Rostaniha
Year:2012 | Volume:13 | Issue:2 (43)|Papers Count:16

A phylogenetic analysis of Astragalus sect. Alopecuroidei based on nrDNA ITS as well as morphological character data is presented. A total of fifty informative morphological characters were analyzed to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships for 23 taxa of the sect.Alopecuroidei and two species of sect. Laxiflori plus A. sieversianus and A. caryolobus as outgroups. The present analysis revealed that the Alopecuroidei with the inclusion of sect. Laxiflori is monophyletic. This is well consistent with the previous works even with the small taxon sampling.Astragalus alopecias was positioned at the base of the resulting trees. The present study indicates that all six/four informal species groups, except the Kirrindicus (=Obtusifolius) group and Turbinatus group, recognized within the Alopecuroidei were not monophyletic. nrDNA and morphology-based phylogenies were conflicting regarding the position of A. saetiger, A. turbinatus and A. neoassadianus.

Aspergillussubgenus Nidulantes accommodates species of industrial and medical importance. Thirty isolates morphologically assigned to subgenus Nidulantes were studied, 25 isolated from cereals in the north and northwestern provinces and the rest from other substrates in Iran. Based on morphological and molecular data (sequences of the ITS rDNA and b-tubulin), nine species were identified belonging to the sections Nidulantes, Usti, Terrei and Flavipedes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the b-tubulin gene resolved the relationship among the examined Aspergillus species largely concordant with morphological characters.Among the identified species, Aspergillus aurantiobrunneus, A. calidoustus, A. flavipes, A. iizukae, A. insuetus, A. kassunensis, A. quadrilineatusand are new records to the Iranian mycobiota.

This study was conducted in the Kordofan region of Sudan during 2011–12. It was devoted to the morphology associated to the juvenile development and performance of tree species of Capparaceae and Combretaceae in a nursery and early field growth.The nursery experiment was conducted to study morphological characters to identify seedlings of tree species under study. Seedlings were transplanted to the field whereupon a field trial for sapling characters was carried out. A total of 19 species in eight genera were recorded, representing the two families. The main results related to the morphological characters of nursery seedlings and field saplings. Analysis of variance showed significant differences (P=<0.001) in seedlings’ and saplings’ growth parameters. Height growth varied significantly, across the Capparaceae species, maximum seedling height (17.75 cm), while highest collar diameter (0.133 cm) and leaf length (3.213 cm) were found in Maerua crassifolia followed by Maerua angolensis the lowest was in Cadaba.At the sapling stage, the mean leaf size (length and width) significantly varied and was highest in Cadaba rotundifolia, 2.850×2.650 cm (of Capparaceae) and in Terminalia laxiflora, 4.700×2.280 cm (of Combretaceae). Utilizing all these morphological characters (both qualitative and quantitative) at different growth stages of Capparaceae and Combretaceae members, coupled with photographic data, short dichotomous keys were developed for easy identification of seedlings and saplings of these families and might be used as a template for general plant identification in the region.

The steppe parts of Lissar protected area is located in the North Western part of Talesh mountain range, with an area around 13, 500 hectares. The area is influenced by a humid Caspian climate at the Eastern slope and a cold mountain Irano-Turanian-like climate at the Western slope causing the formation of diverse vegetation types. Based on a collection of about 1, 250 specimens during 2007–08, a total number of 542 vascular plant species were identified from this area belonging to 270 genera and 64 families.The largest families in the area are Asteraceae, Poaceae and Brassicaceae. The most diverse genera include Astragalus, Silene and Potentilla. Dominant life forms include hemicryphtophytes (51%), followed by therophytes and chamaephytes with 34% and 12%, respectively. Endemic species and genera of Iran and conservation class of plant species in the studied region were determined using several related Flora books and on the basis of IUCN classification and Red Data Book of Iran. The chorological study shows that the most extended chorotype with 41% is related to the Irano-Turanian floristic region.

Bromussect. Triniusa is revised in Khorassan based on the new taxonomic concepts of Bromus danthoniae complex group and a remarkable herbarium material collected from Khorassan (Kopetdagh, northeastern Iran), as the main center of its diversity.Bromus turcomanicus, a narrow endemic species in central Kopetdagh hitherto known only from the type locality in southern Turkmenistan, is newly recorded for the flora of Iran. The presence of Bromus pseudodanthoniae, a neglected species in Flora Iranica, is confirmed. An identification key and additional note on taxonomy and biogeography of three-awned Bromus species is presented.

