Pathogen infection is a serious threat to plant growth and development, causing severe crop yield reduction. The plant immune system, which is mainly composed of PTI (pattern-triggered immunity) and ETI (effector-triggered immunity), plays an essential role in resistance against pathogen infection. A large amount of research focused on resolving the key immune receptors/co-receptors, the components and regulation mechanisms of the PTI and ETI signaling pathways, and the biosynthesis and signaling pathways of the plant immune hormones salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. The major events during plant immune responses include pathogen recognition, the outburst of reactive oxygen species, Ca²⁺ influx, MAPK cascade signaling, and the induced expression of downstream defense genes. Recent studies have revealed that the expression of plant immune-related genes is not only regulated at the transcriptional level. The stability, translation efficiency, and translation products of their mRNAs are affected by a variety of post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, including alternative splicing, m⁶A modification, small RNAs, uORFs, and R-motifs. Here, we summarized the present understanding of the plant immune system and mainly introduced the latest studies of the post-transcriptional regulation of plant immunity. This review also covered some findings that showed how pathogen interferes with the host post-transcriptional regulatory machinery. Some post-transcriptional regulatory elements have been successfully applied in crops. This application provides new molecular tools for improving diseases resistance and contribution to food security, as well as useful components for molecular breeding.

INTRODUCTION Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is one of the foremost vegetable crops globally. Photosynthesis intricately influences the fruit yield of cucumber, and leaf color determines the photosynthetic efficiency to a large extent. Therefore, Leaf color mutants serve as ideal materials for scrutinizing diverse physiological processes, including photomorphogenesis, chloroplast development, chlorophyll metabolism, and photosynthetic mechanisms. Currently, the molecular mechanisms underlying the yellowing lethal phenotype remain unclear.

RATIONALE In this study, a stable cucumber yellowing lethal mutant, ycl(yellow cotyledon lethal), was isolated from the near-isogenic line XYYH-2-1-1. The phenotype, leaf microstructure and chloroplast ultrastructure, as well as physiological and biochemical analyses, were conducted on the mutant ycl and the wild-type XYYH-3-1 to explore the physiological mechanisms underlying the yellowing lethal phenotype. Preliminary localisation of yellowing lethal mutation genes was performed by whole genome resequencing using BSA. The integration of transcriptome sequencing allowed us to analyze the expression of genes related to yellowing death and the main pathways. This approach laid a solid foundation for further investigation into the molecular mechanisms responsible for the lethal phenotype associated with yclyellowing.

RESULTS The ycl mutant exhibited yellow cotyledons, which ultimately withered and perished within approximately two weeks. Notably, its growth-inhibiting phenotype appeared to be light-independent. Compared to the wild type, ycl accumulated extremely low Chl a and Chl b contents, which was consistent with the blockade in the magnesium ion chelation process within the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway. Microscopic and ultrastructural analyses revealed disordered ycl leaf structure and inhibited chloroplast development. Additionally, the ycl mutant displayed significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde contents, suggesting elevated oxidative stress levels and robust antioxidant capacities. The substantial decrease in net photosynthetic rate and rise in intercellular CO₂ concentration in ycl were hypothesized to stem from reduced stomatal conductance, diminished chlorophyll content, and impaired chloroplast development in the mutant. Transcriptomic analyses suggested that key pathways including photosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, chlorophyll metabolism, and reactive oxygen species metabolism were affected in ycl. The ycl mutant gene was preliminarily mapped to a region between 1.48 to 1.9 Mb on chromosome 3 through BSA-seq analysis, encompassing 41 candidate genes.

CONCLUSION The study investigated the physiological mechanisms underlying the yellowing lethal phenotype of the yclmutant, preliminarily mapped the mutant gene to chromosome 3, and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and key pathways associated with the lethal phenotype. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of chloroplast development in cucumber.

Phenotypic changes of WT and the ycl mutant at the cotyledon stage under natural light conditions, and preliminary mapping of the mutant gene.

Clarifying the diversity and distribution of wild vascular plants in Shanxi Province is crucial for effective plant diversity conservation efforts in the region. Flora of Shanxi, the most authoritative record of plant cataloging and distribution in Shanxi, has been available for over 20 years. During this period, the plant classification system has evolved significantly, and many new plant records have emerged in Shanxi Province. However, a comprehensive, accurate, and scientific catalog of wild vascular plants remains unavailable. Based on volumes 1-5 of the Flora of Shanxi, this study comprehensively collected relevant literature on vascular plant research in Shanxi since 1980. Using extensive field investigations and related research data collected by the authors in Shanxi Province, the wild plant list was reviewed and refined, including revisions to plant names, protection status, and distribution down to the county level. This dataset presents the latest catalog of wild vascular plants in Shanxi, divided into confirmed and doubtful species lists. As of June 26, 2024, this dataset included 2,438 species, 73 subspecies, 229 varieties, and 4 forms across 147 families and 763 genera. The dataset included lycophytes and ferns (117 species, 4 varieties in 15 families and 34 genera), gymnosperms (13 species, 4 varieties in 4 families and 8 genera), and angiosperms (2,308 species, 73 subspecies, 221 varieties, and 4 forms in 128 families and 721 genera). Additionally, 36 species, 4 varieties in 19 families and 27 genera were listed in List of Key Protected Wild Plants in China (2021), and 119 species, 1 subspecies, and 2 varieties in 47 families and 80 genera were listed in List of Key Protected Wild Plants in Shanxi Province (Jin Zheng Han [2023] No. 126). Further work should prioritize species with limited distribution data and species of concern to further enhance catalog plan in Shanxi Province. This research can provide fundamental data for updating the Flora of Shanxi and advancing plant diversity conservation strategies within Shanxi Province.

Database/Dataset Profile

Title	A dataset on inventory and geographical distributions of vascular plants in Shanxi, China
Data author(s)	Shuai Li, Weihua Liu, Yudan Xu, Xiaobo Tian, Houjuan Song, Xiaoting Yue, Lingling Wu, Qing Zhang, Tieliang Shanguan
Data corresponding author	Tieliang Shanguan (sgtl_55@163.com)
Time range	1980-2024
Geographical scope	Shanxi
File size	571 KB
Data volume	3,078 records
Data format	*.xlsx
Data link	https://doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.27756 https://www.biodiversity-science.net/fileup/1005-0094/DATA/2024317.zip
Database/Dataset composition	The dataset includes 2 data tables (confirmed and questionable species), containing a total of 3,078 records (2,744 confirmed and 334 questionable) across 22 fields. The 22 fields are as follow: sequence number, main categories of vascular plants, family number, Chinese family name, family, genus number, Chinese genus name, genus, species number, Chinese name, scientific name, author, scientific name in data sources, rank, reference for taxonomic treatment, status, data source, distribution, rank in List of Key Protected Wild Plants in China (2021), whether it is affiliated with List of Key Protected Wild Plants in Shanxi Province, specimen voucher museum collection barcode/journal source, specimen collector/collection number.

