Molecular phylogenetic and morphological analyses of Oidium heveae, a powdery mildew of rubber tree

Powdery mildew of rubber tree caused by Oidium heveae is an important disease of rubber plantations worldwide. Identification and classification of this fungus is still uncertain because there is no authoritative report of its morphology and no record of its teleomorphic stage. In this study, we compared five specimens of the rubber powdery mildew fungus collected in Malaysia, Thailand, and Brazil based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Morphological results showed that the fungus on rubber tree belongs to Oidium subgen. Pseudoidium. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the large subunit rRNA gene (28S rDNA) were conducted to determine the relationships of the rubber powdery mildew fungus and to link this anamorphic fungus with its allied teleomorph. The results showed that the rDNA sequences of the two specimens from Malaysia were identical to a specimen from Thailand, whereas they differed by three bases from the two Brazilian isolates: one nucleotide position in the ITS2 and two positions in the 28S sequences. The ITS sequences of the two Brazilian isolates were identical to sequences of Erysiphe sp. on Quercus phillyraeoides collected in Japan, although the 28S sequences differed at one base from sequences of this fungus. Phylogenetic trees of both rDNA regions constructed by the distance and parsimony methods showed that the rubber powdery mildew fungus grouped with Erysiphe sp. on Q. phillyraeoides with 100% bootstrap support. Comparisons of the anamorph of two isolates of Erysiphe sp. from Q. phillyraeoides with the rubber mildew did not reveal any obvious differences between the two powdery mildew taxa, which suggests that O. heveae may be an anamorph of Erysiphe sp. on Q. phillyraeoides. Cross-inoculation tests are required to substantiate this conclusion. © The Mycological Society of Japan and Springer-Verlag 2005.

Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision

Hylidae is a large family of American, Australopapuan, and temperate Eurasian treefrogs of approximately 870 known species, divided among four subfamilies. Although some groups of Hylidae have been addressed phylogenetically, a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis has never been presented. The first goal of this paper is to review the current state of hylid systematics. We focus on the very large subfamily Hylinae (590 species), evaluate the monophyly of named taxa, and examine the evidential basis of the existing taxonomy. The second objective is to perform a phylogenetic analysis using mostly DNA sequence data in order to (1) test the monophyly of the Hylidae; (2) determine its constituent taxa, with special attention to the genera and species groups which form the subfamily Hylinae, and c) propose a new, monophyletic taxonomy consistent with the hypothesized relationships. We present a phylogenetic analysis of hylid frogs based on 276 terminals, including 228 hylids and 48 outgroup taxa. Included are exemplars of all but 1 of the 41 genera of Hylidae (of all four nominal subfamilies) and 39 of the 41 currently recognized species groups of the species-rich genus Hyla. The included taxa allowed us to test the monophyly of 24 of the 35 nonmonotypic genera and 25 species groups of Hyla. The phylogenetic analysis includes approximately 5100 base pairs from four mitochondrial (12S, tRNA valine, 16S, and cytochrome b) and five nuclear genes (rhodopsin, tyrosinase, RAG-1, seventh in absentia, and 28S), and a small data set from foot musculature. Concurring with previous studies, the present analysis indicates that Hemiphractinae are not related to the other three hylid subfamilies. It is therefore removed from the family and tentatively considered a subfamily of the paraphyletic Leptodactylidae. Hylidae is now restricted to Hylinae, Pelodryadinae, and Phyllomedusinae. Our results support a sister-group relationship between Pelodryadinae and Phyllomedusinae, which together form the sister taxon of Hylinae. Agalychnis, Phyllomedusa, Litoria, Hyla, Osteocephalus, Phrynohyas, Ptychohyla, Scinax, Smilisca, and Trachycephalus are not monophyletic. Within Hyla, the H. albomarginata, H. albopunctata, H. arborea, H. boons, H. cinerea, H. eximia, H. geographica, H. granosa, H. microcephala, H. miotympanum, H. tuberculosa, and H. versicolor groups are also demonstrably nonmonophyletic. Hylinae is composed of four major clades. The first of these includes the Andean stream-breeding Hyla, Aplastodiscus, all Gladiator Frogs, and a Tepuian clade. The second clade is composed of the 30-chromosome Hyla, Lysapsus, Pseudis, Scarthyla, Scinax (including the H. uruguaya group), Sphaenorhynchus, and Xenohyla. The third major clade is composed of Nyctimantis, Phrynohyas, Phyllodytes, and all South American/West Indian casque-headed frogs: Aparasphenodon, Argenteohyla, Corythomantis, Osteocephalus, Osteopilus, Tepuihyla, and Trachycephalus. The fourth major clade is composed of most of the Middle American/Holarctic species groups of Hyla and the genera Acris, Anotheca, Duellmanohyla, Plectrohyla, Pseudacris, Ptychohyla, Pternohyla, Smilisca, and Triprion. A new monophyletic taxonomy mirroring these results is presented where Hylinae is divided into four tribes. Of the species currently in Hyla, 297 of the 353 species are placed in 15 genera; of these, 4 are currently recognized, 4 are resurrected names, and 7 are new. Hyla is restricted to H. femoralis and the H. arborea, H. cinerea, H. eximia, and H. versicolor groups, whose contents are redefined. Phrynohyas is placed in the synonymy of Trachycephalus, and Pternohyla is placed in the synonymy of Smilisca. The genus Dendropsophus is resurrected to include all former species of Hyla known or suspected to have 30 chromosomes. Exerodonta is resurrected to include the former Hyla sumichrasti group and some members of the former H. miotympanum group. Hyloscirtus is resurrected for the former Hyla armata, H. bogotensis, and H. larinopygion groups. Hypsiboas is resurrected to include several species groups - many of them redefined here - of Gladiator Frogs. The former Hyla albofrenata and H. albosignata complexes of the H. albomarginata group are included in Aplastodiscus. New generic names are erected for (1) Agalychnis calcarifer and A. craspedopus; (2) Osteocephalus langsdorffii; the (3) Hyla aromatica, (4) H. bromeliacia, (5) H. godmani, (6) H. mixomaculata, (7) H. taeniopus, (8) and H. tuberculosa groups; (9) the clade composed of the H. pictipes and H. pseudopuma groups; and (10) a clade composed of the H. circumdata, H. claresignata, H. martinsi, and H. pseudopseudis groups. Copyright © American Museum of Natural History 2005.

