Notes on the Newly Identified Asperula cankiriense B. Sahin & Sagiroglu (Rubiaceae) from Turkey Based on a Light and Scanning Electron Microscopic Study.

Micromorphological features of vegetative and reproductive organs in plants are considered important because they can be used as taxonomic characters. Asperula cankiriense B. Sahin & Sagiroglu, commonly known as "Çankiri belumu", belongs to the family Rubiaceae and generally occurs in gypsum steppes. This research reports for the first time the micromorphological characteristics of the vegetative and reproductive organs of A. cankiriense using light and scanning electron microscopy. Taxonomically critical diagnostic features, such as raphide crystals, presence and shape of trichomes, leaf cross-section shape, flower structure, and epidermal ornamentation, were described in detail. This study provided up-to-date information on the micromorphology of this newly described species and provided additional systematic information on A. cankiriense. New data about the species are reported here and will contribute to the knowledge about the family Rubiaceae.

Ultrastructural Changes in the Ovariole of Isophya nervosa Ramme, 1931 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) and Egg Morphology.

This study was conducted to assess the morphology of eggs and histology of the ovaries in female Isophya nervosa Ramme, 1931 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). While the egg morphology of I. nervosa was studied and examined by a stereomicroscope, a light microscope, and a scanning electron microscope, respectively, the morphology and histology of the ovary of this species were studied and examined by a stereomicroscope, a light microscope, a scanning electron microscope, and a transmission electron microscope, respectively. We found that the adult female had two pairs of ovaries, lateral oviduct, common oviduct, and spermatheca. Morphological study of the ovariole revealed that it is categorized under panoistic type of ovariole which is divided into three regions, the terminal filament, the germarium, and the vitellarium. We also observed that the eggs in I. nervosa have an ellipsoidal shape and are brown in color. Three different layers such as extrachorion, exochorion, and endochorion were observed. When the egg morphology is examined, it is understood that the surface pattern of the egg and the features of the micropylar areas may be distinguishing characters at the subfamily level, in addition to known classical taxonomic characters.

The Ovariol Morphology and Ultrastructure of Poecilimon ataturki Ünal, 1999 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) and the Histochemical Features of the Yolk Granules.

This study presents the oocyte development of Poecilimon ataturki Ünal, 1999 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) with histology, morphology, and histochemistry by using a stereomicroscope, a light microscope, a scanning electron microscope, and a transmission electron microscope. The ovary in this species is a panoistic type which contains many ovarioles which consist of terminal filament, germarium, and vitellarium. Germarium is the region that has undifferentiated cells which generate the oocytes and follicular cells. In the vitellarium region, yolk granules start to cover the whole oocyte. In histochemical studies, to determine the content of the yolk granules, proteins, and carbohydrates in oocytes were treated with a bromophenol blue (BPB) method, a mercury bromophenol blue (mBPB) method, and a periodic acid Schiff (PAS) method, respectively. As a result of these methods, the yolk granules gave positive results in ovariole sections treated with the PAS and the BPB, while the mBPB staining was negative.

Histomorphology of the Malpighian Tubules and the Chemical Composition of the Spherocrystals in the Tubule Epithelial Cells of Adult Leptophyes albovittata (Kollar, 1833) (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae).

In insects, the number, cytological and histological structures, and the spherocrystals of the Malpighian tubules (MTs) can vary considerably in different insect groups. These differences are considered important because they can be used as taxonomic characters. For this purpose, the ultrastructure of the MT epithelial cells in Leptophyes albovittata (Kollar, 1833) (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) was examined by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The wall of each tubule consists of a single layer of cells. These cells have round-shaped nuclei. Two different cell types were demonstrated in the tubule cell. These are cells that have electron-dense cytoplasm and electron-lucent cytoplasm. It was observed that the cytoplasm of these cells has many spherocrystals. The chemical composition of the spherocrystals was found to be high in carbon, phosphorus, and manganese in tubule cells.

The morphology and histology of the female reproductive system of Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) and the histochemical features of the yolk granules.

Since insects belonging to the Acrididae family have different nutritional preferences, and their physical characteristics differ, they pose a problem in classification for taxonomists. In order to remove this confusion, the biology of the species belonging to this family should be well known. Therefore, the morphology and histology of the female reproductive system of Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) and histochemical content of the yolk granules accumulating in oocyte cytoplasm have been studied by using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in this paper. The reproductive system of females of this species has five or six ovarioles in each ovary. The histological data revealed that the ovary of P. parallelus parallelus is of panoistic type, with each ovariole divided into a terminal filament, a germarium, a vitellarium, and a pedicel. The histochemical features of the yolk granules which accumulate in the oocyte cytoplasm have been also identified. During the oocyte developmental stage, the accumulation of progressively larger yolk granules has been observed in the ooplasm. Histochemical staining has revealed that these yolk granules are in protein and carbohydrate structures.

Accessory glands of male reproductive system in Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera: Acrididae): A light and electron microscopic study.

The accessory glands of male reproductive system in insects play a significant role in the reproduction process by protecting sperm in spermatheca, preventing female to accept other males after mating and stimulating oviposition. The number, structure, and arrangement of the tubules of accessory glands can change from species to species. In this study, the accessory glands belonging the male reproductive system in Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) were examined with stereomicroscope, light microscope, scanning (SEM), and transmission (TEM) electron microscopes at Gazi University, Faculty of Science in 2017-2019. P. parallelus parallelus is a widespread species that is located at the extending areas from Italy to the Northern Europe and also in Turkey. The accessory glands of P. parallelus parallelus' male reproductive system are composed of about 10 tubules. The tubules can be classified into two groups according to the thickness of their muscle tissues. Both groups have single layered epithelial cells with mitochondria, well-developed endoplasmic reticulum, spherical nucleus with electron dense chromatin, secretory vesicles and multivesicular bodies in their cytoplasm. In addition, apocrine type secretion is seen in epithelial cells.

Histology and ultrastructure of the testis and vas deferens in Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Orthoptera, Acrididae).

Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) is a widespread species in Europe, and also it is localized in some regions in Turkey such as Bursa, Eskisehir, Ankara, Bolu, Düzce, and Çankiri. The features of the reproductive organs such as the numbers and shapes of testes and follicles can be used as taxonomical characters. For this purpose, the ultrastructural and histological features of testis and vas deferens in P. parallelus parallelus were examined with using light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. The mature P. parallelus parallelus has two conjugated testes produce spermatozoa. Each testis is composed of numerous testis follicles in which different stages of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis develop. First, spermatocytes are formed by the mitosis division of the germ cells at the distal end of the follicles. Then, spermatocytes form spermatids by meiosis division in the middle region of the follicles. Finally, spermatids are differentiated to spermatozoa at the proximal region of the follicles. After maturation of the spermatozoa, sperm tails come together as the sperm bundles called as spermatodesm. Each follicle is connected to vas deferens via vas efferens to discharging spermatozoa. In spite of some differences, the testes and the vas deferens in P. parallelus parallelus are highly similar to the those of other species, especially Orthopteran species.