Functional gene expression is a basic life process that connects the coding information of a gene to protein products. The level of gene expression is considered as a quantitative trait between genotype and phenotype and plays an important role in response to climatic and environmental changes. First, we systematically summarize regulatory elements of gene expression in plant species and empirical evidence, including the effects of transcription factors and small RNAs on gene expression regulation. Second, this review discusses the eQTL mapping for regulatory elements of gene expression through gene expression-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) and the limitations of this method. This review analyzes the intraspecific variation in gene expression in theory under the processes of mutation, drift and selection and the testing methods. This review also analyzes the interspecific evolution of gene expression under the mutation and drift processes or under the phylogeny-based drift-selection processes and the testing methods. Finally, this review discusses the regulation of gene expression by the plant mating system. Selfing reduces the effective population size, mutation rate, recombination rate and competition from exogenous pollen, and changes the efficacy of natural selection in the gametophytic and sporophytic phases. Selfing regulates intraspecific gene expression variation and interspecific gene expression evolution. This review comprehensively comments on theoretical and practical research progress and existing questions, which aids in our deep understanding of plant gene expression regulation and evolution mechanisms.

3D reconstruction technology involves using computer graphics and image processing technologies to extract the geometric and topological information of the target object from the two-dimensional image data. This information is then used to create a three-dimensional mathematical model that can be processed by a computer, enabling the virtual reconstruction of the target object. In plant science research, the construction of three-dimensional models has become an effective way to study plant growth and development, morphological structure and functional mechanism. These models provide robust support for multi-scale imaging, measurement and analysis, demonstrating significant application potential in the field of agriculture and forestry. In recent years, advancements in plant 3D reconstruction technology have led to diverse applications in botanical research, covering plant morphological structure modeling, growth and development dynamic monitoring, and plant breeding. In this paper, we summarize the development process of 3D reconstruction technology and its application in plant studies across different scales (from organs and tissues to cells). We focus on the basic principles and applications of these technologies, aiming to provide theoretical and technical support for multimodal cross-scale imaging and plant phenotypic and functional research. Additionally, this work offers a novel approach to understand the principles of plant growth and development and the mechanisms underlying their responses to environmental changes.

In recent years, we have witnessed transformative breakthroughs in plant disease resistance research, particularly in deciphering the intricate interplay between hosts and pathogens. Cutting-edge discoveries span pathogen recognition mechanisms, immune signaling cascades, and multi-layered interactions integrating plants, pathogens, vectors, and environmental variables. Notably, pioneering studies from domestic research institutions have driven progress across pathogen-sensing systems, secondary metabolite-mediated defense, immune module engineering in crops, and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions for pathogen-resistant peptide design. The rapid development of CRISPR/ Cas9-based gene editing and AI technologies has further empowered researchers to engineer disease-resistant crop varieties with unprecedented precision. Such progress holds profound implications for ensuring national food security and advancing strategic priorities in disease-resistant crop breeding, marking a transformative era in agricultural biotechnology and sustainable agriculture.

INTRODUCTION: The shoot apexes and axillary buds determine crop growth and yield potential, with their developmental states directly shaping shoot architecture. However, there are currently few cDNA libraries constructed for shoot apexes and/or axillary buds in soybean (Glycine max).

RATIONALE: By constructing cDNA libraries for shoot apexes and axillary buds, we can gain an in-depth understanding of the core mechanisms underlying plant architecture in soybean at the molecular level, thereby providing theoretical foundations and genetic resources for the design of high-yielding and well-adapted soybean varieties.

RESULTS: This study constructed a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) nuclear system cDNA library using shoot apexes and axillary buds from the cultivar "Williams 82" grown under long-day and short-day conditions at different developmental stages. Equal amounts of RNA extracted from these tissues were pooled and subjected to cDNA library construction using the Gateway method, followed by transcript diversity analysis. The resultant library had a capacity of 1.2×10⁷ CFU, with 100% recombination rate and an average length exceeding 1000 bp of the inserted fragments, covering 29,170 genes. This cDNA library meets the library construction standards and is suitable for subsequent Y2H screening. Using the key floral transition and shoot architecture regulator SOC1a as a bait, we first tested the toxicity and self-activation of the recombinant pGBKT7-SOC1a and then performed library screening. A total of 50 positive clones were obtained, and after DNA sequencing, BLAST alignment, and functional annotation, 14 candidate interacted proteins were identified. Among them, five candidate proteins were cloned into pGADT7 vector and subjected to pairwise retransformation assays with pGBKT7-SOC1a, confirming physical interactions between two of these proteins and SOC1a. Furthermore, the interaction between SOC1a and one of the candidate proteins, SEP2, was demonstrated through co-immunoprecipitation and luciferase complementation imaging assays.

CONCLUSION: This study establishes a high-quality Y2H cDNA library for soybean meristematic tissues and identifies novel SOC1a-interacting proteins, providing critical molecular insights into SOC1a-mediated regulation of soybean shoot architecture development.

Screening of SOC1a-interacting proteins using a yeast cDNA library constructed from soybean shoot apexes and axillary buds (A), with interactions confirmed by yeast retransformation (B), co-immunoprecipitation (C), and luciferase complementation imaging (D) assays.

MicroTom tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. ‘MicroTom’) is widely used for functional characterization due to its short life cycle and clear genetic background. However, the traditional genetic transformation system of MicroTom based on tissue culture is constrained by low efficiency, long transformation period and complex operation. Based on the somatic cell reprogramming mechanism triggered by wound signaling, this study established an efficient and rapid in planta genetic transformation system for MicroTom tomato. Wound hypocotyl were created by removing apical cotyledons and true leaves from two-week-old seedlings, followed by direct inoculation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying binary vector pCY-H05251-VcDAD2-EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) to induce shoot regeneration. Results showed that a 28.6% PCR-based positive efficiency of regenerated shoots in the T0 generation, with seeds derived within 4–5 months post inoculation. Antibiotic and fluorescence screening revealed approximate 73.5% lines in the T1-generation expressed the fused EGFP protein. Compared to conventional tissue culture-dependent transformation systems, this protocol enhanced transformation efficiency, shortened transformation period, and simplified sterile operational procedures. The in planta genetic transformation system provides a robust platform for functional genomics studies, and significantly lowers technical barriers in tomato genetic breeding.

Rice bacterial leaf streak (BLS), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), is a significant quarantine disease. The pathogen exhibits both high genetic diversity and strong transmission capabilities. Driven by agricultural intensification and global warming, BLS has been progressively expanding across major indica rice-producing regions in southern China. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in Xoc-rice interaction mechanisms: (1) Pathogen perspective: elucidating pathogenic mechanisms of virulence factors (including T2SS, T3SS, and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS)) and pathovar differentiation patterns; (2) Host perspective: clarifying advances in PTI/ETI-mediated immunity signaling pathways, resistance (R) gene cloning, and susceptibility (S) gene editing; and (3) Future directions: proposing multi-omics approaches to decode Xoc pathogenicity networks, leveraging pan-genomics for large-scale mining of durable and broad-spectrum R genes, and constructing synergistic systems integrating S gene editing with immune activation to establish systematic solutions for sustainable BLS management.

INTRODUCTION: Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by Verticillium dahliae, severely reduces cotton yield and fiber quality. Previous transcriptomic analysis in V. dahliae-inoculated Arabidopsis thaliana identified the pathogen-induced DIR1-like gene AT3G53980.2. In cotton, we discovered a homologous gene, GhDIR1 (Gh_A09G180700.1), encoding a lipid transfer protein. This study investigates its role in cotton resistance to V. dahliae.

RATIONALE: We characterized GhDIR1’s molecular features, expression patterns under pathogen stress, and functional impact using bioinformatics, subcellular localization, qRT-PCR, and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) analyses. Transcriptomic analysis of wild-type and GhDIR1-silenced plants were conducted to unravel downstream regulatory networks, focusing on metabolic pathways linked to plant immunity.

