De Luna, E. 2022.

 Taxonomy of Hedwigia filiformis (Bryopsida: Hedwigiaceae) with the restitution of the confounded identity of Hedwigia integrifolia. Acta Botanica Mexicana 129: e2080.

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> DOI: https://doi.org/10.21829/abm129.2022.2080

Abstract

Background and Aims: Hedwigia integrifolia is still conflated with Hedwigidium imberbe, despite previous distinction of these two species. This paper offers clarification of the taxonomic status of Hedwigia integrifolia, as a synonym of H. filiformis. The latter name is re-established only for the species characterized by filamentous pseudoparaphyllia, leaf cells with peltate papillae, and perichaetial leaves ciliate. 

Methods: Protologues, specimens of Hedwigia worldwide from several herbaria, and personal collections were studied to evaluate the taxonomic and nomenclatural status of H. integrifolia, along with the similar species Hedwigia filiformis. Anatomical observations were recorded of pseudoparaphyllia, leaf cell papillae, and capsule neck stomata. 

Key results: My examination of numerous Hedwigia specimens worldwide led to the conclusion that Hedwigia integrifolia is a heterotypic synonym of Hedwigia filiformis. For the correct identification of Hedwigia filiformis, a morphological description and illustrations are provided for this species, so far known to occur in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Italy, Japan and South Korea.

Conclusions: Hedwigia filiformis differs from other species in Hedwigia mostly by its slender sympodial branches, short ovate leaves with revolute margins, the very short hyaline leaf acumina, and the short elliptical apical cell.

Figure 3: Morphological features of Hedwigia filiformis (Michx.) P. Beauv. A. slender sympodial stems and branches; B. leaves appressed when dry; C. detail of leaves showing the hyaline part very short. (A-C, from De Luna 2516, Mexico, Veracruz (XAL)); D-H. leaf apices acute to short acuminate, with a very short hyaline part. The upper leaf cells are subquadrate, and the apical cell is short elliptic. (D, from Macoun s.n., 1893, Canada, Ontario, “Canadian Musci 615” (FH); E, from Small s.n., 1892, USA, North Carolina (DUKE); F, from Anderson 2403, USA, North Carolina (DUKE); G, from Churchill 9469, USA, Kansas (DUKE); H, from Anderson 20616, USA, New York (DUKE). 

Gregorio-Cipriano, R., E. De Luna y D. González. 2022.

An assay for the quantification of pathogenicity and virulence of two strains of Podosphaera xanthii (Erysiphaceae) on different hosts from digital images. SYDOWIA 74: 277-285.

http://www.sydowia.at/syd74/T19-Gregorio-Cipriano-3002.pdf

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12905/0380.sydowia74-2022-0277

Abstract

The predominant species of powdery mildew in the Cucurbitaceae is Podosphaera xanthii. However, there is little information on the epidemiology of this disease in Mexico despite its importance. As a first assay, we explore the applicability of a quantitative technique to estimate differences in the severity of disease caused by P. xanthii on leaves of Cucurbitaceae. We obtained two samples from different hosts: cultivated (Cucurbita pepo) and wild (C. radicans) cucurbits. Conidia were inoculated onto the leaves of growing plants of seven cucurbit species. We used the ImageJ program to quantify the infected area for each leaf as the sum of several polygons. The severity of the infection was calculated as the percentage of the infected foliar area. The two inocula of P. xanthii were pathogenic in five of seven inoculated cucurbits. Our analyses of variance to compare the variation of the percentage values among susceptible hosts revealed different levels of severity. This result indicates that this is a promising method to quantitatively compare differences in disease severity of different strains or hosts of powdery mildews. 

Keywords: cucurbits, image analysis, infection percentage, powdery mildew, Ascomycota.

De Luna, E. 2022.

Lectotypification, taxonomy, and distribution of Braunia plicata (Hedwigiaceae) in South America and Mexico. PHYTOTAXA 532: 101-106. 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.532.1.9 

Abstract:  

Diagnosis and illustrations are given for Braunia plicata (Mitt.) A. Jaeger., and lectotypes for two names are designated. One of Bridges specimens (Bridges s. n.) located at BM hb-Hooker is the lectotype for B. plicata. A duplicate of Pringle 15171 at P hb-Cardot is the lectotype for B. plicata var canescens Card. This name is retained as synonym of B. plicata. The worldwide distribution of the species is documented in Bolivia, Peru, and Mexico. 

Keywords: Hedwigiales, Braunia, lectotypes, mosses, nomenclature, Bryophytes

Ariza-Marín, E. R. y E. De Luna. 2022.

Morphometric analyses of sexual dimorphism in sound-emitting structures in adults of the bess beetle Vindex agnoscendus (Coleoptera: Passalidae). ZOOLOGY xxxx.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zool.2021.125992 

PDF: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1eelH3MhxMd8am

Abstract

In insects, the sexually dimorphic body size, color, and horns are very conspicuous. Other not so obvious characteristics, such as behavioral traits related to reproduction, are also dimorphic (courtship dances and sounds). Among these, the stridulation, stridulatory apparatus, and hearing systems could also be different between sexes. Passalids are subsocial beetles with acoustic communication in the interactions of larvae-adult and adult-adult. Most of the species do not have morphological traits with sexual dimorphism, but sounds are dimorphic under reproductive and aggression contexts. We studied sexual dimorphism in the stridulation organs (plectrum) in Vindex agnoscendus (Percheron) as an important step towards understanding its functioning. We acquired SEM micrographs of the plectrum for 14 specimens per sex, for measuring size, density and shape of the spines. We performed traditional and geometric morphometric analyses to test for sexual differences in the spines of three zones (Z1-Z3) of the plectrum. Allometric analyses showed spine variation is not related to body size in either sex. Our univariate and multivariate analyses uncovered sexual dimorphism in spine size (length and width of spines), spine density (distance between spines and number of spines), and spine shape (landmark coordinates). Spines were wider in males than in females in the apical zone (Z1). The spines were further apart in females than in males in two zones (Z1, Z2) and the spine numbers were higher in females than in males in the apical zone (Z1). The shape of spines was different between sexes in two zones (Z1, Z2). Moreover, our disparity analyses showed different variability patterns in size and density of spines. Variability of spine shape was similar between sexes, and variability of spine density was higher in females than in males, while for spine size it was higher in males than in females. These findings for the plectrum suggest further research for sexual dimorphism in the pars stridens and acoustic signals, and for the possible roles of natural and sexual selection in the patterns of variability of spines.

Keywords

Bess beetles, Geometric morphometry, Stridulatory apparatus, Sexual dimorphism, Traditional morphometry.