DNA from a total of 7 mushroom species (5 orders, 5 families) was extracted and PCR amplified using existing primers of atp6. Although these taxa had a previous record of highly successful PCR amplifications of atp6, the results from an initial attempt ranged from a complete failure to a moderate success. When using slightly modified PCR cycle parameters, especially with a reduced ramp rate for increasing the temperature from the annealing (37°C) to the extension (72°C), a success rate of PCR became significantly higher in most cases. However, the results varied depending on the type of thermal cyclers used. In an extreme case, the thermal cycler by one manufacturer did not produce even a single positive band. Our study strongly indicates that a simple adjustment of the ramp options could make a significant difference in PCR amplifications without changing other important factors, such as polymerases and primer designs.

Monoon membranifolium (Annonaceae) and Cheilocostus tonkinensis (Costaceae), from Tanintharyi Region, Rubia sikkimensis (Rubiaceae) from Chin State, and Hedychium deceptum (Zingiberaceae) from Kachin State, Myanmar, are reported as new additions to the flora of Myanmar. In addition, an introduced species, Centrosema pubescens (Fabaceae), is also newly recorded in the country. Voucher specimens, photographs, geographical distribution, ecology and taxonomic notes are provided for each species.

One anthocyanin and three flavones were isolated from the flowers of Tripora divaricata (Lamiaceae). They were identified as delphinidin 3-O-[(6″′-E-p-coumaroylglucosyl)-(1→2)-(6″-E-p-coumaroylglucoside)]-5-O-(6″′-malonylglucoside), apigenin 7-O-glucuronide, scutellarein 4′-methyl ether 7-O-glucuronide, and acacetin 7-O-glucuronide. In addition, we measured absorption spectra of intact petal and the buffer solutions (pH 5.6) containing isolated compounds for elucidation of the blue violet color development in T. divaricata. The absorption spectral curve of the buffer solution containing isolated anthocyanin showed the blue violet. Its color was identical to that of the intact flowers. These results indicate that the intramolecular copigmentation of anthocyanin mainly occurred in the blue violet flowers of T. divaricata.

Phenolic compounds in the leaves of Pedicularis siphonantha and P. ludlowiana distributed in Bhutan, were surveyed. This is the first report on the phenolic composition of both plants. Five flavones, luteolin 7-O-rutinoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, luteolin 7-O-glucuronide, luteolin and apigenin 7-O-rutinoside, and a phenylpropanoid, acteoside (verbascoside) were identified. The flavonoid composition in the leaves of the two species showed differences in glycosylation patterns and other characteristics, and some components isolated from P. ludlowiana endemic to Bhutan were reported for the first time from plants of this genus. In this study, we succeeded in preparing samples in good condition and obtained interesting results for future analysis, including chemotaxonomic and chemical ecological findings.

We evaluated the phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships among plants of Crepidiastrum lanceolatum collected from wild populations, traditionally cultivated on Kudaka-jima Island and commercially sold as a traditional vegetable in Okinawa Prefecture, using MIG-seq SNP data. The results showed that most plants being sold in markets belonged to a single clade, and all of them were more closely related to wild plants from outside of Okinawa Prefecture and cultivated plants on Kudaka-jima Island than to wild plants from islands within Okinawa Prefecture. These results suggest that most C. lanceolatum plants sold in Okinawa Prefecture have a single origin, such that they might have been artificially introduced from outside of Okinawa Prefecture.