Behavioral aspects and predation of seeds of Cardiospermum grandiflorum Swartz (Sapindaceae) by Cissoanthonomus tuberculipennis Hustache (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

For the first time in Brazil, the weevil Cissoanthonomus tuberculipennis Hustache, 1939 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are reported preying on seeds of Cardiospermum grandiflorum Swartz (Sapindaceae). Observations are presented on oviposition and larval behavior, pupation site, and adult emergence. Photos of host plant, egg, larva, pupa and adult are provided

EVOLUSI, SPESIASI, DAN HIBRIDISASI PADA BEBERAPA ANGGOTA SAPINDACEAE

ABSTRACT-Evolution in Sapindaceae have been running for a long time, as evidenced by the fossil of Sapindopsis encountered in the mid Cretaceous. Based on its characteris- tics, the genus is thought to live in stressful environments. Sapindaceae has the habitus of shrubs, trees, climbers, and the vine. Speciation in Sapindaceae can be found in genus Acer, while members of Sapindaceae which had hybridization can be found in genus Aes- culus. Keyword: evolution, speciation, hybridization, Sapindacea

Microsatellite markers in Spanish lime (Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq., Sapindaceae), a neglected Neotropical fruit crop

Spanish lime (Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq.) is aNeotropical fruit tree cultivated, mainly, in orchards for self-consumption or local sale. The genus Melicoccus includes other nine species with edible fruits, some of these species are at risk of extinction. Like for the vast majority of tropical fruit trees, there is no information on the genetic diversity of Spanish lime and its related species, and this is mostly due to the lack of molecular markers. The objectives of this study were to present the first microsatellite markers developed for Spanish lime, testing its usefulness on a sample of cultivated accessions, as well as its transferability to Huaya India (M. oliviformis). To do this, we performed high-throughput sequencing of microsatellite-enriched libraries of Spanish lime using Roche 454, assembled 9567 DNA contig sequences and identified 10,117 microsatellites. After screening 384 of those microsatellites on four DNA samples, 31 polymorphic markers were used to screen 25 accessions of Spanish lime and five of Huaya India collected in Yucatan, Mexico. Genetic diversity was low in Spanish lime (A = 20.61, HE = 0.38) and similar for both sexes of this species. Neighbor-Joining and PCoA analyses clearly discriminated between the two Melicoccus species studied. Nine of the markers showed unique alleles for Huaya India. The set of microsatellite markers developed has a great potential to generate information in relation to conservation genetics, improvement of elite cultivars and breeding programs for Spanish lime and related species

The Melianthaceous seed and its Rhamnaceous affinity

. La semilla de Melianthaceae y su afinidad con Rhamnaceae. En el presente trabajo, se ha estudiado la anatomia y morfología de la semilla de Bersama (Bersamataceae) y Melianthus (Melianthaceae) con el objeto de clarificar su posición sistemática. La exotesta de Bersama y Melianthus, con una empalizada de células de Malpighi bien diferenciada, abundante endosperma y embrión recto y escasamente diferenciado, muestra ciertas afinidades con la exotesta albuminosa de las semillas de Rhamnaceae y Elaeagnaceae. Utilizando también datos carpológicos, florales y morfológico-vegetativos adicionales, se sugiere que Bersamataceae, junto con Melianthaceae y Rhamnaceae/Elaeagnaceae constituyen una ramificación lateral relíctica de un ancestro roside exo-mesotestado. La morfología y anatomía de las semillas evidencian la anómala y tradicional inclusión de Bersama y Melianthus en el orden Sapindales, cuyas semillas presentan diferente pautas en la estructura de la espermodermis y en la vascularización de la misma. La anatomía de la semilla, no confirma ninguna de las relaciones que se han sugerido, alternativamente, con Lardizabalaceae exo-mesotestales ni con Malvales exotegmicos. Por otra parte, consideramos insostenibles las afinidades con Celastrales exotégmicos, que han sido consideradas como una posible conexión entre Rosales arcaicos exo-mesotestados y Rhamnales/Elaeagnales exotestados. Se sugiere que ambas familias, Bersamataceae y Melianthaceae, constituyen el orden Melianthales que, junto con Rhamnaceae (Rhamnales, s. e.) y Elaeagnaceae (Elaeagnales) representan remanentes avanzados de un phyllum profusamente ramificado, cuyas relaciones se remontan directamente hacia Fabales, pasando por Rosales, Sapindales, Icacinales y Celastrales

