A first integrative survey of the genus Usnea in the southern Philippines, taking into account morphological, anatomical, chemical and molecular characters, resulted in the recognition of 20 taxa, including three species new to science: Usnea angulata Ach., U. baileyi (Stirt.) Zahlbr., U. bismolliuscula Zahlbr., U. brasiliensis (Zahlbr.) Motyka, U. confusa Asah., U. croceorubescens Stirt., U. dasaea Stirt., U. himalayana C. Bab., U. krogiana P. Clerc, U. longissima Ach., U. nidifica Taylor, U. norsticornuta A. Gerlach & P. Clerc sp. nov. (characterized by a moderately thick cortex and by the presence of norstictic acid), U. paleograndisora A. Gerlach & P. Clerc sp. nov. (characterized by an orange subcortical pigmentation in the medulla, with enlarging soralia and a moderately thick and shiny cortex), U. pectinata Taylor, U. pygmoidea (Asahina) Y. Ohmura, U. rubicunda Stirt., U. rubrotincta (Stirt.) Zahlbr., U. spinulifera (Vain.) Motyka, U. subscabrosa Motyka and U. yoshihitoi P. Clerc & A. Gerlach sp. nov. (characterized by a lax medulla with non-conglutinated hyphae). Usnea krogiana is a new record for Asia; Usnea brasiliensis, Usnea confusa and U. croceorubescens are new records for the Philippines. This is the first phylogenetic study to include DNA sequences of Usnea from the Philippines. Molecular data from the ITS rDNA (76 newly generated sequences) are presented for most taxa except for U. himalayana, U. longissima and U. subscabrosa. At least six further taxa remain unidentified, awaiting the collection of additional specimens.

The Parmelia saxatilis aggregate is comprised of three species in Europe, proposed to differ in morphological, distributional or chemical characters. In this study, we sampled nearly 200 thalli from five sites across a steep ecological gradient in Scotland to investigate the distribution of the species in the aggregate, and we characterized all specimens by morphological, chemical and ITS sequence variation. In our sample, 191 specimens were identified to species using ITS. We confirm that a PCR length assay can be used for separation of P. saxatilis s. str. from P. ernstiae and P. serrana because across our sample, P. saxatilis s. str. consistently includes a group I intron c. 200 bp. Using sequences for specimen identification, we test previously proposed characters to diagnose specimens and use multivariate analysis to identify the most consistent features which may be used for identification among species. First, we test lobe morphology, presence and amount of pruina, distribution of isidia, lobe tip colour, and chemistry. Second, we use classification trees that quantify the contributions of 1) morphological and chemical factors, and 2) morphological and ecological factors, to a priori ITS-barcoded specimens. Parmelia saxatilis s. str., P. ernstiae and P. serrana all occur across the sampled gradient but differ in the frequency of occurrence, with P. saxatilis s. str. more frequent in the relatively drier east, and P. ernstiae more frequent in the wetter west. Parmelia serrana was collected around a third as often as the other two species, but more frequently on tree branches than expected. For all the morphological characters examined, all the species show some overlap and no morphological features are diagnostic, though trends are apparent by species. The classification tree approach holds promise for discovering the most meaningful variation for field workers to approach correct identifications. Chemical variation using TLC is perhaps the best way to distinguish most specimens but, even here, overlap in chemosyndromes exists among the species.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to investigate the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of foliar-applied [14C]halosulfuron-methyl in cucumber, summer squash, pitted morningglory, and velvetleaf. Cucumber and summer squash were treated at the 4-leaf stage, whereas velvetleaf and pitted morningglory were treated at 10 cm. All plants were collected at 4, 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment (HAT) for absorption and translocation studies and an additional 96-HAT interval was included in the metabolism study. Absorption did not exceed 45% in summer squash, whereas it plateaued around 60% in velvetleaf and cucumber and reached 80% in pitted morningglory 72 HAT. None of the four species translocated more than 23% of absorbed halosulfuron out of the treated leaf. Translocation in cucumber and summer squash was predominantly basipetal, while acropetal movement prevailed in velvetleaf. No significant direction of movement was observed for pitted morningglory. Negligible translocation occurred toward the roots, regardless of plant species. Of the total amount of [14C]halosulfuron-methyl absorbed into the plants at 96 HAT, more than 80% remained in the form of the parent compound in velvetleaf, summer squash, and pitted morningglory, whereas less than 20% was detected in cucumber. Rapid and high herbicide metabolism may explain cucumber tolerance to halosulfuron-methyl, while lack of metabolism contributes to summer squash and velvetleaf susceptibility. Pitted morningglory tolerance may be due to limited translocation associated with some level of metabolism, but further research would be needed to investigate other potential causes.

Seventeen corticolous shrubby apotheciate Usnea species without vegetative propagules are reported from Brazil, including five species that are new to science: Usnea aurantiaca-parvula A. Gerlach & P. Clerc (characterized by an orange medulla and lageniform spinulose fibrils), U. cirrosa Motyka, U. cladocarpa Fée (syn. nov.: U. ramillosa Motyka), U. concinna Stirton (lectotype designated here, syn. nov. U. radiata Stirton, U. florida var. scabrosa Zahlbr.), U. cristatula Motyka, U. erinacea Vain., U. fleigiae A. Gerlach & P. Clerc (characterized by large spores and a thin, lax medulla), U. grandispora A. Gerlach & P. Clerc (characterized by large spores, a black base and protocetraric or salazinic acids in the medulla), U. kalbiana P. Clerc & A. Gerlach (characterized by a vitreous cortex and annular cracks in the basal part), U. lunaria Motyka, U. meridionalis Zahlbr. (syn. nov.: U. michauxii I. I. Tav.), Usnea cf. moreliana Motyka, U. parvula Motyka, U. steineri Zahlbr, U. subelegans (Vain.) B. de Lesd. (lectotype designated here), U. subparvula A. Gerlach & P. Clerc (characterized by spinulose fibrils and protocetraric acid in the medulla) and one as yet unidentified species (named Usnea sp. 1). Usnea cirrosa, U. cristatula and U. erinacea are new records for Brazil. A full description with morphological, anatomical (CMA and ascospores) and chemical features (TLC), as well as geographical distribution, is provided for each species along with an identification key to all species reported. Molecular data from the ITS rDNA, RPB1 and Mcm7 markers are present for most taxa, except for U. concinna, U. cristatula, U. kalbiana, U. lunaria, U. cf. moreliana and U. subelegans.