RESULTS: The results showed that GhDIR1 contains a 351 bp ORF encoding 116 amino acids. Subcellular localization confirmed its presence on the cell membrane. qRT-PCR showed rapid induction of GhDIR1 by V. dahliae. Silencing GhDIR1 increased cotton susceptibility to the pathogen. Transcriptomic data revealed that differentially expressed genes in silenced plants were enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis, sesquiterpene/triterpene biosynthesis, and α-linolenic acid metabolism. Key genes (GhCHS, GhDFR, GhCAD, GhSEQ, GhLOX, and GhAOC) in these pathways were downregulated, suggesting impaired synthesis of protective metabolites.

CONCLUSION: It is speculated that GhDIR1 positively regulates cotton resistance to VW by modulating flavonoid and terpenoid biosynthesis and jasmonic acid-related signaling. Its silencing disrupts critical defense pathways, highlighting its role in coordinating immune responses. These findings propose GhDIR1 as a potential target for enhancing disease resistance in cotton.

The induced expression pattern of GhDIR1 and related genes after inoculation with Verticillium dahliae.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the transcriptional levels of adventitious root formation in different Lycium barbarum genotypes with varying root-forming abilities and aims to identify key genes involved in this process. The findings will provide a theoretical basis for in-depth research on the molecular mechanisms underlying adventitious root formation in wolfberry. 

RATIONALE: Three wolfberry genotypes with different root-forming abilities were used as experimental materials. A hydroponic experiment was conducted to analyze the transcriptional differences during adventitious root formation.

RESULTS: Transcriptome sequencing identified 6448 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with the L-vs-H group having the highest number of DEGs at 4413, including 2583 upregulated and 1830 downregulated genes. A total of 281 transcription factors were identified, mainly from the MYB, AP2/ERF, and bHLH families, with distinct expression patterns. GO enrichment analysis revealed that 1714 DEGs were enriched in 32 GO terms. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs were mainly enriched in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction pathways. Among these, MYB19 (Lba07g01820) is a core gene in the phenylpropanoid pathway, and TIR1 (Lba08g00069) is a core gene in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway. Both genes play crucial roles in adventitious root formation in wolfberry. qRT-PCR validated the reliability of the transcriptome data. 

CONCLUSION: This study elucidates the molecular mechanisms of adventitious root formation in wolfberry and lays a theoretical foundation for the genetic improvement and efficient propagation of wolfberry and other woody plants.

Schematic diagram of transcriptomic analysis of adventitic root generation under hydroponics of Lycium barbarum

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form symbiotic relationships with approximately 80% of terrestrial plants. Through their unique arbuscular structures within roots, they establish close contact with host cells to create a bidirectional nutrient exchange interface. This mutualistic mechanism not only enhances plant stress resistance but also reshapes ecosystem nutrient cycling. Like pathogenic fungi, the cell walls of AMF are primarily composed of chitin and β-glucans, which are key molecular patterns capable of triggering host plant immune responses. How AMF effectively evades host plant immunity remains unclear. Effector proteins secreted by pathogenic fungi have been found to play a crucial role in suppressing plant immune responses. During arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, numerous effector proteins are also induced, which may similarly inhibit plant immunity and facilitate fungal colonization. This article reviewed and summarized current research on AMF effector proteins and discussed the future research directions and challenges. Studying effector proteins will help elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of AMF symbiosis, deepen our understanding of host-fungal interactions, and aid in selecting optimal fungal strains and plant varieties for enhanced symbiotic efficiency, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Pinus densata Alliance is one of the most widespread pine forests in mountains of southwest China. Endemic to China, this alliance occurs in west Sichuan, northwest Yunnan, and southeast Xizang. In this study, we defined the geographic distribution boundary and priliminarily ascertained the geographic distribution area of P. densata Alliance based on previous literature and field investigation sites. Using data from 48 plots surveyed during 2020-2022, we proposed a preliminary scheme of vegetation classification and described the community structure characteristics for P. densata Alliance, and analyzed species composition characteristics combined with data from 11 plots surveyed in 2012. The results showed that (1) the distribution area of P. densata Alliance covered 33 counties and cities, including Yajiang, Xiangcheng, Daocheng, Dêqên, Xamgyi’nyilha, Markam, Mainling, and so on, at an altitude ranging from (1 300) 2 500 to 3 800 (4 000) m, and the eastern, western, northern and southern boundaries were Donggu Town in Danba County, Zengqi Township in Sangri County, Puxi Township in Zamtang County, and Yulong Snow Mountain in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County. (2) 522 vascular plant species belonging to 222 genera and 67 families were recorded, among which there were 500 seed plants belonging to 209 genera and 60 families, and 233 Chinese endemic plants belonging to 114 genera and 42 families, and the north temperate element was the dominant areal-type. (3) Based on the differences in community structure and species composition, P. densata Alliance could be classified into 7 association groups and 20 associations.

Leguminous plants in arid regions are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Clarifying the characteristics and application potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated with these legumes is of great value for enhancing plant stress resistance and facilitating ecological restoration in arid areas. By exploring the functional diversity of PGPR in the rhizosphere of arid-region legumes and constructing synthetic microbial communities, it is possible to help plants resist abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, as well as restore degraded soil ecosystems in arid regions. However, systematic research on PGPR of leguminous plants in arid zones remains insufficient. This review focuses on leguminous plants in arid regions of China, clarifies their geographical distribution and ecological advantages in arid environments, and elucidates the stress resistance and growth-promoting mechanisms of legume PGPR, along with their application prospects in enhancing plant stress tolerance. Furthermore, it suggests that future research should focus on in-depth exploration of microbial resources, clarifying the adaptability of legumes to different soil types in arid regions, and promoting the application of PGPR for legumes in arid areas. This study has significant theoretical and practical value for the precise construction and application of synthetic microbial communities to enhance plant stress resistance and ensure ecological and agricultural sustainability in arid regions.

INTRODUCTION: The genetic diversity of common wheat (Triticum aestivum) has decreased sharply due to the domestication and modern breeding operations, making it more vulnerable to the threats from pests and pathogens. Leaf rust, caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia triticina (Pt), is a devastating disease in wheat. Over 80 leaf rust resistance (Lr) genes have been identified, with nearly half originating from wheat wild relatives. However, the rapid evolution of Pt has rendered many Lr genes ineffective against prevalent Pt races. Consequently, identifying novel sources of resistance in wild relatives of common wheat remains an urgent priority for sustainable wheat breeding.

RATIONALE: As one of the most widely used relatives in the genetic improvement of wheat, decaploid Thinopyrum ponticum shows excellent resistance to multiple diseases including leaf rust. By distant hybridization and chromosome engineering, we created a wheat-Th. ponticum line WTS135. We evaluated its disease resistance with Pt race THTT, developed Th. ponticum specific markers by specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing technology and assessed its agronomic traits by phenotypic investigation. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH)-fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (FISH) and liquid chip analysis have been used to identify its chromosome composition.