Differential characterization of holocentric chromosomes in triatomines (Heteroptera, Triatominae) using different staining techniques and fluorescent in situ hybridization

A comparative study of holocentric chromosomes in the triatomine species Panstrongylus megistus, Rhodnius pallescens and Triatoma infestans was carried out in order to characterize heterochromatin, rDNA active sites and nucleolar proteins. Cytological preparations of seminiferous tubules were stained by silver impregnation, C banding, fluorochromes CMA 3/DA and DAPI/DA, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with Drosophila melanogaster 28S rDNA probe. Our results showed interesting aspects of the organization of chromatin and chromosomes in the meiotic cells of these insects. In R. pallescens, sex chromosomes (X, Y) were distinct from autosomes, when submitted to silver impregnation, C banding, CMA 3 staining, and FISH, confirming that these chromosomes bear nucleolar organizer regions (NORs). In P. megistus, two of the three sex chromosomes were CMA 3/DAPI-; at early meiotic prophase and at diakinesis, silver impregnation corresponded with FISH signals, indicating that in this species, two chromosomes (probably a sex chromosome and an autosome) bear NORs. In T. infestans, silver nitrate and FISH also stained corresponding areas on meiotic chromosomes. Our data suggest that in triatomines, in general, the number and location of NORs are species-specific. These regions may be considered important chromosome markers for comparative studies to improve the understanding of evolutionary mechanisms in these hematophagous insects. ©FUNPEC-RP.

First isolation of microorganisms from the gut diverticulum of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae): New perspectives for an insect-bacteria association

We show for the first time that the ventral diverticulum of the mosquito gut (impermeable sugar storage organ) harbors microorganisms. The gut diverticulum from newly emerged and non-fed Aedes aegypti was dissected under aseptic conditions, homogenized and plated on BHI medium. Microbial isolates were identified by sequencing of 16S rDNA for bacteria and 28S rDNA for yeast. A direct DNA extraction from Ae. aegypti gut diverticulum was also performed. The bacterial isolates were: Bacillus sp., Bacillus subtilis and Serratia sp. The latter was the predominant bacteria found in our isolations. The yeast species identified was Pichia caribbica.

