David A. Orlovich

Phylogenetic patterns in the fleshy-fruited Myrtaceae – preliminary molecular evidence

Abstract.A phylogenetic study of selected fleshy-fruited genera of the Myrtaceae was conducted using sequences from the ITS region of nuclear DNA and the psbA-trnH region of plastid DNA. Studies to date have suggested that the fleshy-fruited state has arisen on several occasions in the Myrtaceae. The previously accepted and predominantly Neotropical tribe Myrteae has traditionally been divided into three groups, the subtribes Myrtinae, Eugeniinae and Myrciinae. This subtribal arrangement is analysed in detail here for the first time. The monophyly of the tribe and subtribes are tested and relationships of the genera within them, in particular those of the Myrciinae and anomalous genera sometimes associated with it, are discussed. Combined analyses of these two DNA regions revealed 40 shortest trees, all of which resolve Myrteae (excluding the Acmena group) as monophyletic. Myrciinae appears to be monophyletic whereas Myrtinae and Eugeniinae appear polyphyletic. The phylogenetic positions and relationships of the anomalous genera Myrceugenia,Luma and Blepharocalyx are unclear, but Myrceugenia is never included within the Myrciinae s.str. A Myrciinae s.str. clade emerges within which Myrcia,Calyptranthes and Marlierea appear polyphyletic. Clades emerge, however, that may reflect some natural groupings within the subtribe.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi in New Zealand: Current perspectives and future directions

Abstract The occurrence and host plant associations of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in New Zealand are reviewed. Seventy‐six genera of fungi thought to be ECM are recorded as associated with plants in New Zealand, including 1 zygomycete, 11 ascomycete, and 64 basidiomycete genera. Forty‐two genera are recorded in association with Nothofagus spp., Leptospermum scoparium, and/or Kunzea eri‐coides. Ten genera are recorded in association only with introduced tree species (Pinus radiata, Pseu‐dotsuga menziesii, and others) and 24 genera are associated with either native or introduced species. Generally, ECM fungal species have either native or introduced trees as hosts, but exceptions exist. In particular, Amanita muscaria is a potential unas‐sessed threat to native ECM fungal communities. We review invasive ECM fungi and their roles in facilitating the invasion of introduced trees.

