Rostaniha
Year:2018 | Volume:19 | Issue:1 (55) |Papers Count:11

Chromosome number and karyotype morphology including chromosome length, centromere position, arm ratio, secondary constriction and staining properties by aceto-iron-hematoxylin were analyzed for Prunus species of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L. ), plum (P. cerasifera Ehrh. ) and a natural new hybrid known as “ TANASGOL” (P. cerasifera × P. spp. ). The obtained root tips from germinated seeds at 4– 6 ° C and young seedlings were pretreated in hydroxyquinoline solution with 50 drops of DMSO. All species had 2n=2x=16 very small chromosomes and were uniformly stained. The ranges of chromosome length in the three species were as follows: apricot (Prunus armeniaca) 1. 50 to 2. 70 μ m, plum (P. cerasifera) 1. 54 to 2. 77 μ m, and (P. cerasifera × P. spp. ) “ TANASGOL” 1. 35 to 2. 82 μ m. Other features of the chromosomes, such as variation in the length of chromosomes within species, number of satellites and size, constrictions, centromere placements and karyographs were used to distinguish species. The similarities and differences of chromosomes morphology in species were analyzed by karyographs based on Relative Length (RL%) and Chromosome Index (CI). Chromosomal similarities between “ TANASGOL” and plum (P. cerasifera) were more evident.

Mosses (a section of bryophytes), are considered as an important group of non-flowering plants which a modern computer-assisted database system is not yet prepared for their determination and description key in Iran. Following a software package recently designed under a research project for assessment of moss diversity of Iran by the authors, the present paper is prepared to: I) introducing competency/convertible featuring of this package in the form of an electronic atlas for a variety of moss specimens identified for “ IRAN” herbarium, and II) mapping based on geographical coordinates capable of extracting different documented reports analysis for other related taxonomical fields. For structural analysis algorithms to develop a comprehensive model named as “ the Iranian moss flora explorer” using VB. NET Database. Based on the reliable and an up-to-date scientific resource, all the moss specimens of “ IRAN” herbarium along with their diagnostic features and many kinds of habitats were revised. As a result, 250 identifier (ID), included in 36 families, 85 genera, with 12 varieties were considered as identified taxa for “ IRAN” herbarium during 1984– 2016. In addition, 250 geographical distribution maps are also drawn and enclosed herewith. In this model, each ID embraces two sections i. e. one general and one technical (Figs 1– 6).

Anthracnose is a general term for sunken lesions and blights on stems, leaves and fruits which causes economic damage to agricultural products. This study, conducted to identify Colletotrichum species associated with anthracnose symptoms on some plants in Khuzestan province (Iran) using morphological and molecular methods. During 2016– 17, 40 leaf and fruit samples showing anthracnose symptoms (from alfalfa, banana, sour lemon, orange and strawberry) were collected and surveyed for morphological study. Accordingly, 12 isolates of the genus Colletotrichum were obtained. Mycelial biomass of the isolates were produced in PDB and freeze-dried. DNA was extracted using an organic method based on phenol and chloroform. The ITS and partial regions of the 28S-D1/D2 and Tub2 were amplified using universal and specific primers and sequenced. Obtained sequences were compared with index sequences belonging to the type strains in GenBank by BLASTn algorithm and phylogenetic analysis (maximum likelihood algorithm). The species of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. karstii, C. musae, C. nymphaeae, and C. truncatum were identified along with their morphological study. In phylogenetic tree constructed based on the ITS and Tub2 combined dataset, Colletotrichum isolates under study were clustered with type strain of each species and formed monophyletic clades with 96– 99% bootstrap support.

The Mirabad protected area (S. Azarbaijan, Iran) has a variety of ecological nurseries due to elevation of the sea, physiographic factors, micro-climates and soil types, and has high vegetation diversity. Mirabad protected area in the Piranshahr-Sardasht axis is between the latitudes of 36° 23' and 36° 31' north, and the lengths 45° 15' and 45° 25', with an area of 11435 ha, in the elevation range 1177– 2068 m above sea level. The average rainfall and annual temperature over the age of 19 years are 696 mm and 12. 3 ° C, respectively. The present study, examines the vegetation structure of the region in the year 2017 where two types of classification and GIS were used. Thus, with the help of ArcGIS software (ArcGIS 9. 3), maps, slope, aspect, and elevation were prepared. From the integration of these maps, in the map of the units of work, 224 study units were homogeneous and identified and then field studies were done in these units. To sample vegetation by random distribution method, Whittaker multi-scale unit parts in plant types, 447 plant species were identified from 81 families and 301 genera. In the next step, plant types were based on biological diversity at a similar level of 75% in four distinct clusters, with the highest genetic distance between the Astragaleto-Ferulaetum plant type and the Querceto-Amygdaletum plant type. The highest and lowest similarity index was observed between Gulke 57% Gulke and Soeystan 12%, respectively. Biological diversity was higher in Quercetum, Querceto-Amygdaletum and Querceto-Pistaciaetum species than in other types.

During 2016– 17, 277 samples of leaf compost, manure, virgin and rhizosphere soil of some plants from Fars and Khuzestan provinces (Iran) were transferred to Mycology Laboratory of the Department of Plant Protection, Shiraz University (Iran). Fungi were recovered by soil plate and soil dilution methods. After purification, the isolates of Mucorales were identified based on growth, morphological and microscopic characteristics. Absidia cylinderospora, A. pseudocylinderospora, and Cunninghamella echinulata var. indica were new to Iran mycobiota.

