Lapanthus (Bromeliaceae, Bromelioideae): A New Genus from the Southern Espinhaco Range, Brazil

In this paper we describe a new genus of Bromehaceae, Lapanthus, restricted to the southern portion of the Espinhaco Range, Minas Germs State, in southeastern Brazil Two new combinations to accommodate species previously described in the genera Orthophytum and cryptanthus and one new synonym are proposed Lapanthus has morphological affinities with both Cryptanthus and Orthophytum but nevertheless differs by the combination of margins of the petals ciliate, presence of lanceolate petal appendages and free stamens, and also by molecular data Cryptanthus and Orthophytum have petals entire along the margins, and the filaments of the most internal whorl are adnate to the petals Lapanthus stands out by having a pair of lanceolate petal appendages, which are almost completely adnate to the petals In Orthophytum, however, appendages are cupuhform or sacciform and they are totally absent in the genus Cryptanthus Lapanthus and Orthophytum present meiotic and mitotic chromosome numbers equal to n=25 and 2n=50, 100 and 150 respectively, while Cryptanthus presents meiotic and mitotic chromosome numbers n=17 and 2n=34, 36, 54 respectively, and this difference is considered to be an autapomorphic feature of Cryptanthus Descriptions of the genus and species, identification keys, illustrations, photographs of living specimens, and taxonomic comments are provided

Caracterização citogenética em Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran e Schlumbergera × buckleyi (T. Moore) Tjaden (Cactaceae)

O número cromossômico diplóide de Schlumbergera truncata e Schlumbergera x buckleyi, de indivíduos com diferentes tipos de coloração de pétalas, foi determinado usando-se pontas de raízes. A utilização de 8-hidroxiquinoleína 0,003 M à 36 °C por 3 horas possibilitou melhor separação cromossômica. Técnica de bandeamento C e de coloração Giemsa permitiram o estudo cariológico dessas espécies. O híbrido Schlumbergera × buckleyi (rósea) apresenta 2n = 22 cromossomos com fórmula cariotípica 16 M + 6 SM. Schlumbergera truncata, apresentando pétalas nas cores vermelha, branca e pink, possui 2n = 22 cromossomos, formulação cariotípica idêntica à de Schlumbergera × buckleyi, enquanto a planta com flores de coloração amarelada mostrou 2n = 34 cromossomos. A classificação cromossômica foi baseada no índice centromérico. Nas plantas que apresentam coloração vermelha, branca, pink e rósea nas pétalas, o melhor período de obtenção de metáfases corresponde ao período de florescimento. Schlumbergera truncata com flores amareladas apresenta dois picos anuais de divisão mitótica. Esses resultados dão suporte à um melhor entendimento da biologia no gênero Schlumbergera e auxiliam na classificação taxonômica nos casos onde apenas as características fenotípicas não são suficientemente confiáveis para a classificação das plantas no mesmo táxon.

Intraspecific crosses resulting in the first occurrence of eight and nine B chromosomes in Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes, Prochilodontidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Heterochromatin, Sex Chromosomes and rRNA Gene Clusters in Coprophanaeus Beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Three sympatric karyomorphs in the fish Astyanax fasciatus (Teleostei, Characidae) do not seem to hybridize in natural populations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The Karyotype of Holoaden luederwaldti (Anura, Strabomantidae), with Report of Natural Triploidy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Conventional and ultrastructural analyses of the chromosomes of Discocyrtus pectinifemur (Opiliones, Laniatores, Gonyleptidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Karyotype of the cricket, Zucchiella atlantica, with an overview of the chromosomes of the subfamily Nemobiinae

Few reports have been published on cytogenetics in crickets of the subfamily Nemobiinae. Within the Neotropical region the karyotypes of only two species are known, both of them belonging to the genus Phoremia. In the present paper, chromosomes of a third Neotropical species, Zucchiella atlanticaMello 1990 (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae), have been studied and a cytological review of other species of that subfamily is presented. Zucchiella atlantica shows 2n male = 22 + XO and 2n female = 22 + XX which suggests an ancestral condition within the subfamily as the diploid number in all the species previously studied ranges from 2n male = 7 to 2n female = 21. In Orthoptera those species with high chromosome numbers tend to show reduction in their chromosomal numbers by means of centric fusions rather than to increase chromosomal numbers, due to difficulties in the availability of new centromeres. A structural polymorphism in one chromosome of pair 5 was observed as an intra-individual variation, suggesting differential activity of the genome from cell to cell.