A Generic Classification of the Danthonioideae (Poaceae)1

Abstract We present a new generic classification of the largely Southern Hemisphere grass subfamily Danthonioideae. This classification is based on an almost completely sampled and well-resolved molecular phylogeny and on a complete morphological data set. We have attempted to delimit monophyletic genera (complicated by the presence of apparent intergeneric hybridization), which are diagnosable, as well as morphologically and ecogeographically coherent. We recognize 17 genera, including five new genera (Austroderia N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, Capeochloa H. P. Linder & N. P. Barker, Chimaerochloa H. P. Linder, Geochloa H. P. Linder & N. P. Barker, and Tenaxia N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder), and two sections newly designated for Pentameris P. Beauv. (section Dracomontanum H. P. Linder & Galley and section Pentaschistis (Nees) H. P. Linder & Galley). Of the remaining 12 genera, the delimitations of seven are changed: Merxmuellera Conert is much reduced by the segregation of Geochloa, Capeochloa, and Tenaxia; Pentameris is expanded to include Prionanthium Desv. and Pentaschistis (Nees) Spach; Cortaderia Stapf is expanded by the inclusion of Lamprothyrsus Pilg., but reduced by the segregation of its New Zealand species into the new genus Austroderia; a large Rytidosperma Steud. is assembled out of Joycea H. P. Linder, Austrodanthonia H. P. Linder, Notodanthonia Zotov, Erythranthera Zotov, Pyrrhanthera Zotov, and Monostachya Merr.; and the species previously assigned to Karroochloa Conert & Türpe, Schismus P. Beauv., Urochlaena Nees, and Tribolium Desv. have been reassigned to only two genera. Finally, the Himalayan species of Danthonia DC. are transferred to Tenaxia and the remaining African species of Danthonia to Merxmuellera. The 281 species that we recognize in the subfamily are listed under their new genera, which are arranged in the phylogenetic sequence evident from the molecular phylogeny. The 100 necessary new combinations include: Merxmuellera grandiflora (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) H. P. Linder, Geochloa decora (Nees) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, G. lupulina (L. f.) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, G. rufa (Nees) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, Capeochloa arundinacea (P. J. Bergius) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, C. cincta (Nees) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, C. cincta subsp. sericea (N. P. Barker) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, C. setacea (N. P. Barker) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, Pentameris praecox (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. tysonii (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. acinosa (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. airoides Nees subsp. jugorum (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. alticola (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. ampla (Nees) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. andringitrensis (A. Camus) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. argentea (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. aristidoides (Thunb.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. aristifolia (Schweick.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. aspera (Thunb.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. aurea (Steud.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. aurea subsp. pilosogluma (McClean) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. bachmannii (McClean) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. barbata (Nees) Steud. subsp. orientalis (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. basutorum (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. borussica (K. Schum.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. calcicola (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. calcicola var. hirsuta (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. capensis (Nees) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. capillaris (Thunb.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. caulescens (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. chippindalliae (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. chrysurus (K. Schum.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. clavata (Galley) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. colorata (Steud.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. dentata (L. f.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. dolichochaeta (S. M. Phillips) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. ecklonii (Nees) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. exserta (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. galpinii (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. holciformis (Nees) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. horrida (Galley) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. humbertii (A. Camus) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. insularis (Hemsl.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. juncifolia (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. longipes (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. malouinensis (Steud.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. microphylla (Nees) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. minor (Ballard & C. E. Hubb.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. montana (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. natalensis (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. oreodoxa (Schweick.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. pallida (Thunb.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. pholiuroides (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. pictigluma (Steud.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. pictigluma var. gracilis (S. M. Phillips) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. pictigluma var. mannii (Stapf ex C. E. Hubb.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. pseudopallescens (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. pungens (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. pusilla (Nees) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. pyrophila (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. reflexa (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. rigidissima (Pilg. ex H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. rosea (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. rosea subsp. purpurascens (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. scandens (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. setifolia (Thunb.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. tomentella (Stapf) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. trifida (Galley) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. triseta (Thunb.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. trisetoides (Hochst. ex Steud.) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. velutina (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, P. veneta (H. P. Linder) Galley & H. P. Linder, Cortaderia hieronymi (Kuntze) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, C. peruviana (Hitchc.) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, Austroderia fulvida (Buchanan) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, A. richardii (Endl.) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, A. splendens (Connor) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, A. toetoe (Zotov) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, A. turbaria (Connor) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, Chimaerochloa archboldii (Hitchc.) Pirie & H. P. Linder, Tenaxia aureocephala (J. G. Anderson) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, T. cachemyriana (Jaub. & Spach) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, T. cumminsii (Hook. f.) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, T. disticha (Nees) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, T. dura (Stapf) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, T. guillarmodiae (Conert) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, T. stricta (Schrad.) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, T. subulata (A. Rich.) N. P. Barker & H. P. Linder, Schismus schismoides (Stapf ex Conert) Verboom & H. P. Linder, Tribolium curvum (Nees) Verboom & H. P. Linder, T. pleuropogon (Stapf) Verboom & H. P. Linder, T. purpureum (L. f.) Verboom & H. P. Linder, T. tenellum (Nees) Verboom & H. P. Linder, Rytidosperma bipartitum (Kunth) A. M. Humphreys & H. P. Linder, R. diemenicum (D. I. Morris) A. M. Humphreys & H. P. Linder, R. fulvum (Vickery) A. M. Humphreys & H. P. Linder, R. lepidopodum (N. G. Walsh) A. M. Humphreys & H. P. Linder, R. pallidum (R. Br.) A. M. Humphreys & H. P. Linder, R. popinensis (D. I. Morris) A. M. Humphreys & H. P. Linder, R. remotum (D. I. Morris) A. M. Humphreys & H. P. Linder. Typifications are designated for the following names: Achneria Munro ex Benth. & Hook. f., Avena aristidoides Thunb., A. elephantina Thunb., Danthonia crispa Nees var. trunculata Nees, Danthonia sect. Himantochaete Nees, D. zeyheriana Steud. var. trichostachya Stapf, Geochloa lupulina, Pentameris aristidoides, and P. holciformis.

