Self-sustaining, dense populations of naturalized Kangaroo Paws occur at several localities and are highly attractive to local nectar-feeding birds. The populations show high levels of seed set with or without bird pollination. Given the known propensity of Kangaroo Paws to hybridise in their native range in Australia, and confusion about the species identity of naturalized populations in South Africa, it was essential to resolve some key taxonomic issues in the group. We constructed the first molecular phylogeny for all species

of the Kangaroo Paw group (genera Anigozanthos and Macropidia; family Haemodoraceae). As previously determined by taxonomists working on herbarium specimens, naturalized populations were identified Rabusertib mw as A. flavidus. In addition, we also identified a second species, A. rufus. Relative genome size estimates for Anigozanthos species indicated that small inter-specific differences in genome sizes are positively correlated to hybrid fitness. Anigozanthos flavidus and A. rufus have relatively ‘compatible’ genomes and may produce fertile hybrids under field conditions. However, for species whose genome size differ more

than similar to 30%, there is little inter-specific selleck chemicals llc compatibility and consequently a very low risk of producing fertile hybrids. In conclusion, we recommend that trade in Kangaroo Paws in South Africa should be temporarily restricted and that particular cultivars should first be subjected to a careful risk assessment.”
“Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-7 (GLRaV-7) was transmitted from, all Albanian grapevine accession to Tetragonia

expansa check details by the parasitic dodder Cuscuta reflexa and to Nicotiana occidentalis by Cuscuta europea. Cuscuta campestris was infected by GLRaV-7 but could not transfer the virus to an experimental host, Transmission of the verified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from total nucleic acid (TNA) and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) extracts front all five plain species. DsRNA extractions separated on agarose gels showed strong visible bands corresponding to high-molecular-weight virus genome and to sub-genomic RNA. GLRaV-7 was maintained in C. reflexa C. campestris, T. expansa, and N. occidentalis for more than 4 years. Infected T. expansa and the Cuscuta species remained symptom-less while N. occidentalis showed severe symptoms leading to stunting and decline of the plants. Quantitative PCR showed great differences in the titer of GLRaV-7 between the tissues of its, natural and experimental host plants. This is the first report oil a Virus of the Closteroviridae that was successfully transmitted to an herbaceous plant by dodder. Virus replication could be demonstrated in Cuscuta. Both the new experimental hosts of GLRaV-7 and Cuscuta followed extraction of dsRNA for further characterization of the viral genome, which previously required grapevine scraping of phloem.