Variabilidade genética de três colônias de Triatoma rubrovaria (Blanchard, 1843), (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), oriundas do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, avaliadas por meio do seqüenciamento de genes do DNA mitocondrial e ribossomal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização e controle de colletotrichum spp. em seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA

Relacionamento filogenético entre espécies pertencentes às famílias Belostomatidae, Gelastocoridae, Gerridae, Notonectidae, Veliidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) e Cercopidae (Hemiptera:Auchenorrhyncha)

Pós-graduação em Genética - IBILCE

Avaliação da microbiota bucal de pacientes com anorexia nervosa e bulimia nervosa

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aplicação de pintura cromossômica em espécies da família Accipitridae (Aves, Falconiformes): considerações filogenéticas e evolutivas

As análises citogenéticas de diversos Falconiformes mostraram que os acipitrídeos têm uma organização cromossômica atípica na classe Aves, com um número diplóide relativamente baixo (média de 2n= 66) e poucos pares de microcromossomos (4 a 6 pares). Propostas baseadas em citogenética clássica sugeriram que esse fato devia-se à fusão de microcromossomos presentes no cariótipo ancestral das Aves. No intuito de contribuir para o esclarecimento das questões referentes à evolução cromossômica e filogenética dessa família, três espécies da subfamília Buteoninae (Rupornis magnirostris, Buteogallus meridionales e Asturina nitida) e duas espécies da subfamília Harpiinae (Harpia harpyja e Morphnus guianensis) foram analisados citogeneticamente através da aplicação de técnicas de citogenética clássica e molecular. As espécies de Buteoninae apresentaram cariótipos muito semelhantes, com número diplóide igual a 68; o número de cromossomos de dois braços entre 17 e 21, o cromossomo Z submetacêntrico e o W metacêntrico em R. magnirostris e submetacêntrico em Asturina nitida. O uso de sondas de 18/28S rDNA mostrou a localização de regiões organizadoras de nucléolo em um par submetacêntrico médio nas três espécies, correspondendo ao braço curto do par 7. Sequências teloméricas foram mapeadas não só na região terminal dos braços, mas também em algumas posições intersticiais. Sondas de cromossomo inteiro derivadas dos pares 1 a 10 de Gallus gallus (GGA) produziram o mesmo número de sinais nessas três espécies. A disponibilidade das sondas de cromossomos totais derivadas de Leucopternis albicollis confirmou a existência de uma assinatura citogenética comum para as espécies de Buteoninae analisadas por FISH, que se trata da associação entre GGA1p e GGA6, inclusive com um sítio de sequência telomérica intersticial reforçando esse fato. As espécies de Harpiinae analisadas mostraram que o número diplóide das espécies de H. harpyja e M. guianensis foi igual a 58 e 54, respectivamente, e que ambas as espécies apresentam vinte e dois pares de cromossomos de dois braços, mesmo Harpia apresentando dois pares a mais. 18/28S rDNA produziram sinais no braço curto do par 1 em M. guianensis e em dois pares em H. harpyja (pares 6 e 25). Sequências teloméricas intersticiais também foram observadas em alguns pares. Apesar da similaridade na morfologia cromossômica, não foram observadas associações compartilhadas por essas duas espécies. As diferentes associações observadas em Morphnus e Harpia mostram que essas espécies sofreram uma reorganização genômica expressiva após sua separação em linhagens independentes. Além disso, ausência de associações semelhantes sugere que houve fissões nos macrocromossomos do ancestral em comum desse grupo, e as fusões foram subsequentes ao seu isolamento como linhagens diferentes. Os resultados aqui apresentados, somados àqueles publicados anteriormente com outras espécies de Accipitridae indicam que os processos de fissões envolvendo os macrocromossomos de GGA e fusões entre esses segmentos e entre esses e microcromossomos são rearranjos recorrentes nesse grupo. Apesar dos Falconidae também apresentarem cariótipos atípicos, e números diploides baixos, os dados globais da citogenética de Accipitridae indicam que, assim como postulado para as semelhanças morfológicas entre esses dois grupos, os cariótipos rearranjados corresponderiam a homoplasias, do ponto de vista evolutivo, apoiando que essas duas famílias não formam um grupo monofilético.

Formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) em parreiras do Estado de São Paulo e caracterização molecular da pérola-da-terra (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) em diferentes regiões do Brasil

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBRC

Variabilidade genética de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides e Colletotrichum acutatum em seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis) no Brasil

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Irrigação e Drenagem) - FCA

Novel Phialophora species from leaf-cutting ants (tribe Attini)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Análises moleculares de populações de Wasmannia auropunctata Roger, 1863 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) e da presença de endossimbiontes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise da relação filogenética entre Triatoma carcavalloi Jurberg, Rocha; Lent, 1998; Triatoma circummaculata Stal, 1859; Triatoma klugi Carcavallo, Jurberg, Lent; Galvão, 2001 e Triatoma rubrovaria Blanchard, 1843 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) baseada no sequenciamento de genes do DNA mitocondrial e nuclear

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

Caracterização filogenética de percevejos terrestres das famílias Coreidae e Pentatomidae (Heteroptera: Pentatomomorpha) por meio de marcadores moleculares

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)