Genet size and distribution of Amanita muscaria in a suburban park, Dunedin, New Zealand

Abstract Amanita muscaria is a common ectomy‐corrhizal (ECM) fungus introduced to New Zealand. It most commonly forms associations with introduced host trees, but is also known to form ECM associations with native Nothofagus species. It may act as a “mycorrhizal weed” and could potentially have far‐reaching consequences for the diversity of indigenous fungal taxa in New Zealand. Little is known about its population biology. By analysing the banding patterns produced from randomly amplified microsatellite (RAMS) primed polymerase chain reactions, we examined the genetic structure of an established population of A. muscaria in a park in Dunedin, New Zealand. The primer BDB(ACA)5 was found to have a higher number of polymorphisms than the either of the primers DDB(CCA)5 or DHB(CGA)5, and it is possible that within any given area the number of genets detected might be greater, and the size of genets smaller, with the use of more primers. Within a 40 × 40 m area the population was found to comprise 28 genotypes, both small (< 6.0 m across) and large (> 6.0 m across). The distribution of genotypes showed no clear pattern of spatial segregation, indicating that single genotypes may comprise multiple ramets rather than contiguous genets. The presence of both small and large genets (or widely separated ramets) indicates that establishment through sexually derived basidiospores and through mycelial spread may play important roles in populations of A. muscaria such as the one studied. A. muscaria may employ a strategy combining attributes of C, S, and r‐selected ecological strategies. Frequent disturbance at the site may mean that establishment by basidiospore plays a more important role than at other sites with low levels of disturbance.

The effects of an orally administered probiotic on sulfasalazine metabolism in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis: a preliminary study

Aim:  To carry out a pilot study to investigate the effect of short‐term oral probiotic administration on the metabolism of sulfasalazine (SSZ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) stabilized on SSZ.

The generic position of Austrofestuca littoralis and the reinstatement of Hookerochloa and Festucella (Poaceae) based on evidence from nuclear (ITS) and chloroplast (trnL‐trnF) DNA sequences

Abstract The segregation of the grass genus Austrofestuca from Festuca has been debated because in some respects Austrofestuca is morphologically similar to Poa. Analyses of DNA sequence information from nuclear (internal transcribed spacer) and chloroplast (trnL‐trnF) genomes indicate that Austrofestuca is not monophyletic. Austrofestuca littoralis is closely related to Poa, while A. eriopoda and A. hookeriana are placed in a clade containing Arctagrostis, Dupontia, and Arctophila. Whilst Austrofestuca littoralis is nested within the Poa clade, our data do not exclude the possibility that A. littoralis is sister to Poa. A range of morphological characters supports the differentiation of A. eriopoda and A. hookeriana from A. littoralis. We reinstate the genera Festucella and Hookerochloa to accommodate A. eriopoda and A. hookeriana, respectively.

