Neotropical cyclocephaline beetles, a diverse group of flower-loving insects, significantly impact natural and agricultural ecosystems. In particular, the genus Cyclocephala, with over 350 species, displays polymorphism and cryptic complexes. Lacking a comprehensive DNA barcoding framework, accessible tools for species differentiation are needed for research in taxonomy, ecology, and crop management. Moreover, cuticular hydrocarbons are believed to be involved in sexual recognition mechanisms in these beetles. In the present study we examined the cuticular chemical profiles of six species from the genus Cyclocephala and two populations of Erioscelis emarginata and assessed their efficiency in population, species, and sex differentiation. Overall we identified 74 compounds in cuticular extracts of the selected taxa. Linear alkanes and unsaturated hydrocarbons were prominent, with ten compounds between them explaining 85.6% of species dissimilarity. Although the cuticular chemical profiles efficiently differentiated all investigated taxa, only C. ohausiana showed significant cuticular profile differences between sexes. Our analysis also revealed two E. emarginata clades within a larger group of ‘Cyclocephala’ species, but they were not aligned with the two studied populations. Our research underscores the significance of cuticular lipid profiles in distinguishing selected cyclocephaline beetle species and contemplates their potential impact as contact pheromones on sexual segregation and speciation.

This study provides the first phytochemical characterization of the morphologically identified natural hybrid Solidago×niederederi Khek compared with the native Solidago virgaurea and two invasive species, Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) and giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea Aiton). The phenolic compounds, namely, chlorogenic acid, rutin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside, and quercitrin, were detected in leaves and inflorescences by the high-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array detector/ultraviolet (PAD/UV) method. All analyzed Solidago species contained all of the phenolic compounds investigated. The quantitative phytochemical differentiation among Solidago taxa was shown by principal component analysis. The results indicated that S. gigantea plants were characterized by significantly different quantities of phenolic compounds compared with three other Solidago taxa, which formed a separate cluster in the space of the principal component model, indicating the high similarity of their profiles. An additional multivariate analysis of the three species studied revealed a chemical gradient from S. canadensis to S. virgaurea with a slightly overlapping zone on the score plots presented by S.×niederederi and S. virgaurea accessions. The results showed that S.×niederederi was closely related to S. virgaurea. This result is suggestive of a hybrid origin with significant contributions from the native species. However, S.×niederederi was significantly different from its parental species with respect to chlorogenic acid and quercitrin in leaves and rutin with isoquercitrin in inflorescences. Conversely, samples indicating intermediate chemical composition between native S. virgaurea and invasive S. gigantea were not distinguished. The comparison of phenolic compound accumulation in Solidago plants supported the additional identification of the origin of S.×niederederi.

Leaflets of 1690 species of Old World and South American Astragalus collected from herbaria at Kew, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Munich, Germany; and Vienna, Austria were analyzed qualitatively for toxic aliphatic nitro compounds. The catabolites of nitro compounds found in species of Astragalus (nitro-bearing), 3-nitro-1-propanol and 3-nitropropionic acid, are especially toxic to cattle and sheep. A total of 190 of 1624 (12%) Old World species, 30 of 66 (45%) South American species, and a single species of one Astragalus subgenus were positive for nitro compounds. Most Old World species that contained aliphatic nitro compounds were collected in the Middle East and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Nitro compounds were detected in specimens of eight species collected between 1822 and 1836. The nitro-bearing species were chemotaxonomically related and grouped within taxonomic sections. The presence of two or three nitro-bearing species within a section indicated that other species within the same section might also be nitro-bearing.

Native Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and enzyme activity staining were used to identify possible progenitor species of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic. # ABUTH). Multiple forms of superoxide dismutase activity were observed in each of the plants surveyed. Three enzyme forms were common to all the species and bio types while one form was different in the velvetleaf biotypes compared to the other species. Multiple forms of peroxidase activity were also detected. The three velvetleaf biotypes possessed identical enzyme forms with minimal similarity to peroxidase forms found in the other species. Multiple forms of esterase activity separated as two nonoverlapping groups. A slowly migrating group was observed in all the velvetleaf biotypes and a more rapidly migrating group characterized the remaining Abutilon species. The results of this study indicated that the progenitors of velvetleaf were not among the species surveyed and suggested that the progenitors may no longer be extant.

