نشریه رستنیها
سال هجدهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 53، بهار و تابستان 1396)

In order to investigate the Oomyceteous species of the rice paddy fields of Fars province (Iran), during 2013–15, infected roots and crowns together with soil around seedlings and irrigation water were sampled. Based on the morphological, morphometric and physiological studies along with phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer sequences based on neighbor joining method, two Phytophthora species from Clades 6 and 8, including P. inundata, and P. pseudocryptogea and three Phytopythium species from a distinct clade, including Phpy. litorale, Phpy. Ostracodes, and Phpy. sterile were identified. Phytopythium litorale, and Phpy. sterile were distinguished through morphological studies along with phylogenetic analysis. Phytopythium sterile was also new to the Oomyceteous mycobiota of Iran. All species were reported for the first time in the world from rice rhizosphere.

Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran Summary Gypsophila with approximately 150 species represents the fourth largest genus of Caryophyllaceae and the second genus of tribe Caryophylleae. Iran is the second main center of Gypsophila diversity with 38 species in the world. Considering Gypsophila as one of the most polymorphic genus of the family and almost half of its taxa distributed in Iran as endemic, thus makes it as a significant genus from taxonomic and nomenclatural points of view. Moreover, following the IUCN Red List criteria, about half of these endemic taxa are categorized as Critically Endangered (CR D.); hence, the protection of these taxa and their limited habitats is necessary. Pollen grains of 40 taxa (Table 1) were studied by electron microscopy for the first time in Iran (Figs 2–5). However, these attributions do not support sections which are made based on morphological characters and rather can be used to separate some close taxa. The pollen grains of Gypsophila are monade, apolar, pantoporate with 12 pores, rounded polyhedral, tectate with granulate microechinate-microperforate ornamentation. Pores are annulate, operculate. Pollen grains size (20.7–32 μm), operculum diameter (1.6–6 μm), distance between pores (2.3–7 μm) and operculum thickness are variable among taxa (Table 2). Gypsophila pilosa var. pilosa, and G. platyphylla have the largest while G. antoninae has the smallest pollen grains. The smallest pores and, therefore, the minimum diameter of the operculums can be seen in G. acantholimoides. The largest and thickest operculum is owned by G. virgata. A phenogram of Iranian Gypsophila taxa derived from palynological analysis using UPGMA method is also given herewith (Fig. 1).

Thirty-seven isolates of Fusarium graminearum species complex obtained from wheat heads with Fusarium head blight symptoms were selected and used for phylogenetic studies. They were collected from different localities of Moghan plain (Ardebil province, Iran). Partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF), putative reductase (RED) and UTP-ammonia ligase (URA) genes were amplified using specific primers and sequences were analyzed using Maximum Parsimony method. Almost all strains of F. graminearum species complex belonged to F. graminearum sensu stricto. The results indicated homogeneity within F. graminearum species complex. Inter-simple sequence repeat markers (ISSR) were employed to study the genetic structure of F. graminearum s.s. populations collected from five localities in Moghan plain. The ISSR markers were generated by five primers and data analysed using UPGMA method with Jaccard's coefficient. Cluster analysis showed that all isolates were divided into four clades with 82 similarity level. The analysis of molecular variation indicated that most of the gene diversity (97%) was distributed within populations, whereas 3% of the variation was found among populations. Phylogenetic species identification and genetic diversity knowledge of major agent of FHB disease will be useful in defining the risk of pathogen evolution as well as benefiting disease management strategies.

Onosma L. as a rich taxa in Boraginaceae including about 150–180 species, centered mainly in Irano-Turanian region. The genus faced with several systematic complexities lead to many identification problems as well as morphological polymorphism. Several authors have used setae characteristics in Onosma as the most important diagnostic evidence in delimitation and classification of species in addition to the natural group. Besides palynological and karyological studies, molecular evidences have also confirmed recent classifications. This genus has been classified as a sister to Maharanga A.DC as a central Asiatic taxon of Boraginaceae. Several ambiguities in identification and differentiation of species created a wide range of complexities among and also between the species. Onosma elwendicum Wettst., O. bulbotricum DC., O. rostellatum Lehm., and O. dichroanthum Boiss. are some examples facing with these problems. Also, Onosma olivieri H. Riedl., and O. lanceolatum Boiss. & Hausskn. as closest taxa in Flora Iranica, eventually are geographical ecotypes and can be synonym taxa. Besides this, some taxa following O. sharifii H. Riedl., O. paboti H. Riedl., and O. caeurelescens Boiss. do not have detectable type specimens with no specimens obtained from type localities. Therefore, every comment on taxonomy as well as systematic study of the genus, need to a perfect assessment of diverse ecotypes and geographical populations together with a detailed field works with emphasis on ecology and phytogeography of their habits.

The genus Phoma Sacc. consists of important fungal plant pathogenic species occurring on economically important cultivated crops in spite of many other saprobic species. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify 35 isolates of Phoma species and related taxa collected from different hosts by means of morphological and molecular characters. Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, actin and β-tubulin gene regions were conducted. Therefore, seven species including Boeremia exigua, Didymella acetosellae, D. bellidis, D. pinodella, Neocamarosporium betae, Phoma destructiva var. destructive, and P. medicaginis were identified and described, and among them, three species including D. bellidis, D. acetosellae, and P. destructiva var. destructiva are new records for the mycobiota of Iran. Also, B. exigua, and D. pinodella are reported for the first time from new host plants including Paliurus spina-christi, and Trigonella-foenum graecum, respectively. The morphological features and phylogenetic analyses were able to clarify the generic and species delimitation very clearly.

Endophytic fungi are beneficial fungi to their host plants and help them to endure biotic and abiotic stresses with different methods. In order to identify some endophytic fungi of sour cherry trees, healthy plant samples including twigs and leaves were collected from several provinces of Iran. A total number of 176 isolates were obtained and studied taxonomically. Based on morphological features and ITS regions sequence data, 10 different fungal species, namely, Aureobasidium namibiae, A. pullulans, Alternaria multiformis, A. rosae, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Cladosporium tenuissimum, Coniolariella limonispora, Didymosphaeria variabile, Epicoccum nigrum, Lecanicillium muscarium, and Neoscytalidium dimidiatum were identified as endophytic fungi of sour cherry trees in Iran. Among these species, Aureobasidium namibiae is new for the mycobiota of Iran. All identified species except A. pullulans, are reported here for the first time as endophytic fungi of sour cherry trees in the world.