RESULTS: WTS135 is immune to the Pt race THTT. Pedigree analysis showed that this resistance originated from the exogenous chromosome of Th. ponticum. GISH-FISH analysis revealed that the wheat chromosomes 7D were replaced by the Th. ponticum-derived chromosomes. Liquid chip analysis showed that the alien chromosomes belonged to the homoeologous group 7, and the density and abundance of the signals in the peri-centromeric region were significantly lower, which was consistent with the GISH results. Therefore, it is indicated that WTS135 is a 7St (7D) disomic substitution line. After detected by the molecular markers related to known Lr genes on wheat 7D chromosome, it is speculated that WTS135 probably carries a novel resistance gene that is different from genes Lr19 and Lr29. Ten primers specific to Th. ponticum were developed to rapidly trace the exogenous chromatin in WTS135. Phenotypic investigation showed that the yield of WTS135 was not significantly different from that of the recurrent parent Jimai 22, suggesting that this line can be useful for improving disease resistance in wheat.

CONCLUSION: Introducing resistance genes from wild relatives into wheat through distant hybridization can broaden the genetic base of wheat and provide new sources for breeding disease-resistant varieties. We developed a common wheat-Th. ponticum 7St (7D) substitution line, which possibly has a novel alien resistance gene and could be used in the breeding for enhancing wheat disease resistance.

Chromosome composition and leaf rust resistance evaluation of WTS135. (A) GISH analysis using Thinopyrum ponticum gDNA as a probe and Chinese Spring gDNA as a block; (B) Mc-FISH analysis using combined oligo probes; (C) The liquid chip analysis of WTS135; (D) Evaluation for leaf rust resistance in WTS135 and its parents (1: WTS135; 2: Xiaoyan 81; 3: Jimai 22, 4: Zhongnong 28, 5: Th. ponticum). The white arrows indicate exogenous chromosomes, purple frames indicate chromosome additions or deletions.

This review focuses on leaf color mutants of medicinal plants, systematically expounds their induction pathways, mutation molecular mechanisms and characteristic applications, and highlights the research value of medicinal plants in secondary metabolism regulation. Leaf color mutants are mutation types in which gene mutations cause abnormalities in chlorophyll synthesis or degradation, thereby changing leaf color. They can be classified according to seedling leaf color, pigment content, genetic characteristics, etc. Their induction methods are divided into spontaneous mutation and artificial induction mutation, and the latter covers physical, chemical and biological mutagenesis, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In terms of molecular mechanisms, mutations in key genes for chlorophyll synthesis and degradation lead to pigment metabolism imbalance, abnormalities in chloroplast development genes affect chloroplast structure and function, variations in photosynthesis genes change the efficiency of light energy capture and conversion, and transcription factors and light signal/hormone pathways synergistically regulate leaf color. Especially in medicinal plants, leaf color mutations are often accompanied by changes in photosynthetic efficiency. Through energy supply, carbon-nitrogen allocation and metabolic precursor sharing, the "chlorophyll metabolism-secondary metabolism" network is reshaped to regulate the synthesis and accumulation of medicinal secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, terpenoids and alkaloids. Therefore, leaf color mutants are not only tools for analyzing photosynthetic and chloroplast development mechanisms, but also key materials for mining the regulatory network of medicinal component synthesis, and have broad application prospects in functional genomics research, molecular marker-assisted breeding and the creation of medicinal germplasm with high active ingredients. Although current research has achieved certain results, it still faces problems such as low efficiency in mutant screening, unclear functions of some genes, and insufficient integration of multi-omics data. In the future, relying on technological innovations such as CRISPR gene editing, combining multi-omics integration and artificial intelligence screening, we should focus on breaking through the light regulation mechanism of medicinal component synthesis and promoting the genetic improvement of endangered species and the cultivation of high-active varieties.

INTRODUCTION: Anthracnose, primarily caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a main diseaseaffecting mangoes, leading to significant postharvest losses by deteriorating fruit quality and reducing shelf life. 

RATIONALE: Addressing postharvest anthracnose is a critical challenge in the mango industry. Biological control methods, such as utilizing antagonistic bacteria, offer sus-tainable alternatives to chemical treatments. This study investigates the efficacy of Ba-cillus velezensis in inhibiting C. gloeosporioides and its potential in preserving mango fruit quality. 

RESULTS: The application of B. velezensis culture filtrate (CF) effectively inhibited spore germination and mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides. At CF concentrations of 2% and 4%, mycelial inhibition rates were 75.18% and 80.96%, respectively. In vivo experiments demonstrated that both bacterial suspension (CB) and CF treatments significantly re-duced lesion expansion on mangoes, with inhibition rates of 44.33% and 65.00%, respectively. Treated fruits exhibited a slower decrease in titratable acids and maintained higher levels of total phenols and flavonoids, indicating delayed ripening and extended shelf life. 

 CONCLUSION: Bacillus velezensis exhibits strong antagonistic activity against C. gloeosporioides, effectively controlling mango anthracnose and preserving fruit quality. Its application as a biocontrol agent holds promise for sustainable postharvest management in mango production.

INTRODUCTION:An efficient Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation system for Pueraria lobata was established.

RATIONALE: In this study, tissue-cultured plantlets of P. lobata were used as explants to investigate the effects of different genotypes, A. rhizogenes strains, explants, precultivation times, infection times, culture days, subculture times, and culture methods on the efficiency of hairy root genetic transformation in P. lobata.

RESULTS: The results indicated that the induction rate of hairy root formation was the highest when the immature leaves of YG-19 were used as the explant material, reaching 10.2%. A. rhizogenes K599 was identified as the most suitable strain. The optimal explant material was immature leaves that had just unfolded from the first to second nodes of the 5^th to 13^th generation tissue culture plantlets subcultured for 8 days. After 3 days of pre-culture and 15 minutes of bacterial infection, the highest induction rate of hairy roots reached 22.4%. The optimal type of culture medium for the proliferation of hairy roots in P. lobatawas solid medium culture, and the fresh weight of hairy roots grown on solid medium was 75 times greater than that of hairy roots grown in liquid medium. PCR detection and fluorescence microscopy assays revealed that the expression of GFP and rolB genes in the hairy roots of P. lobata was stable, and the rate of cotransformation was 80%.

CONCLUSION: Genotype, A. rhizogenes strain, and culture duration were the most critical factors for the efficient genetic transformation of hairy roots in P. lobata.

Coumarins are a class of phenolic compounds with benzopyrones as the parent ring structure, categorized into simple and complex coumarins, and widely distributed in higher plants. In recent years, studies have shown that root-secreted coumarins can promote iron absorption in plants. Here, the recent progress in the discovery and identification of genes related to the biosynthesis and regulation of plant iron deficiency-induced coumarins is reviewed, and the molecular mechanisms of the biosynthesis, storage, secretion, and regulation of iron deficiency-induced coumarins are further elaborated. The mechanism by which coumarins could promote plant iron uptake has also been discussed. Finally, this paper provides a preliminary outlook on the future research directions to gain knowledge of these mechanisms, which could offer novel opportunities to generate iron deficiency-tolerant crops and iron-biofortified crops.

INTRODUCTION: Cibotium barometz is a medicinal fern species with high economic value, Chinese people produce the traditional medicine herb “Gou-ji” using its robust rhizome. To balance the conservation of wild plant resources with the sustainable development of herbal medicine, much more effort is needed in scientific research on C. barometz, which might be crucial to mitigate conflicts between wild resource protection and the development of the traditional medicine industry. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is a commonly used method for characterizing plant gene molecular function, and an appropriate reference gene is pivotal for this technique. Currently, limited literature focuses on the gene function studies for C. barometz, and little validated reference genes is available. 