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia spp.), an aggressive noxious perennial weed of North America, is a complex group that has been designated as several different species, including E. esula L. (# EPHES) and E. virgata Wald. & Kit. [E. waldsteinii (Sojak) Radcliffe-Smith]. Current classification keys are unsatisfactory in assigning plants in the field to specific taxa (or to a single taxon). These keys rely heavily upon morphological characteristics of leaves, but great variation in the leaves has been noted by us and previously reported by others. In this study we demonstrate qualitatively and quantitatively that the within-plant, within-clone, among-clone, and among-site variation in leaf morphology and triterpenoid content of the latex of leafy spurge is inherently high. Leaf characters were of little value in separating any of the accessions considered in our study. Latex triterpenoid profiles were useful in distinguishing E. lucida W. & K. × salicifolia Host. and E. salicifolia from European E. esula, E. waldsteinii, and E. sequieriana Neck. ssp. seguieriana, and all Montana accessions previously described from morphological studies. We concluded that Montana leafy spurge and the European E. esula, E. waldsteinii, and E. sequieriana belong to a single taxon: Euphorbia esula L.

The composition of fatty acids (FAs) is known to discriminate families within genera of bacteria, fungi, octocorals and algae. Here, we applied the more sensitive gas chromatographic (GC) analysis to investigate the taxonomic value of using FA composition to discriminate 15 species of lichen, including three chlorolichens (two Cladonia species and Stereocaulon scutelligerum), nine tripartite lichens (Stereocaulon species) and three cyanolichens (Lichina pygmaea, Collema cristatum, Peltigera membranacea). One macroscopic cyanobacterium (Nostoc sp.), corresponding to the photobiont partner of Peltigera and Collema cyanolichens, was included for comparison. Five lipid extraction methods were evaluated, using Stereocaulon scutelligerum. Shaking at 80 °C with chloroform/methanol (2:1, v/v) was the most efficient and reproducible method. The total FA composition of the 16 species was compared, using GC coupled with flame ionization detection or mass spectrometry. A statistical hierarchical cluster analysis was used to determine the similarity between the FA profiles, based on total, saturated, unsaturated and branched-chain FAs (BCFAs). The BCFA profile allowed a distinction between the Stereocaulon species and the cyanolichens, in contrast to all the other types of FAs. A detailed characterization of eight FA subclasses, provided by the GC analysis, suggested a preferential pathway for the biogenesis of unsaturated FAs through desaturases, which was especially favoured in the cyanolichens.

During a revision of epiphytic species of the Lecanora subfusca group in the Czech Republic, nine taxa were recorded. Lecanora cinereofusca, although reported for the first time from the country here, is considered to be extinct, as is L. horiza. Lecanora circumborealis has been excluded from the list of Czech lichens. Lecanora rugosella and L. subrugosa respectively are regarded as extreme morphological forms of L. chlarotera and L. argentata, ecologically derived through nutrient enrichment (eutrophication). Lecanora laevis is regarded as a morphotype of L. horiza. An identification key is provided. The importance of the amphithecium and cortex type as taxonomic characters is discussed in detail. Several new secondary metabolites belonging to the terpenoids, discovered during an investigation of lichen compounds, proved to be taxonomically important. The abundance of L. allophana and L. chlarotera has decreased during the second half of the 20th century, but L. pulicaris has expanded. The main reasons for these changes are air pollution and acidification of substrata; L. pulicaris, for example, formerly a predominant lichen on acid-barked trees, today grows mainly on trees with slightly acidic or subneutral bark.

Discrimination of particular species within the species complexes of tephritid fruit flies is a very challenging task. In this fruit-fly family, several complexes of cryptic species have been reported, including the African cryptic species complex (FAR complex). Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) appear to be an excellent tool for chemotaxonomical discrimination of these cryptic species. In the present study, CHC profiles have been used to discriminate among three important agricultural pests from the FAR complex, Ceratitis fasciventris, Ceratitis anonae and Ceratitis rosa. Hexane body surface extracts of mature males and females were analyzed by two-dimensional gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection and differences in CHC profiles between species and sexes tested through multivariate statistics and compared with species identification by means of microsatellite markers. Quantitative as well as qualitative CHC profile differences between sexes and species are reported. The CHC profiles consisted of a mixture of linear, internally methyl-branched and mono-, di- and tri-unsaturated alkanes. Twelve compounds were pinpointed as potential chemotaxonomical markers. The present study shows that presence or absence of particular CHCs might be used in the chemical diagnosis of the FAR complex. Moreover, our results represent an important first step in the development of a useful chemotaxonomic tool for cryptic species identification of these important agricultural pests.

This article traces the changing systems in the classification of the parmelioid lichens from the early 19th century to the present day. Molecular phylogenetic approaches have enabled the relative importance of traditionally used characters to be objectively re-assessed, and led to the realization of the significance of others that had previously been passed over or dismissed; for example, differences in ascospore and conidium types or the cell-wall constituents. Information on the different characters employed is presented and assessed. It is concluded that characters related to thallus form or chemical products prove to be less informative at the generic level than has sometimes been assumed. Features requiring further study are identified, and in the light of experience in this group, lichenologists should be cautious in translating their results into formal taxonomies.