Trifloxysulfuron controls green and false-green kyllinga more effectively than halosulfuron. Studies were conducted to evaluate the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of 14C-halosulfuron and 14C-trifloxysulfuron when foliar applied to green and false-green kyllinga. No differences were observed between the two kyllinga spp. with regard to absorption, translocation, or metabolism of either herbicide. The majority of 14C-halosulfuron and 14C-trifloxysulfuron was absorbed by 4 h, with an accumulation of 63 and 47% radioactivity, respectively. Accumulation of both herbicides occurred in the treated leaf and the primary shoot from whence the treated leaf was removed, with minor accumulation occurring in the roots and newly formed rhizomes. Of the total amount of 14C-halosulfuron absorbed into the plant, 77% remained in the form of the parent compound compared with 61% of 14C-trifloxysulfuron. The parent compound was distributed mainly in the treated leaf and primary shoot, whereas polar metabolites were concentrated in the roots and rhizomes. Nonpolar metabolites of 14C-trifloxysulfuron accumulated in the treated leaf and primary shoot. These data indicate that absorption, translocation, or metabolism could not explain the variation in green and false-green kyllinga control between halosulfuron and trifloxysulfuron.

Studies were conducted to evaluate absorption, translocation, and metabolism of 14C-CGA 362622 when foliar applied to cotton, peanut, jimsonweed, and sicklepod. Differential metabolism is the basis for tolerance in cotton and jimsonweed. In addition, cotton absorbs less herbicide compared with the other three species, thus aiding in tolerance. Only jimsonweed translocated appreciable herbicide (25%) out of treated leaves and acropetally to the meristematic tissue where the herbicide was quickly metabolized. No plant species translocated over 2% of applied radioactivity below the treated leaves. Most of the metabolites formed by the four species were more polar than CGA 362622 and averaged 51, 48, 30, and 25% of the radioactivity detected in the treated leaves of cotton, jimsonweed, peanut, and sicklepod, respectively. The half-life of CGA 362622 was estimated to be 0.8, 1.9, 4, and 6 d in treated leaves of cotton, jimsonweed, sicklepod, and peanut, respectively.

Usnea is a cosmopolitan genus of lichen-forming Ascomycota (Parmeliaceae, Lecanorales). This hyperdiverse genus remains poorly known, especially in tropical regions, and recent efforts have been made to clarify the species concepts and describe the diversity of species. We describe five new species from tropical South America based on morphological and chemical features supported by molecular data from the ITS rDNA, nuLSU, RPB1 and Mcm7 markers. Usnea clerciana is a Galapagos endemic characterized by inflated branches holding elongated tubercles, excavate soralia and/or apothecia. Usnea aranea and U. subaranea share inflated branches with numerous papillae and a loose arachnoid medulla, but differ in the minute and irregular soralia in U. aranea, that are circular and excavate in U. subaranea. Usnea rubriglabrata and U. subglabrata are characterized by inflated branches with excavate soralia, with a reddish cortex pigmentation in U. rubriglabrata that is lacking in U. subglabrata. Usnea aranea, U. rubriglabrata, U. subaranea and U. subglabrata are so far endemic to continental South America; the three former species are closely related and cluster in a highly supported clade, characterized by species distributed in the tropical Andes. New records for the region are provided and U. moreliana is resurrected, corresponding to the valid name for U. rubricornuta.

Porpidia irrigua is described as a new species; it has a white thallus, sessile apothecia, contains the depside methyl 2'-O-methylmicrophyllinate, and grows on damp siliceous rocks. It was previously included in a wide concept of P. contraponenda, but that species differs in the thicker thallus, partly immersed apothecia, and the possession of an unidentified depside in addition to methyl 2′-O-methylmicrophyllinate, which can be separated by thin-layer chromatography using Solvent System G.

Gelsolin is an actin-binding protein (82 kDa) consisting of six repeated segments (S1–S6), each approximately 120 residues long. It interacts with phospholipids and we previously showed that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate promotes phosphorylation of gelsolin by the tyrosine kinase c-Src. We used a combination of different methods, such as thin-layer chromatography and anti-phosphotyrosine-agarose immunoprecipitation of phosphopeptides combined with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and post source decay (PSD) analysis, to identify the phosphorylation sites in gelsolin. The major phosphorylation site (Tyr438) was located in subdomain 4 (S4). Phosphorylation of gelsolin in the gelsolin-actin2 complex was inhibited by 90%. Gelsolin phosphorylation by c-Src in the presence of lysophosphatidic acid also revealed Tyr438 as the most prominent site. Additional minor sites were found using the anti-phosphotyrosine bead immunoprecipitation method followed by MALDI-MS and PSD analysis. These sites, representing ∼5% of the total phosphate incorporation, were identified as Tyr59, Tyr382, Tyr576, and Tyr624. Based on these results we generated antibodies which specifically recognize Tyr438 phosphorylated gelsolin.