生长抑制，出芽率达80%，最终出苗率68%。不同浓度GA3及不同处理时间促进上胚轴伸长实验结果显示，GA3　400 mg/L浸种根长大于1.5 cm的种子2 h，出芽率可达100%，可以完全解除上胚轴的生长抑制作用。 5.休眠萌发过程中种子各部位内源激素含量动态变化分析结果说明，初始状态脱落酸含量高是导致大花黄牡丹种子下胚轴休眠、上胚轴生长抑制的主要原因之一，且上胚轴抑制与子叶、下胚轴和根的脱落酸含量密切相关;同时认为种子各部位初始生长素含量水平低是导致其休眠的另一个主要原因;变温层积过程中胚各部位脱落酸含量的急剧下降和生长素的迅速升高是解除休眠的关键;同时发现赤霉素在解除休眠和促进萌发过程中起着重要的促进作用，外源GA3能够有效地打破上胚轴的深度休眠。玉米素核苷在休眠与萌发进程中变化趋势与生长素和赤霉素相似，说明其对种子胚根和上胚轴的萌发和生长具有一定的促进作用。

番茄种子萌发的高温耐性诱导及其生理效应

番茄（Lycopersicon esculentum Miller）原产于南美西部高原地带，适应原产地赤道附近高地干燥冷凉的气候特点，不耐高温多湿，种子萌发期间对高温非常敏感。本研究以佳粉17番茄种子为材料，试图寻找诱导番茄种子萌发期间高温耐性的方法，并通过研究高温耐性被诱导前后种子内部发生的生理生化变化，探索番茄种子萌发期间不耐高温以及高温耐性诱导的机理。试验结果显示： 25 ℃是种子萌发的最适温度，种子发芽率为97.5%。高温抑制种子的萌发，33 ℃和35 ℃条件下萌发率分别为58.5%和8.5%。 萌发适宜温度预吸胀、低温预吸胀、吸湿-回干预处理可提高番茄种子萌发期间的高温耐性，而水杨酸处理则没有明显效果。种子经25 ℃预吸胀30 h、0 ℃预吸胀10 h、吸湿-回干预处理后在33 ℃条件下的萌发率分别为81.5%、78.0%、90%，在35 ℃下的萌发率分别达到33.5%、42%、48.5%。经以上处理后，种子萌发速率提高，萌发高峰期提前，幼苗生长健壮，根干重增加，活力指数变大。 番茄种子萌发期间遭受高温危害时，电解质渗漏增加，相对电导率升高；脂膜过氧化作用加剧，其产物MDA的含量增加。经萌发适宜温度预吸胀、低温预吸胀、吸湿-回干等方法预处理后，高温伤害减轻，膜的完整性增强，电解质渗漏减缓，膜脂过氧化作用减弱，因而相对电导率降低，MDA含量减少。 高温抑制了抗氧化酶的活性，种子内部SOD、APX、CAT、GR等抗氧化酶活性降低。经萌发适宜温度预吸胀、低温预吸胀、吸湿-回干等方法预处理以后，抗氧化酶活性有不同程度的提高，清除细胞内超氧阴离子自由基的能力增强，因而使过氧化伤害减弱， 适宜温度预吸胀、低温预吸胀、吸湿-回干等预处理方法在保护生物膜的同时，增强抗氧化作用，抑制过氧化伤害，从而提高了番茄种子萌发的高温耐性，这是番茄种子高温耐性提高的生理机制之一。

Pseudomonas duriflava sp nov., isolated from a desert soil

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain HR2(T) was isolated from a soil sample from the Talklimaken Desert in Xinjiang Province, China. Strain HR2(T) grew optimally at pH 7.0-8.0 and 30-37 degrees C in the presence of 0-1% (w/v) NaCl. An analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain HR2(T) fell within the radiation of the genus Pseudomonas, the highest level of similarity being found with respect to Pseudomonas luteola IAM 13000(T) (97.5%); the levels of sequence similarity with respect to other recognized Pseudomonas species were < 96.4%. DNA-DNA hybridization showed that the genetic relatedness between strain HR2(T) and P. luteola IAM 13000(T) was 53.2%. The G + C content of the genomic DNA of strain HR2(T) was 55.2 mol%. The major fatty acids were 18: 1, summed feature 3 and 16:0. The hydroxylated fatty acids 10:0 3-OH, 12:0 3-OH and 12:0 2-OH were also present. The data obtained in this polyphasic study indicated that this isolate represents a novel species of the genus Pseudomonas, for which the name Pseudomonas duriflava sp. nov. is proposed, The type strain is HR2(T) (=KCTC 221129(T) =CGMCC 1.6858(T)).