RATIONALE: Previous studies have demonstrated that the expression stability of reference genes is influenced by multiple factors, including species, tissue type, developmental stage, stress treatment, and sequence specificity. Consequently, distinct reference genes are required for different research subjects. When employing RT-qPCR to analyze gene expression pattern in C. barometz tissues, it is essential to pre-validate the stability of reference genes within the novel experimental system. This validation process ensures the accuracy and reliability of experimental results by maintaining proper data normalization. 

RESULTS: In this study, 12 commonly used plant reference genes were identified as candidate genes from transcriptome data of C. barometz rhizome. The amplification efficiency of candidate reference genes was calculated by template gradient dilution method, and eight pairs of reference gene primers with high amplification efficiency were screened out. The Ct values of these eight reference genes in ten tissues of C. barometz were measured using RT-qPCR method; the software RefFinder and Normfinder determined that the best reference genes are CbUBC4 and CbEF1A, respectively. If studying the gene expression patterns of C. barometz at different developmental stages, it was suggested that CbEF1A and CbUBC4 should be used as optimal reference genes. The reference genes CbUBC4 and CbUBC28 were recommended under mechanical injury and waterlogging conditions. 

CONCLUSION: CbUBC4, CbEF1A and CbUBC28 were validated as stable reference genes in C. barometz across distinct experimental contexts, demonstrating their suitability for normalization in gene expression studies for RT-qPCR assay. From a methodological rigor perspective, we recommended that the stability of reference genes should be evaluated prior to conducting qRT-PCR experiments, particularly when analyzing samples from diverse tissues or distinct developmental stages of a specific tissue.

With the continuous development of urban garden construction, landscape architecture professional education needs to constantly explore new teaching methods to improve students’ comprehensive ability, particularly the practical ability in the application of knowledge in various ground conditions. Here we studied the course of “Turf and Ground Cover” to compared its teaching content, teaching methods, course assessment and evaluation as well as process assessment materials before and after reform. The study showed that the reform of course assessment, by increasing practical and process-based evaluations, had effectively boosted students’ learning interest and practical operation skills. This study provides a demonstrable experience for the reform of other courses in the future.

Aims: Biological resources are closely related to national economic and social development, and has key strategic value in food security, ecological security and energy security of a country. As a basic component of the ecosystem on earth, microorganisms are of great strategic significance to human’s life and the sustainable development of society. However, due to the lack of a sound system for the preservation, development and protection of strategic resources, many biological resources have been lost overseas through smuggling, entrainment and natural losses.

Method: Referring to other evaluation systems on biological resources, the assessment method to evaluate the strategic value of microbial resources was established in this study.

Results: Rare and endangered species, high economic value species, biosecurity species and strategic frontier species were chosen as the four aspects for strategic microbial resources, and a scoring system using the method of weighted assignment is established according to these aspects. The scoring system contains 7 different primary criteria with different weights, i.e., the weight of 25% for national conservation strategy, the weight of 15% for conservation status, population biology and economic value, and the weight of 10% for biosecurity, other value and strategic frontier. Based on the criteria, the strategic categories of 773 microbial species were assessed according to the criteria, of which 502 species were assessed as strategic microorganisms, including 440 species of fungi, 7 of oomycetes, 1 of microspore, 53 of bacteria and 1 of archaea. Besides, an online assessing platform (https://www. casbrc.org/assessment) was established with the function of scoring system for strategic microorganism and query for assessed species.

Conclusion: The strategic assessment method and the list of strategic microbial resources were firstly established in our country, which will provide important references for the collection, preservation, management and application of strategic microbial resources in China.

Background & Aim: Chiroptera, the only mammalian order capable of true powered flight, has attracted significant attention from researchers due to its unique biological characteristics, such as echolocation, complex niche adaptability, and diverse dietary habits. In recent years, the precipitous decline in bat populations has posed a potential threat to ecosystem stability, making Chiroptera a key focus in conservation biology. As a crucial component of modern socio-economic development, road infrastructure exerts profound impact on plant and animal populations, becoming a major research hotspot in conservation biology. This study focuses on bats, systematically reviewing relevant research and proposing strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of roads on bat populations while improving their habitat quality.

Review Results: This study focuses on Chiroptera, conducting a systematic review of 108 representative studies from both domestic and international sources. Through in-depth analysis, we systematically summarized the effects of road noise and road light pollution on bats during road construction and use. The results indicate that road noise and light pollution universally and diversely affect the acoustic structure and foraging behavior of bats, with species-specific responses. Based on these findings, we propose a series of targeted strategies. First, we recommend establishing and enhancing road assessment and regulatory systems, integrating ecological impact assessments into the entire process of road planning and construction to ensure that economic development aligns with ecological conservation. Second, we suggest increasing noise-blocking facilities, implementing sound barriers and green belt, and other noise-mitigation measures to minimize road noise on bat habitats. Additionally, optimizing road lighting design by using low-intensity, low-frequency flickering lights to reduce light pollution and its disruptive effects on bats.

Perspective: These strategies aim to mitigate the negative impacts of roads on Chiroptera, improve their living conditions, and provide scientific and practical guidance for the conservation of this unique and ecologically important mammalian group.

SWEETs are a recently discovered family of bidirectional sugar transporters that are widely present in all organisms. Their high substrate specificity for hexoses (such as glucose, fructose and galactose) and sucrose in different clades underlines their significance in regulating sugar signaling during various developmental and physiological processes in plants. This review primarily focuses on how SWEETs precisely respond to various biotic and abiotic stresses. We summarized systematically the regulatory mechanisms of SWEETs in response to environmental stresses at both the transcriptional level and the post-translational level and in multiple signal transduction pathways. This review aims to provide a novel perspective and deeper understanding of the complex biological functions and regulating mechanisms of SWEET transporters, and provides valuable information for future research on plant stress resistance and molecular breeding crops with high yield and disease resistance.

INTRODUCTION: Ficus hirta Vahl is a common Chinese herbal medicine and edible plant resource in the Lingnan area of China. It contains coumarins, flavonoids and other chemical compounds, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antitumor effects. However, F. hirta exhibits significant morphological variation in leaf shapes due to its high genetic diversity. 

RATIONALE: To investigate the relationship between the leaf shape differences and the contents of major active compounds, herein, LC-MS/MS was performed to determine the contents of psoralen and bergapten in F. hirta roots from three different leaf shapes (entirc leaf, EL; lobed leaf, LL; Palmately deeply leaf, PDL), and transcriptome sequencing was further employed to explore the potential molecular mechanisms underlying these contents variations. 

RESULTS: Results showed that PDL exhibited significantly higher psoralen content compared to EL and LL, while EL with significantly higher bergapten content than that in LL, but no significant difference was observed between EL and PDL. A total of 60.9 Gb clean reads were obtained, and 46 194 unigenes were assembled. F. hirta had the highest homology with Morus notabilis, according to the homologous sequencing alignment. 2 355, 2 067 and 2 001 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened from three comparison groups PDL_vs_EL, PDL_vs_LL, and LL_vs_EL, respectively. These DEGs were primarily enriched in the pathways such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and plant-pathogen interaction etc. 

