Aim We analysed range-wide chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) variation in a clade of North American goldenrods (Solidago subsect. Humiles) to infer its biogeographical history and evolution. Our objectives were to: (1) examine the structuring of cpDNA diversity in this widespread species complex, (2) reconstruct Pleistocene refugia and post-glacial migration of the study species, and (3) test hypotheses ...

Two new species of endophytic fungi were encountered during a diversity study of healthy tissues of chili pepper plants in Korea. The species were identified as Paecilomyces inflatus and Bionectria ochroleuca based on molecular and morphological analyses. Morphological descriptions of these endophytic isolates matched well with their molecular analysis. In the present study, detailed descriptio...

The large and economically important genus Solanum contains ca. 1,400 species distributed worldwide. One of the 12–14 major clades identified in the genus is the Leptostemonum clade, or the “spiny solanums.” Previous molecular phylogenetic studies have identified 14 major clades in the spiny solanums. Among these is the Carolinense clade, which contains Solanum carolinense, the type species of ...

Vanadium haloperoxidases were extracted, purified and characterized from three different species of Laminariaceae--Laminaria saccharina (Linné) Lamouroux, Laminaria hyperborea (Gunner) Foslie and Laminaria ochroleuca de la Pylaie. Two different forms of the vanadium haloperoxidases were purified from L. saccharina and L. hyperborea and one form from L. ochroleuca species. Reconstitution experim...

The effect of ingesting seaweed "Kombu" (Laminaria japonica) on thyroid function was studied in normal Japanese adults. Ingesting 15 and 30 g of Kombu (iodine contents: 35 and 70 mg) daily for a short term (7-10 days) significantly increased serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations, exceeding the normal limits in some subjects. The serum free thyroxine (FT(4)) and/or free 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine ...

Onosma anatolica Binzet, is described and illustrated as a new species from Niğde province in southern Anatolia, Turkey. It belongs to sect. Onosma L. subsect. Asterotricha (Boiss.) Gürke. The new species is closely related to Onosma subulifolia Riedl from which it is distinguished. Onosma anatolica is readily distinguished from Onosma subulifolia by its sterile shoots, the green-grey stem indu...