During an exploration in boundary areas of Salmas (W Azarbayjan province, Iran) in 2016, an interesting plant from the genus Silene was collected. Determination of the plant material by using Flora Iranica was showed that, it is an unknown plant, but the specimen was determined as Silene armena Boiss. from the section Sclerocalycinae according to identification key of Flora of Turkey and Flora of the U. S. S. R. The name of species was confirmed by studying the type and other herbarium specimens. Silene armena is a caespitose, perennial plant with panicle inflorescence and leathery and glabrous calyx. Based on available data, the plants of this species grow naturally in Turkey and Armenia, but reported for the first time in Iran. The species was compared with S. peduncularis Boiss. and S. bupleuroides L., the closely related species of the section in aspect of vegetative and reproductive morphological features. In this paper, taxonomical description, photo, distribution and habitat features of the species are presented.

Two new algal species, namely, Prasiola calophylla (Prasiolaceae), and Closterium navicula (Closteriaceae) were collected from west coasts of the Caspian sea (Mazandaran province, N Iran), and runoff in south Tehran, respectively. Both the species were analyzed on the bases of morphological and anatomical characters and were determined using identification keys and interspecific comparison. Prasiola calophylla had a length of 1– 2 cm and a width of 2– 3 mm. It was found in three forms of membranous, uniseriate and biseriate filaments. Cells were quadrate, polygonal and rarely rectangular. The ribbon-like thallus, the disk-like rhizoid, stipe and blade, central chloroplast, one or two pyrenoids in each cell, and anticlinal and periclinal cell divisions were other characteristics of this species. Closterium navicula had an average dimension of 12 × 57 μ m. Cells were straight and fusiform with raphe groove prominence, rounded-truncated pole, and had polar vacuoles. Both species are introduced in Iran for the first time.

In the framework of study on taxonomy of the genus of Septoria in Iran, we studied herbarium specimen of R. muricatus (IRAN 8006F) collected during 1990 from Golestan province (N Iran). A Septoria species was observed on the specimen with following morphological features: leaf lesions, brown, amphigenous, extended through the entire leaf and equally visible on both sides. Conidiomata amphigenous, mostly on lower side of the leaf, pycnidial, immersed, scattered on lesions, globose to slightly ovoid, 70– 105 μ m in diameter, dark brown, with a single apical ostiole. Condiomata wall 2– 3 cells thick, outer layer dark brown, inner layer pale brown. Conidiogenous cells discrete, hyaline, ampulliform, formed from the inner cells of the conidiomatal wall. Conidia holoblastic, filiform, hyaline, straight or curved, 0– 3 septate, septa often obscure, 23– 48 × 1– 1. 5(– 2) μ m, with a truncate base, tapering to a subacute apex (Fig. 1). These morphological features and measurements were compatible with those of S. ficariae Desm. (Priest 2006). This fungus has been originally described on Ficaria ranunculoides Roth, but there are miscellaneous reports of its occurrence on Ranunculus spp. from Australia, China, Europe and Britain (Farr & Rossman 2018). Septoria ficariae has been described as a species with aseptate spores in some literature (i. e. Teterevnikova-Babayan 1987). However, our observation was in accordance with observation made by Priest (2006) and confirmed existence of septate conidia with obscure septa. Septoria ficariae is a new member for Iranian mycobiota and this is the first report of a Septoria species on the genus Ranunculus in Iran. Moreover, R. muricatus L. is reported here as a new host (Matrix nova) for S. ficariae. Ranunculus muricatus is an annual species distributed by Mediterranean region, Central Europe, Africa, Asia and also introduced Australia and America (Iranshahr et al. 1992). The plant is traditionally used by local practitioners for the treatment of various ailments and has been recently analyzed for its effective chemical compounds (Ali Khan et al. 2016). Material examined: Iran, Golestan province, Gorgan, Nahaarkhoraan, on R. muricatus, leg. Ershad, 15. 5. 1990 (IRAN 8006F).

Anredera cordifolia (Ten. ) Steenis, commonly known as the Madeira-vine belongs to the small family Basellaceae is reported as an invasive weed in the gardens and forests of the north of Iran (Fig. 1). Characteristic features of the said plants are as follows: Plant perennial, evergreen, climbing vine or liana that grows from fleshy rhizomes. Stems slender, climbing, up to 3– 6 m in height in a single growing season. Leaves bright green and shiny, 2– 13 cm long and 1– 11 cm wide, oval or heart-shaped, broadly ovate, often involute, sometimes lanceolate; apex obtuse, subsessile or with a 1. 5– 2 cm long petiole, commonly with irregular tubers in their axils. The potato-like tubers, produced on aerial stems covered in warts, are specific and typical in identifying the plant, but can grow to 25 cm in diameter. Masses of fragrant, cream flowers occur on simple or 2– 4-branched racemes, pendent, up to 18 cm long, excluding the common peduncle, up to 30 cm, with numerous small, white, fragrant flowers. Pedicels 2– 3 mm long. The five tepals are 2– 3 mm long and elliptic-oblong to broadly elliptic. Filaments narrow-triangular, widely divergent, bending outwards near base. Utricle and seed not seen. Proliferation is usually done by the glandular tubers on the stem and rhizomes. The plant is native of South America. The greenhouse and experimental cultures of this plant showed high adaptability in the Department of Botany, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran, Iran. Unfortunately, until now, no information is available on how this plant entered to Iran. Forests, rangelands or fields near forest with average annual temperature of 15– 30 ° C and average annual rainfall of 50– 200 cm are optimal conditions for the growth and propagation of this plant. Basellaceae family is also reported here for the first time from Iran. Specimens examined: Iran, Mazandaran province, Zirab, 23. 06. 2014, Ghiyasi (IRAN-70314); Savadkuh, in gardens and forests of Shirgah and Zirab, 12. 09. 2015, Eskandari (IRAN-70315).