Protocols for direct and indirect somatic embryogenesis from aerial stem explants of ginger have been developed. Aerial stem explants of two ginger varieties were cultured on different concentrations of 2,4-D induced callus. An in vitro aerial stem produced hard, nodular…

Two types of thylakoid degradation are described, both including leaf bleaching (i.e. chlorophyll degradation) and destruction of the photosynthetic membranes. The first type of degradation is characterized by coiling of single thylakoids and by cup-shape stacking of grana thylakoids. This…

Panicum turgidum is one of the most drought resistant plants in the Egyptian desert. Five habitat types were selected for the study: sand dunes (North Sinai and in Wady El-Natrun), gravel desert, coastal plain, and water runnels of a wadi…

The nutlet (mericarp) morphology of 12 Salvia L. (Lamiaceae: sub-family Nepetoideae: tribe Mentheae: sub-tribe Salviinae) taxa from Turkey, including five endemic taxa, was examined using scanning electron microscopy: Salvia bracteata Banks et Sol., S. cadmica Boiss., S. blepharoclaena Hedge et…

Two new Mesodictyopsis species, M. akitaensis sp. nov. and M. miyatanus sp. nov., are described from freshwater sediment of the Late Miocene to Pliocene Miyata Formation, northern Honshu, Japan. The species are characterized by small size, veluma on inner side…

Large numbers of diatom taxa are currently being described each year and molecular data sets are providing phylogenetic evidence that challenges the traditional systematic arrangement of diatoms, but is such information being integrated into the classification? The traditional diatom classification…

The composition of phytoplankton in the Ebro River estuary (Spain) was analyzed at six sampling stations in April, July and October 1999 and February 2000, based on plankton net and bottle samples. A total of 304 taxa belonging to 13…

A new Amphora species, Amphora soninkhishigae sp. nov. is described from the saline lakes, Oigon Nuur and Uvs Nuur, in western Mongolia. Amphora soninkhishigae is characterized by its small size (valves 12–28 mm long, 2.9–3.8 mm wide), fine ornamentation, and…

Diatoms were investigated as part of the world’s first marine Bioblitz held on the south coast of Wellington, New Zealand, in October 2007. Two unusual diatoms were associated with the red alga Herposiphonia ceratoclada. They were examined by light and…

Chloroplast and pyrenoid structure are described for Sellaphora, Fallacia and Rossia (Sellaphoraceae). All have a single chloroplast per cell, which is basically H-shaped, consisting of two large girdle-appressed plates connected by a central isthmus, though the plates may also bear…