Crude saline extracts of Trichinella spiralis and T. pseudospiralis infective larvae were studied by Western blot analysis using a monoclonal antibody, named ES/TA2 and produced against T. spiralis larvae. This monoclonal antibody recognized seven major antigenic components in T. spiralis larvae with apparent Mr: 45, 48, 50, 68, 70, 92 and 105 kDa and five in T. pseudospiralis larvae: 38, 50, 70, 72 and 92 kDa. SDS-PAGE of both extracts did not reveal appreciable differences in the range of molecular weights recognized by ES/TA2. These facts show the existence of immunological differences among proteins with apparently identical molecular weights.

The analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) was applied to distinguish several kinds of Anisakinae larvae, Anisakis larvae (type I) collected from two different paratenic hosts, Anisakis larvae (type II) and Contracaecum larvae. The patterns of the two different paratenic host-derived DNA of Anisakis larva (I) were exactly the same in hybridized fragments generated by six endonucleases. The quite different patterns in RFLPs of genomic DNA were observed among the Anisakis larva (I), Anisakis larva (II) and Contracaecum larvae. The results suggest that the RFLPs analysis may be useful for distinguishing Anisakinae larvae and clarifying the relationships between Anisakis larvae and their adult worms.

Three new species of Lepraria, L. celata, L. humida, and L. sylvicola, are described from Europe. They each possess a finely granular unstratified thallus containing fatty acids and atranorin, but can be distinguished from each other by the type of fatty acids present and by their ecology. Anthraquinones are present in subthalline hyphae of L. humida and L. sylvicola, and are also reported for L. atlantica. Toensbergianic acid can be produced by L. jackii as a minor compound. A key is presented to species of Lepraria containing fatty acids and atranorin as major substances.

Thirty eight strains of Antarctic bacteria were screened for the ability to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Five strains contained eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5ω3) in the range of trace to 3.3% of total fatty acids, and up to 1.4 mg g-1 dry weight. Thirteen strains produced polyunsaturates including 18:2ω6, 18:3ω3, 18:4ω3 and 20:4ω6 in the range of trace to 7.0% of total fatty acids. Although the data set is currently small, the proportion of Antarctic strains found to produce PUFA's is higher than that found for temperate marine bacteria (and is similar to that recorded for barophilic bacteria). This suggests that the Antarctic environment has naturally selected for bacterial strains capable of maintaining membrane lipid fluidity by the production of PUFA. These results highlight the potential of Antarctic bacteria for possible consideration in the industrial production of PUFA. These results highlight the potential of Antarctic bacteria for possible consideration in the industrial production of PUFA. The fatty acid composition of Flectobacillus glomeratus is reported and discussed in relation to other closely related Antarctic flavobacteria. Fatty acid composition is also shown to represent an important chemotaxonomic tool to aid with the identification of Antarctic bacteria.

Seven Neofuscelia species have been identified from Italy. A key to the species is provided and the distinguishing morphological and chemical characters, distribution, ecology, substratum preference and interrelationships of each are discussed. Neofuscelia perrugata is new to Italy. N. pyrenaica is new to Greece and Cyprus. New data on the distribution and ecology of N. perrugata, N. delisei and N. luteonotata are presented and these are consistent with their taxonomic rank.

The marine red alga known as Laurencia obtusa var. snackeyi (Weber–van Bosse) Yamada (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales) is characterized as follows: (1) production of 4 periaxial cells from each axial cell; (2) a few, percurrent, terete, thick main axes arising from a single discoid holdfast without stolon-like branches; (3) alternate-spiral branching; (4) presence of longitudinally oriented secondary pit-connections between contiguous superficial cortical cells; (5) absence of a palisade-like layer; (6) absence of projecting superficial cortical cells; (7) absence of lenticular thickenings in the walls of medullary cells; (8) parallel arrangement of tetrasporangia; and (9) presence of one corps en cerise per superficial cortical cell and trichoblast cell. It differs from L. obtusa (Hudson) Lamouroux in the absence of stolon-like branches with secondary attachment discs and the presence of thicker axes. The following binomial is proposed: Laurencia snackeyi (Weber–van Bosse) Masuda, stat. nov. Halogenated secondary metabolites of this species were investigated for samples from Vietnam and Malaysia. The major metabolites of the Vietnamese sample are palisadin A and aplysistatin, both sesquiterpenoids, whereas the Malaysian samples contain these compounds along with another monocyclofarnesol-derived sesquiterpenoid, 5-acetoxypalisadin B. L. snackeyi is also characterized by this set of secondary metabolites.