Sphingobacterium siyangense sp nov., isolated from farm soil

The taxonomic position of a novel Gram-negative strain, designated Sy1(T), isolated from a farm-soil sample obtained from Jiangsu Province, PR China, was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. The cells were non-motile, non-spore-forming rods. The organism grew optimally at 30-37 degrees C and at pH 6.0-8.0. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Sy1(T) is a member of the genus Sphingobacterium; Sphingobacterium multivorum JCM 21156(T) was the nearest relative (98.5% sequence similarity). The predominant fatty acids of strain Sy1T were isoC15:0 (32.90/o), C16:0 (10.9%) and summed feature 3 (iso-C-15:0 2-OH and/or C-16:1 omega 7c; 24.1%). The DNA G + C content was 38.5 mol%. The low level of DNA-DNA relatedness (2.2 %) to S. multivorum JCM 21156 T in combination with differential morphological and biochemical properties demonstrated that strain SY1(T) (=KCTC 22131(T)= CGMCC 1.6855(T)) should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Sphingobacterium for which the name Sphingobacterium siyangense sp. nov. is proposed.

Redescription of Myxobolus pyramidis chen, 1958 (Myxosporea : Bivalvulida)

Redescription of Myxobolus pyramidis Chen, 1958, from gill lamellae of allogynogenetic gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio (Bloch), is presented in this paper to complete Chen's description. The diagnostic characters of the myxosporidia are: ovoid round, greyish-white polysporous plasmodia, averaging (159 +/- 21)x(72 +/- 6.5) mu m in size; spore pyriform in front view with smooth surface and symmetrical valves, convex-shaped in sutural view with straight and thick sutural line, averaging (10.5 +/- 1.1)x(10.3 +/- 0.9)x(6.1 +/- 0.2) mu m in size; two equal pyriform polar capsules averaging (5.5 +/- 0.7)x(3.5 +/- 0.2) mu m in size with distinct intercapsular process and polar filament wounded in five to six coils. The histological effects of the pathogen were observed by light microscopy, and the parasite-host relationship was discussed.

A combined phage display ScFv library against Myxobolus rotundus infecting crucian carp, Carassius auratus auratus (L.), in China

Immunological methods have been developed for the diagnosis of Myxobolus rotundus but their use has been limited for the prevention and therapy of this serious parasitic pathogen. Phage display antibody libraries are a powerful technique for the development of antibodies to molecules of interest and have advantages over traditional hybridroma approaches. In the present study, four antigen fractions related to M. rotundus were prepared and a combined phage display single-chain antibody fragments (ScFv) library was constructed against this parasite. Preliminary analysis indicated that a combined antibody library of about 2.08 X 10(5) individual clones and high diversity was generated. After four rounds of screening (bio-panning) against soluble spore protein prepared from lysed, intact, mature M rotundus spores, a strain monoclonal phage display ScFv, termed pCAN-6H9, with better affinity, was isolated. The pCAN-6H9 gene fragment was sequenced and analysed. The specificity of pCAN-6H9 was further demonstrated by dot-blot. In competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, both the original and enriched phage-displayed ScFv repertoire showed significant inhibition of mouse anti-M rotundus serum binding to coated antigen, while the inhibition rate of monoclonal pCAN-6H9 phage particles was only 11.83%.

Humoral immune responses of the grouper Eninephelus akaara against the microsporidium Glugea epinephelusis

The humoral immune responses of grouper Epinephelus akaara to a natural infection with Glugea epinephelusis was studied by ELISA utilizing intact mature spores as the coated antigen. Results showed that a specific humoral immune response was elicited, but the intensity of infection (in terms of the number of cysts) was not related to the antibody level in naturally infected hosts. The differences in the antigenicity of intact mature spores and soluble spore proteins derived from cracked mature spores were also analyzed. Results suggested that similar antigen epitopes existed between the 2 groups. Additionally, antigen component patterns and the distribution of antigen with immunogenicity were investigated by using the western blot and the immunofluorescent antibody technique (IFAT). The new parasitic microsporidium has specific polypeptide patterns comparable to the reported fish microsporidians. The main antigenic substances are concentrated on the surface of spores, and are mostly located on the anterior and posterior end of the spore bodies. Most surface components of the G. epinephelusis spores are soluble, The potential role of the surface components in initiating infection was also discussed.

Effects of microcystins on the growth and the activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase of rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Microcystins are naturally occurring hepatotoxic cyclic heptapeptides produced by some toxic freshwater cyanobacterial species. In this study, crude extract of toxic cyanobacterial blooms from Dianchi Lake in southwestern China was used to determine the effects of microcystins on rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). Experiments were carried out on a range of doses of the extract (equivalent to 0, 0.024, 0.12, 0.6 and 3 mug MC-LR/ml). Investigations showed that exposure to microcystins inhibited the growth and development of both rice and rape seedlings, however, microcystins had more powerful inhibition effect on rape than rice in germination percentage of seeds and seedling height. Microcystins significantly inhibited the elongation of primary roots of rape and rice seedlings. Determination of the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase demonstrated that microcystin stress was manifested as an oxidative stress. Using ELISA, microcystins were examined from the extract of exposed rape and rice seedlings, indicating that consumption of edible plants exposed to microcystins via irrigation route may have health risks. Significantly different levels of recovered microcystins between exposed rice and rape seedlings Suggested that there might be different tolerant mechanisms toward microcystins. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New data on Myxobolus longisporus (Myxozoa : Myxobolidae), a gill infecting parasite of carp, Cyprinus carpio haematopterus, from Chinese lakes