Potensi Luas Spesis Buah-Buahan Nadir, Liar

Rambutan, pulasan dan mata kucing daripada famili Sapindaceae memang buah-buahan yang dikenali ramai. Bagaimanapun, banyak lagi spesies liar dalam famili Sapindaceae yang buahnya boleh dimakan tetapi tidak begitu diketahui ramai

INDEPENDENT ORIGINATION OF FLORAL ZYGOMORPHY, A PREDICTED ADAPTIVE RESPONSE TO POLLINATORS: DEVELOPMENTAL AND GENETIC MECHANISMS

Observations of floral development indicate that floral organ initiation in pentapetalous flowers more commonly results in a medially positioned abaxial petal (MAB) than in a medially positioned adaxial petal (MAD), where the medial plane is defined by the stem and the bract during early floral development. It was proposed that the dominant MAB petal initiation might impose a developmental constraint that leads to the evolution of limited patterns of floral zygomorphy in Asteridae, a family in which the floral zygomorphy develops along the medial plane and results in a central ventral (CV) petal in mature flowers. Here, I investigate whether the pattern of floral organ initiation may limit patterns of floral zygomorphy to evolve in pentapetalous angiosperms. I analyzed floral diagrams representing 405 species in 330 genera of pentapetalous angiosperms to reconstruct the evolution of floral organ initiation and the evolution of developmental processes that give rise to floral zygomorphy on a phylogenetic framework. Results indicate that MAB petal initiation is the most common; it occupies 86.2% of diversity and represents the ancestral state of floral organ initiation in pentapetalous angiosperms. The MAD petal initiation evolved 28 times independently from the ancestral MAB petal initiation. Among the 34 independent originations of floral zygomorphy, 76.5% of these clades represent MAB petal initiation, among which only 47% of the clades result a CV petal in mature flowers. The discrepancy is explained by the existence of developmental processes that result in floral zygomorphy along oblique planes of floral symmetry in addition to along the medial plane. Findings suggest that although the early floral organ initiation plays a constraining role to the evolution of patterns of floral zygomorphy, the constraint diverges along phylogenetically distantly related groups that allow the independent originations of floral zygomorphy through distinct development processes in pentapetalous angiosperms. In additional study, the butterfly-like flowers of Schizanthus are adapted to pollination by bees, hummingbirds, and moths. I investigated the genetic basis of the zygomorphic corolla, for which development is key to the explosive pollen release mechanism found in the species of Schizanthus adapted to bee pollinators. I examined differential gene expression profiles across the zygomorphic corolla of Schizanthus pinnatus, a bee-pollinated species, by analyzing RNA transcriptome sequencing (RNA- seq). Data indicated that CYC2 is not expressed in the zygomorphic corolla of Sc. pinnatus, suggesting CYC2 is not involved in the development of floral zygomorphy in Schizanthus (Solanaceae). The data also indicated that a number of genes are differentially expressed across the corolla

A summary of the published data on host plants and morphology of immature stages of Australian jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) : with additional new records

A summary is given of the published host plant and descriptive immature stage morphology data for 671 species and 11 subspecies in 54 genera of Australian jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). New host data for 155 species and 3 subspecies in 17 genera including the first published data for 75 species are included

Biodiversity of the Indian Desert and it´s value

The state of Rajasthan is situated between 23º3’ and 30º12’ N latitude and 69º30’ and 78º17’ E longitude . The total land area of the state is about 3,24,239 km²out of which about 1,98,100 km² is arid and the rest semi arid. The physical features are characterized mainly by the Aravallis and to the some extent by the vindhyan formation, and the Deccan trap. A major portion of western Rajasthan has desert soils and sandy plains. Sand dunes occupy a greater part of western Rajasthan ( 1,20, 983 km²). The soils of the desert plains are loamy sand to loam and the eastern part has alluvial soil which supports good forests and agricultural crop. Occurrence of saline soils with pH up to 9.0 is a common feature in the sandy areas of Rajasthan. The average annual rainfall in the state is 525-675 mm, and the annual precipitation in different tracts of Rajasthan varies from 13 mm to 1766 mm. Out of the total areaforests cover only about 37,638 km² and are rich in biodiversity. Rajasthan is rich in biodiversity which has a great economic value. Characterization of different plant species of economic value was undertaken. (Table 1-6)