CONCLUSION: There were differences in the contents of psoralen and bergapten among the three leaf shapes of F. hirta. The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant-pathogen interaction pathway may play crucial roles in the biosynthesis and accumulation of psoralen and bergapten in F. hirta. This study preliminarily revealed the correlation between the leaf morphology and major active compounds of F. hirta, and extended its public transcriptome database, which will provide reference for further utilizing different leaf shape of F. hirta germplasm resources and quality breeding.

INTRODUCTION: The wild populations of Microsorum punctatum face endangerment due to habitat degradation and low spore reproductive efficiency. Fern life cycles involve alternating gametophyte and sporophyte generations, where gametophyte development and sporophyte transition represent critical bottlenecks in in vitro propagation, heavily influenced by environmental factors and culture conditions. Although asexual propagation techniques such as green globular bodies (GGBs) have been successfully applied in some fern species, low sporophyte induction efficiency and proliferation challenges persist, hindering large-scale production. This study employed M. punctatum spores to systematically investigate sterile germination mechanisms, gametophyte proliferation, and sporophyte regeneration. A dual-pathway rapid propagation system was established, integrating high-efficiency prothallus proliferation with GGBs induction, aiming to provide both theoretical insights and practical solutions for conserving endangered fern resources and advancing industrial-scale cultivation.
RATIONALE: The unique alternation of generations life cycle in ferns, characterized by independent gametophyte survival, provides a theoretical framework for in vitro propagation. Studies have demonstrated that gametophyte homogenization culture and GGBs induction can overcome sporophyte regeneration barriers, while medium composition and phytohormone ratios critically regulate developmental phase transitions. To address the challenges of low spore propagation efficiency and habitat sensitivity in M. punctatum, this study leverages its gametophyte proliferation potential and rhizome meristematic activity in sporophytes. By optimizing aseptic systems and induction conditions, as well as mimicking the natural fertilization microenvironment, a dual-path regeneration system integrating prothallus proliferation and GGB-based propagation was established, laying a theoretical foundation for efficient conservation of endangered ferns.
RESULTS: Spore germination was optimally achieved in 1/2MS medium. Prothalli exhibited vigorous proliferation in MS medium supplemented with 0.3 mg·L^-1 6-BA and 1.5 mg·L^-1 NAA, reaching a proliferation coefficient of 9.6 after 60 days of culture. Fragmented prothalli transferred to 1/4MS medium with sterile water supplementation achieved a young sporophyte induction coefficient of 10.0 following 90 day cultivation. GGBs were successfully induced from young sporophytes in 1/2MS medium containing 1.5 mg·L^-1 6-BA and 0.1 mg·L^-1 NAA, showing 93.3% induction efficiency and a remarkable proliferation coefficient of 32.0. The GGB differentiation into plantlets was most efficient in 1/2MS medium, yielding a conversion rate of 92%. Acclimatized plantlets demonstrated over 90% survival rate post-transplantation.
CONCLUSION: This study successfully established an efficient in vitro rapid propagation system for M. punctatum spores. Optimization of sterilization duration and culture medium types significantly enhanced spore germination rates. A prothallus culture protocol with a high proliferation coefficient was developed, overcoming bottlenecks in gametophyte mass propagation. Liquid immersion-assisted fertilization technology enabled efficient induction of young sporophytes, while the GGBs induction system markedly shortened the regeneration cycle. For the first time, a dual-pathway rapid propagation strategy—“prothallus proliferation-sporophyte induction” combined with “GGBs cyclic regeneration” was proposed. The study demonstrated that the meristematic properties of M. punctatum GGBs are distinct from callus tissue, providing a robust technical framework for the conservation of endangered ferns and industrial-scale seedling production.

Formation of antheridia, archegonia, and sporophyte production in Microsorum punctatum

Background & Aims Global biodiversity hotspot cities are where urban development and biodiversity conservation come into conflict, playing a critical role in maintaining biodiversity both within and beyond their regions. However, there has been no dedicated study focusing on Chinese cities within global biodiversity hotspots. Based on Target 12 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and Priority Action 18 of the China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030), this research examines the biodiversity conservation policies of 16 Chinese cities with populations exceeding one million within global biodiversity hotspots from five key aspects: (1) biodiversity conservation planning and sustainable utilization plans, (2) urban biodiversity survey, monitoring, and assessment, (3) habitat restoration and ecological corridor construction, (4) the connection between urban residents and nature as well as their health and well-being, and (5) urban ecosystem functions and services. By comparing these conservation policies with international case cities, the study identifies existing challenges and proposes optimization directions to support biodiversity-friendly urban development while balancing ecological protection and high-quality urban growth.

Review ResultsThe findings show that both Chinese and international hotspot cities face common challenges, including a lack of awareness of their unique ecological location, insufficient long-term biodiversity-inclusive urban planning, and a general scarcity of biodiversity monitoring data. Additionally, Chinese cities exhibit specific issues such as limited coverage and single-method approaches in urban biodiversity monitoring, insufficient attention to biodiversity-related public experiences and supporting facilities, and inadequate focus on the provision of urban ecosystem services.

Optimization Trends Future enhancements to urban biodiversity conservation policies in these hotspot cities should prioritize the followings: (1) prioritizing the development of spatial planning for biodiversity conservation; (2) exploring the integrated application of multi-source data monitoring technologies; (3) standardizing multi-dimensional approaches to urban biodiversity experiences; (4) promoting synergistic enhancement of urban biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.

INTRODUCTION Due to differences in breeding objectives, northeast japonica rice (Oryza sativa subsp. geng or japonica) is more advantageous than Japanese japonica rice in terms of yield level, whereas Japanese japonica rice is significantly better than Chinese japonica rice in terms of eating quality. Clarifying the genetic basis of the differences in eating quality between Chinese and Japanese japonica rice is highly valuable for the cultivation of high-yield and high-quality japonica rice.

RATIONALEA total of 274 Chinese and Japanese japonica rice varieties were used as research materials to quantify the eating quality of the rice and to analyze the genetic basis of the taste differences between Chinese and Japanese japonica rice by combining genome-wide association analysis with the downscaling of many parameters.

RESULTSThe results revealed that the significant differences in the taste values of Chinese and Japanese japonica rice were reflected in three textural parameters: the adhesion force (ADF), first recoverable deformation cycle (FRDC), and elasticity index (EI). Moreover, the correlation analysis between the taste values and 30 textural characters showed that 24 characters were significantly correlated with the taste value of rice. The 30 metrics of textural characterization were downscaled to four principal components that explained 80% of the phenotypic variation in the population, and the genome-wide associations of their eigenvalues were mined to two primary effector loci affecting the textural characterization of Chinese-Japanese japonica rice, qFPC4.3 and qFPC9.2.

CONCLUSION In this study, we quantified the parameters of eating quality from a qualitative perspective, and thus analyzed the genetic basis of the differences in eating quality between Chinese and Japanese rice, which provided valuable genetic information and a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement of the eating quality of japonica rice in China.

PCA analysis and genome-wide association studies based on principal component eigenvalues of texture characteristics indicators. PCA analysis was performed using 2021 data.