Cytogenetic analyses of eight species in the genus Leptodactylus Fitzinger, 1843 (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae), including a new diploid number and a karyotype with multiple translocations

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Karyotypic diversification and its contribution to the taxonomy of Eleocharis (Cyperaceae) from Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Molecular systematics of Thorea (Rhodophyta, Thoreales) species in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chromosomal polymorphism in 12 populations of Mikania micrantha (Compositae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Karyotype analysis in Brachiaria (Poaceae) species

This is the first karyotype characterization of Brachiaria species. Twelve accessions belonging to five species were analysed. The basic chromosome number was x = 9 and 7, the same reported for the tribe Paniceae. Variations in the chromosome number were observed in B. decumbens (2n = 18; 36) and B. humidicola (20 = 36; 42; 54). Chromosome numbers of 20 = 18 in B. ruziziensis and 20 = 36 in B. brizantha and B. jubata were recorded. Inter- and intraspecific karyotype differentiation of the accessions analysed was facilitated by variations in karyotypic symmetry. The karyotypes were generally considered symmetrical, with a tendency to asymmetry in the direction of the polyploids. It is suggested that addition, deletions and mainly polyploidy have been the most direct causes involved in the chromosome evolution of this genus.

Cytogenetical and cytotaxonomical analysis of some Brazilian species of Eleocharis (Cyperaceae)

Karyotype analysis of 21 samples of 11 species of Eleocharis ( Cyperaceae) from 10 localities in Brazil, showed the presence of chromosomes without primary constrictions and parallel movement of chromatids at metaphase-anaphase transition. Only the terminal nucleolar constrictions ( satellites) were visualised. The chromosome numbers varied from 2n=6 in E. subarticulata to 2n=54 in E. acutangula, but the chromosome basic number x=5 was confirmed. Generally, C-CMA(3)(+) bands appear mostly in the extremities of the chromosomes, associated to NOR, and interstitial C-CMA(3) bands were found only in E. geniculata and E. acutangula. C-DAPI(+) bands were not found. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation ( FISH) with the 45S rDNA probe was performed in five species. The results showed from four to eight hybridisation signals, always terminal. The analysed species include representatives of the following three subgenera of Eleocharis that occur in Brazil: Limnochloa, Scirpidium and Eleocharis. Species from the subgenus Limnochloa have small and numerous chromosomes. The remaining species, belonging to subgenera Eleocharis and Scirpidium, possess fewer and larger chromosomes. In subgenus Eleocharis, karyotypes of the section Eleocharis were differentiated by symploidy, agmatoploidy and polyploidy, whereas species of the section Eleogenus were all polyploids. Polyploidy seems to be the most frequent event in the karyotype differentiation in Eleocharis, but changes in the chromosome size and repetitive DNA sites were also observed.

Karyotype studies of some species of Dalechampia plum. (Euphorbiaceae)

Karyotype studies in eight species of Dalechampia, including 10 natural populations, revealed chromosome numbers (2n = 36, 46, 138 and 198) differing from two numbers cited in the literature (2n = 44 and 72). The basic number x = 6, as in the genus Acalypha, may be considered ancestral in Dalechampia. Analysis of Chromosome number, haploid chromosome length and karyotype symmetry suggests that the major chromosome mechanism acting in karyotype evolution of Dalechampia is polyploidy, but differences in chromosome morphology may be caused by chromosome rearrangements.