The influence of probiotic treatment on sulfasalazine metabolism in rat

Probiotics are live microorganisms claimed to exert beneficial effects on the host. This study investigated their effect on the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of sulfasalazine (SSZ), a drug whose efficacy depends on metabolism by azoreductase (AR) in the gut microbiota to sulfapyridine (SP) and 5-acetylsalicylic acid (5-ASA). The probiotic strains Lactobacillus acidophilus L10, Bifidobacterium lactis B94 and Streptococcus salivarius K12 possessed AR activity and a corresponding ability to metabolize SSZ. Treatment of male Wistar rats (n = 5) with oral 2 g doses of a mixture of the three probiotics (total dose 1.8 × 109 cfu) every 12 h for 3 days resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05) in AR activity in ex vivo colon contents with a corresponding increase in SSZ metabolism. Similar probiotic treatment of male Wistar rats (n = 8) followed by an oral 100 mg/kg dose of SSZ produced high plasma levels of SP, but pharmacokinetic parameters of SSZ and SP were not significantly different from control rats given SSZ. These results indicate that probiotic strains possess AR activity and can metabolize SSZ. Treatment with probiotics increases AR activity in the gut microbiota but has no effect on plasma levels of SSZ and SP following a subsequent oral dose of SSZ.

Development of the hypanthium and androecium in New Zealand Myrtoideae (Myrtaceae)

Abstract Floral organogeny and stamen development are described for three species of New Zealand Myrtoideae not examined previously: Lophomyrtus bullata, L. obcordata, and Neomyrtus pedunculata. The flowers have numerous stamens, which are initiated on the flank of an invaginated floral apex. The stamen primordia are initiated relatively early after petal initiation and continue to initiate on the flank until all of the space is occupied. The hypanthium has a critical role in the development of antesepalous stamens and their direction of growth in the mature flower. The hypanthium also has a role in the final position of the petals and sepals in the mature flower. This work supports the current view that floral architecture in the Myrtaceae is the result of timing and duration of stamen initiation and the enlargement of the hypanthium. This is the first in‐depth study of floral development in fleshy‐fruited Myrtaceae.

Piracy in the high trees: ectomycorrhizal fungi from an aerial ‘canopy soil’ microhabitat

The mantle of dead organic material (“canopy soil”) associated with the mats of vascular and nonvascular epiphytes found on the branches of trees in the temperate rainforests along the southwestern coast of the South Island of New Zealand were examined for evidence of ectomycorrhizal fungi. DNA sequencing and cluster analysis were used to identify the taxa of fungi present in 74 root tips collected from the canopy soil microhabitat of three old growth Nothofagus menziesii trees in the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. A diverse assemblage of ectomycorrhizal fungi was found to infect an extensive network of adventitious canopy roots of Nothofagus menziesii in this forest, including 14 phylotypes from nine genera of putative ectomycorrhizal fungi. Seven of the genera identified previously were known to form ectomycorrhizas with terrestrial roots of Nothofagus: Cortinarius, Russula, Cenococcum, Thelephora/Tomentella, Lactarius and Laccaria; two, Clavulina and Leotia, previously have not been reported forming ectomycorrhizas with Nothofagus. Canopy ectomycorrhizas provide an unexpected means for increased host nutrition that may have functional significance in some forest ecosystems. Presumably, canopy ectomycorrhizas on host adventitious roots circumvent the tree-ground-soil nutrient cycle by accessing a wider range of nutrients directly in the canopy than would be possible for non-mycorrhizal or arbuscular mycorrhizal canopy roots. In this system, both host and epiphytes would seem to be in competition for the same pool of nutrients in canopy soil.

Development of the hypanthium and androecium in South American Myrtoideae (Myrtaceae)

Abstract Floral organogeny and development are described for three species of South American Myrtoideae: Acca sellowiana, Luma apiculata, and Ugni molinae. The flowers have large numbers of stamens which vary in size but are all initiated on the flank of the invaginated apex. The floral architecture is the result of the degree of synchrony of the timing of stamen initiation and hypanthial expansion. In A. sellowiana and U. molinae, stamen initiation is synchronised with hypanthial expansion, resulting in the even distribution of stamens over the entire hypanthial surface. Stamens of L. apiculata are initiated during and after hypanthial expansion, resulting in a discontinuous ring of stamens at the periphery of the hypanthium. Development in these species is in contrast to New Zealand Myrtoideae, where stamen initiation is complete prior to the completion of hypanthial expansion, resulting in the inner‐most stamens forming a discontinuous ring.