During a study on wood inhabiting fungi in Guilan province, several specimens of theHypoxylon and Annulohypoxylon, were examined. A total of eight taxaviz. Hypoxylon fragiforme on Fagus orientalis; H. howeanum on Alnus sp., Carpinus betulus, Castanea sativa, Parrotia persica, Gleditschia caspica, Ilex aquifolium and Laurocerasus officinalis; H. perforatum on Zelkova carpinifoliaand Gleditschia caspica; H. rubiginosum on Quercus castaneifolia and Populus sp.; Annulohypoxylon annulatum on Quercus castaneifolia; A. minutellum on Carpinus betulus; A. moriforme on Quercus sp. and A. moriforme var. microdiscum on Pterocarya fraxinifolia, were identified. Among them H. perforatum, A. annulatum, A. minutellum, A. moriforme and A. moriforme var. microdiscum are new to the Iranian mycobiota.

During 2008, the presence of Paecilomyces species was studied in fields in Fars province. Soil samples were collected from 0–20 cm depth. The isolates were recovered using a soil dilution plate method directly from soil. Isolation was performed from soil using malt extract agar, rice agar, oat-meal agar and potato dextrose agar. Anamorphic characteristics such as morphology of conidiophores, phialides, conidia and chlamydospores were investigated. Based on morphological and molecular characteristic the fungus was identified as Paecilomyces marquandii. The species is a new report for Iran. The isolates are kept in fungal collection of the Department of Plant Protection, Razi University, Kermanshah (Iran).

In the framework of collection and determination of coastal sand dune plants of S Caspian Sea in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces (N Iran), a new species of the family Poaceae, Cenchrus longispinus (Hack.) Fernald was determined in coastline of Babolsar, Mazandaran.Cenchrus longispinus is closely resembles C. spinifex and C. echinatus. From the latter it is best distinguished by the absence of a basal ring of numerous flexible, retrorsely barbellate bristles. However, most problematic is the distinction of C. longispinusand C. spinifex. Cenchrus longispinus always has more spines, the inner being terete to slightly flattened and the outer (lowermost) often bristle-like and relatively slender.

This study concerns diploid chromosome numbers and karyotype analysis of nine species belonging to four sections (Vicilla, Cracca, Variegata and Anatropostylia) of the subgenus Vicilla of the genus Vicia (Fabaceae). The chromosome numbers of Vicia alpestrissubsp. hypoleuca, V. aucheri, V. ciceroideae, V. gariensis, V. iranica, V. koeieana, V. rechingeri, V. sojakiiand V. venulosa are reported here for the first time. The basic chromosome number showed a range of x=5, x=6 and x=7. The majority of the studied taxa were diploid with 2n=10, 2n=12 and 2n=14. In a group of x=7, three tetraploids species (2n=28) were determined. Karyologically, the chromosomes observed were mainly from sub metacentric and sub telocentric types.Based on Stebbines karyotype classification the studiedVicia species were placed in three classes: 2A, 3A & 4A.

During year 2008–11, some infected leaves of eucalypt trees (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.) having blight and spot symptoms were collected in Golestan province (N Iran). The necrotic spots were appeared on both surfaces of the leaves and were circular to irregular, single to confluent, medium brown to light brown with red brown margin (Fig.1A & B). In some cases, young leaves have been severely destroyed. Conidia were accumulated as crusty black masses on the upper and lower surfaces of the lesions (Fig.1B). Based on the following morphological features of the fungus, it was identified asKirramyces epicoccoides (Cooke & Massee) J. Walker, B. Sutton & Pascoe (Walkeret al.1992, Andjic et al.2007b).

In a study of plants collected from the NW Iran, a specimen was identified as Arabis carduchorum Boiss. (Cullen 1965).Plants annual, 10 cm high, with a woody stock. Stems branched, stellate-tomentose. Rosette leaves simple, linear-lanceolate, with 2–3 branched hairs or sometime simple, rough, 10–15×2 mm Stem leaves 1–3, 9–20×2–3.5 mm, lanceolate, sessile, exauriculate, rounded base, hair similar to that of rosette leaves. Petals white. Pedicle 3–7 mm, erect to straight, narrow. Siliqua 10×2 mm compressed, with a conspicuous vein, glaber, glaucus, beak 1 mm long, capitate, somewhat bilobate (Fig.1).Material examined: W Azarbaijan province, Oroumieh, Movana, Marmisho, 2902 m, 2.7.2012, Amini Rad & Torabi (58054-IRAN).This species is a new record for Iran and for the area covered by Flora Iranica (Hedge 1968). Hedge (l.c.) mentioned that, A. carduchorummust be very closely related to A. armena N. Busch.