The original description of Myxobolus longisporus Nie et Li, 1992, the species infecting gills of Cyprinus carpio haematopterus L., is supplemented with new data on the spore morphology and pathogenicity. Spores are elongate pyriform with pointed anterior end, 15.7 (15.5-16.5) mum long, 6.7 (6-8) mum wide and 5.5 mum thick. Sutural ridge is straight and narrow. Mucus envelope is lacking. Two equal-sized elongate pyriform polar capsules are 8.5 mum long and 2.5 mum wide with convergent long axes. Polar filament coiled perpendicularly to the long axis of the capsule makes 9 (8-10) turns. Posterior end of polar capsules exceeds mid-spore by 15-20%. Cyst-like plasmodia are localised in the gill secondary lamellae. The infection is described in adult big host specimens. Gross lesions manifested as dark red colouration of gill tissues were restricted to the ventral part of the first gill arches. Remarkable site specificity (apical part of secondary lamellae) was observed in the course of development of microscopic lesions. M. longisporus is characterised also on the molecular level using sequences of SSU rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on these sequences has allowed clearer phylogenetic relationships to be established with other species of the genus Myxobolus sequenced to date.

Description of two new myxosporean species parasitic in freshwater fishes from the Yangtze River in China

Two new species of myxosporeans (Myxosporea: Myxidiidae), Myxidium tuanfengensis sp. n. and Zschokkella saurogobionis sp. n., Parasitic in freshwater fishes collected from the Yangtze River of China are described in this paper. M. tuanfengensis was found in the liver parenchyma and intestine lumen of Leptobotia taeniops Sauvage, 1878, while Z. saurogobionis was found in the gall bladder of Saurogobio dumerili Bleeker, 1871. The diagnostic characters of M. tuanfengensis are: round or elliptical polysporous plasmodia averaging 118 mum in size; spore oval in frontal view with smooth surface and nearly spindle-shape in sutural view with slightly sinuous sutural ridge, averaging 19.5 x 9.75 x 8.9 mum in size; two large spherical polar capsules 6.8 mum in diameter, with polar filament wound in 4 to 5 coils. The diagnostic characters of Z. saurogobionis are: spore elliptical in both frontal and sutural view measuring 18.3 x 9.8 x 10.8 mum in size; fine sutural ridge in S-form, spore shell marked with 10 to 12 distinct lines paralleled with the sutural line; two spherical polar capsules, 6.7 mum in diameter, with polar filament in 5 coils.

Detection of Myxobolus rotundus (Myxozoa : Myxosporea) in skin mucus of crucian carp Carassius auratus auratus using a monoclonal antibody

Diagnosis of myxosporean Myxobolus rotundus infection was conducted by examining skin mucus from the infected crucian carp Carassius auratus auratus with a monoclonal antibody, MAb 2D12, raised previously against the parasite. A positive reaction was observed in skin mucus collected from infected fish, and spores and pre-spore stages of the parasite were identified by the MAb 2D12. It was also demonstrated that M. rotundus infection can be successfully detected by a simple method, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and that skin mucus collected from infected fish skin had a significantly higher optical density (OD) value than that from uninfected fish.

Myxobolus lentisuturalis sp n. (Myxozoa : Myxobolidae), a new muscle-infecting species from the Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio from China

A new highly pathogenic muscle-infecting species of the genus Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 is described from the Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) using spore morphology and SSU rDNA sequence data. Phylogenetic analyses elucidated relationship of the newly described Myxobolus lentisuturalis to other Myxobolus species and supported its position of an independent species.

Ecballocystopsis dichotomus sp. nov. (Chlorococcales, Chlorophyceae) from China

Ecballocystopsis dichotomus sp. nov. is the third described species of Ecballocystopsis that grows on rock under water and epiphytically on the filaments of Cladophora and Mougeotia (green algae) collected in a small irrigation ditch in Chong-yang county, Hubei Province (East longitude 29 degrees 30', North latitude 114 degrees 10') and in Zhu-xi county, Hubei Province (East longitude 32 degrees 20', North latitude 109 degrees 45'). The new species differs from E. indica IYENGAR (1933) in having dichotomous branching and its smaller sized thallus; it differs from the second species, E. desikacharyi PRASAD (1985), in having looped filaments, dichotomous branching and smaller cells. Three patterns of cell divisions were observed in E. dichotomus sp. nov. (transverse, longitudinal and oblique). It may be that the new species is evolutionary a more advanced species based upon the structure of its thallus and the manner of spore formation. The systematic position of the genus, based on the comparative studies of the genus Ecballocystis BOHLIN with Cylindrocapsopsis IYENGAR, is discussed.