With the sharp change of the global climate, the ecological environment for plant is becoming increasingly harsh, therefore the molecular mechanisms underlying how circadian synergistically interacts with light or temperature receptors to transmit environmental signals and rhythmically regulate various growth and development process received widespread attention. As an endogenous timer of plants, the core oscillator of circadian clock is composed of multiple coupled transcriptional-translational feedback loops (TTFL), and it is modified from transcription, post-transcription, translation, post-translation to epigenetic levels. These multi-precise regulatory mechanisms ensure that the circadian clock can be synchronized and reset by external signals, so that the endogenous rhythm matches with external cycles, thereby endowing plants with the ability to optimize resource utilization and tend towards the optimal growth, which also has an important significance for guiding the genetic improvement and domestication of crops. In this review, we summarized the multi-level of regulatory mechanisms of core oscillator as well as the molecular function of circadian homologous genes in crops, thoroughly described the interaction network between the circadian clock and the light and temperature signal pathways and give prospects for molecular breeding based on the opinion, which provides new ideas for expanding the environmental adaptability and optimizing agronomic traits of crops.

INTRODUCTION: To establish an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation system for peanuts and lay a foundation for the study of peanut gene functions and variety breeding.

RATIONALE: In this study, 11 peanut varieties were selected, and the cotyledonary leaflets from the variety with the highest bud cluster induction rate were screened out as experimental materials. By screening and optimizing influencing factors such as Agrobacterium strains, the optical density (OD) value of the bacterial suspension, the concentration of acetosyringone (AS), the concentration of surfactants, the infection method and duration, and the co-culture time, transgenic plants of peanut cotyledonary leaflets were obtained.

RESULTS: The results showed that using the embryo leaflet of Huayu 9133 as the receptor, the recombinant Agrobacterium containing eGFP (green fluorescent protein) and GUS (β-glucosidase) protein was used to infect and transform. It was found that when the infection solution was MS liquid+LBA4404 strain+100 μmol∙L^-1 AS+150 mg∙L^-1 surfactant Silwet-77 + bacterial solution OD600 was 0.7, the infection method was vacuuming for 15 min + soaking for 20 min + co-culture for 4 d, the peanut conversion rate was the highest. The positive rates of CaMV 35S:eGFP and AhUBQ4:GUS were 52.67% and 57.67%, respectively.The transgenic plants were induced by tissue culture method. The transgenic plants containing eGFP protein were identified as transgenic positive plants by eGFP green fluorescence and PCR detection, and the transgenic plants containing GUS protein were identified as transgenic positive plants by GUS staining and PCR detection.

CONCLUSION: This experiment successfully established and optimized the peanut genetic transformation system, which provided a reference for the study of peanut gene function, the cultivation of resistant varieties, quality improvement and biotechnology research.

CaMV 35S:eGFP侵染材料荧光示意图(a: 再生芽丛明场, b: 再生芽丛荧光, c: 再生苗明场, d: 再生苗荧光)

Ecology explores the fundamental principles and dynamics of macro living-systems and provides the scientific foundation of ecological civilization. China has separated the ecology as an independent subject from the biology subject to better promote its development. This transition calls for a broader conceptual framework for the subject of ecology. In this article, we define “ecology” as “the science that studies the structures, functions and dynamics of macro living-systems”, which provides a theoretical guidance and practical solutions for maintaining sustainable biosphere. Current ecology encompasses multiple living-system levels from molecules to the biosphere, with its core focus on five key levels: individual, population, community, ecosystem, and landscape. The sub-subject system of ecology comprises seven core disciplines: Plant Ecology, Animal Ecology, Microbial Ecology, Ecosystem Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Restoration Ecology, and Sustainable Ecology. Over nearly 160 years, ecology has generated seminal concepts and landmark theories that have profoundly influenced natural science advancement and human civilization. Current ecology is characterized with four distinctive features: (1) expansion of research scope to both macro- and micro-scales; (2) broad adoption of methodologies from other fields such as molecular biology or information science; (3) increased attention to field-based experiments and observational networks, with platforms now established at regional and global scales; and (4) enhanced emphasis on applied ecology to address ecological challenges of human society. Serving as both a natural philosophy for comprehending the living world and a praxeology for conserving and utilizing nature, ecology can be framed through five core perspectives: (1) hierarchical perspective (recognizing the multiple structural levels of living systems), (2) holistic perspective (approaching ecological phenomena from an integrative viewpoint), (3) systematic perspective (viewing the living world as interconnected networks), (4) evolutionary perspective (understanding life systems as dynamic and evolving), and (5) practical perspective (developing solutions for sustainable stewardship of nature). Methodologically, ecological research relies on four principal approaches: field investigations, laboratory and in-situ controlled experiments, model simulations, and meta-analyses. Although ecology and its branches possess robust theoretical frameworks, they lack their own technological systems. Consequently, the development of core ecological technologies is essential to promote continued vitality and progression of the ecology discipline.

The external environment severely affects growth and development of plants. In recent years, the increasing extreme climates have posed a serious threat to the growth and development of plants. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of plant stress tolerance is of great significance for ensuring the survival and development of plants (especially economic crops) and their yields. Alternative splicing is an important post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism and plays an important role in the diversity of plant gene functions and stress resistance. At present, a variety of alternative splicing variants of stress-resistant related genes have been identified in different plant species, and several regulatory mechanisms involved in alternative splicing have been elucidated, effectively advancing the relevant theoretical basis for plant stress resistance in plants. This paper reviews the types and splicing mechanisms of alternative splicing in plants, highlights the recent progress in alternative splicing regulation of plant responses to abiotic stress, and provides a prospect for the future direction of research on alternative splicing in plants.

INTRODUCTION: The TCP protein family is a plant-specific group of transcription factors known to regulate key biological processes, including growth, development, and stress responses. Despite their critical roles, the TCP gene family in Bergenia purpurascens remains uncharacterized. This study aims to systematically identify and analyze the BpTCP gene family in B. purpurascens using transcriptome-based bioinformatics approaches, providing insights into their potential functions in cold adaptation and secondary metabolism.

RATIONALE: B. purpurascens exhibits remarkable resilience to abiotic stresses, particularly cold, and contains abundant secondary metabolites. Given the documented roles of TCP genes in stress responses and metabolic regulation in other plants, we hypothesized that BpTCP genes may contribute to these traits. A comprehensive analysis of this gene family could reveal novel mechanisms underlying stress adaptation and metabolite synthesis, supporting future genetic improvement or biotechnological applications.

RESULTS: Through transcriptome-based bioinformatics analysis, we identified 16 BpTCP genes in B. purpurascens, which were phylogenetically classified into two major groups, with all members containing conserved TCP domains and closely related proteins sharing similar motif patterns. Tissue-specific expression profiling revealed distinct spatial expression patterns across different tissues, suggesting functional diversification among family members. Notably, partial genes, including BpTCP10, BpTCP1 and BpTCP12, exhibited significant expression changes under cold stress, implying their potential cold-responsive roles. Furthermore, expression levels of specific BpTCP genes correlated significantly with accumulation of various secondary metabolites, particularly flavonoids and phenolics, suggesting their regulatory involvement in metabolic pathways.

CONCLUSION: This study provides the first genome-wide characterization of the BpTCP gene family in B. purpurascens, demonstrating its potential roles in growth, cold stress response, and secondary metabolism. The differential expression of BpTCP genes under stress and their correlation with metabolite levels lay a foundation for future functional studies.

      

Expression pattern and metabolic correlation analysis of TCP gene family in Bergenia purpurascens.  A total of 16 BpTCP genes were identified in Bergenia purpurascens and classified into two major phylogenetic groups. All BpTCP genes contain conserved TCP domains, and proteins from the same evolutionary branch share similar motif compositions. Different BpTCP genes exhibit distinct tissue-specific expression patterns and display distinctive responses to cold stress. Furthermore, certain BpTCP genes demonstrate significant correlations with the accumulation of diverse metabolites.

With the mission of fostering talented graduates with innovative skills and knowledge, colleges and universities are the primary base for providing innovative educational models. The traditional high-education model in the field of plant science is not well suited for innovative student talent development due to its structural deficiencies such as obsolete teaching forms and contents, the dissociation between theoretical teaching and practice, non-standardized training processes, and irrational evaluation systems. As an important vehicle for promoting in depth teaching reform, subject teaching competitions exert a remarkable impact in stimulating students’ innovative potential and practicing their innovative skills at four levels: consciousness, thinking, spirit, and quality. This paper takes the undergraduate training program in College of Life Sciences in Zhejiang Normal University as an example to explore how to incorporate teaching competitions into the innovative talent training programs in plant science. Specific implementation strategies were proposed from multiple perspectives such as curriculum construction, management system, teaching staff, incentive and evaluation mechanisms. The effects of our college’s educational practice is summarized. This work provides a reference for the training of innovative student talents in plant science in similar institutions.

INTRODUCTION: The glycoside hydrolase (GH) gene family plays a crucial role in regulating plant grain size.

 RATIONALE: To elucidate its biological role during grain filling, we cloning and functionally characterized LOC110717159, a GH gene in quinoa, through bioinformatics analysis, spatiotemporal expression profiling, and heterologous expression experiments in Arabidopsis.

 

RESULTS: LOC110717159 has a 1 023 bp coding sequence (encoding 339 amino acids) in both germplasms, differing by a single nucleotide. Analysis of the ~ 2 000 bp LOC110717159 promoter identified 119 cis-elements, including three hormone-responsive elements (MeJA, SA, and GA). Phylogenetically, it is closely related to Beta vulgaris, Spinacia oleracea and Amaranthus tricolor. qRT-PCR revealed high expression of LOC110717159 in large-grained quinoa at 21 days after anthesis (21 DAA). Arabidopsis overexpression lines showed significantly reduced 1 000-grain weight (P < 0.05) but no change in grain length and width. Haplotype analysis of 17 quinoa germplasms indicated that 62.5% of large germplasms (≥ 4.0 g/1 000 grains) carried the large-grained haplotype, while 77.8% of small germplasms (≤ 3.0 g) shared the small-grained haplotype.

 CONCLUSION: In conclusion, LOC110717159 likely functions as a negative regulator in quinoa grain filling.

 

 

 

T3-generation transgenic Arabidopsis lines and seed morphological characteristics. (A)–(C) Wild-type plants; (D)–(F) AtOE1、AtOE2、AtOE3; ns: No significant difference; *P ≤ 0.05

 

INTRODUCTION Aronia melanocarpa also known as black chokeberry, belongs to the genus Aronia (Rosaceae). In addition to A. melanocarpa, Aronia includes A. arbutifolia or red chokeberry and A. prunifolia or purple chokeberry, both distributed naturally in North American, and an additional cultivated taxon, A. mitschurinii or Mitschurin’s chokeberry, originating from Europe. However, the species boundaries and relationships among the species of Aronia are not clear. Moreover, the taxonomic history of Aroniais complex, as species of this genus have formerly been placed in many different genera, such as Mespilus, Pyrus, Adenorachis, Sorbus, and Photinia. In the present study, we first sequenced and characterized the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of A. melanocarpa and compared its sequence with those of the cp genomes from 13 species of the family Rosaceae. The aims of this study were: (1) to increase our understanding of the structural patterns of complete cp genome of A. melanocarpa; (2) to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of A. melanocarpa with other Rosaceae species based on their cp genomes.

RATIONALE The chloroplast is a unique and essential organelle in green plants with vital roles in photosynthesis and carbon fixation. Comparative analyses of cp genomes between different plant species reveal intra- and inter-species rearrangements that have occurred during evolution, such as inverted repeat (IR) contraction and expansion. Based on these characteristics, the cp genome has been wildly used for species identification, phylogenetic analysis, and exploring the genetic basis of environmental adaptation.

RESULTS The complete A. melanocarpa cp genome was sequenced, analyzed, and compared with that from 13 other species in the Rosaceae. The cp genome is 159 772 bp and has a total guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 36.6%. It exhibits a typical quadripartite structure with four separate regions, including a large single copy (LSC) region of 87 810 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 19 200 bp separated by two inverted repeats (IRa and IRb) regions of 26 381 bp each. A total of 132 genes were annotated, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs, with 22 duplicates in the IR regions. In total, 76 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 50 long repeats were detected. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that A. melanocarpa is most closely related to A. arbutifolia and forms a sister clade to Cydonia oblonga with weak support.

CONCLUSION We analyzed the complete cp genome of A. melanocarpa by using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. The sequence of A. melanocarpa cp genome could be further used for the development of molecular markers. Highly variable regions were detected in intergenic regions, such as trnK-rps16, rps16-trnQ, trnG-atpA, petN-psbM, trnT-psbD, psbZ-trnG, trnT-trnL, ndhC-trnV and accD-psaI, which might be useful for broad applications in genetic research studies as well as phylogenetic studies. Phylogenetic construction results strongly supported that A. melanocarpa was closest related to A. arbutifolia, followed by C. oblonga with weak support. This newly available genomic data for A. melanocarpa will provide a basis for future research on the population genetics and phylogenomics and will benefit the breeding studies and utilization of the genus Aronia.

Map of the chloroplast genome of Aronia melanocarpa and phylogenetic analyses among the 60 Rosaceae species using their complete chloroplast genomes. Aronia formed a clade with Dichotomanthes and Pourthiaea based on cpDNA tree. Moreover, A. melanocarpa is most closely related to A. arbutifolia and forms a sister clade to Cydonia oblonga with weak support.

INTRODUCTION: Parrotia subaequalis, is a critically endangered wild plant species listed in the National Key Protected Wild Plants List of China and classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a relic species from the Tertiary period, it holds significant scientific value for studying the early origin and differentiation of the Hamamelidaceae family in China. Despite its ecological and ornamental importance, P. subaequalis faces numerous threats to its survival, including low natural survival rates due to limited light adaptation, difficulties in pollination and seed set, and challenges in vegetative propagation methods such as cutting and seed sowing. Tissue culture technology offers a promising approach to rapidly propagate this endangered species, overcoming the limitations of traditional propagation methods. 

 RATIONALE: This study aimed to establish an efficient tissue culture and rapid propagation system for P. subaequalis by investigating the effects of different disinfection methods, basic media, and combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on lateral bud germination, proliferation, and adventitious root formation. By optimizing these factors, we sought to increase the survival rate and proliferation coefficient of P. subaequalis in vitro, thereby providing a reliable source of plant material for conservation and production purposes. 

RESULTS: Disinfection effects: The optimal disinfection method involved treating the shoot segments with 75% ethanol for 30 seconds followed by 0.52% NaClO for 5 minutes, resulting in an 83.33% survival rate. Lateral Bud Germination: The WPM basic medium showed the highest germination rate (72%) among the tested media (MS, 1/2MS, WPM). The addition of 1.0 mg∙L–1 KT significantly increased the germination rate to 91%, but without inducing multiple shoots. The combination of 1.5 mg∙L–1 6-BA and 0.003 mg∙L–1 TDZ yielded the best proliferation results, with a proliferation coefficient of 4.17. Adventitious root formation: Inducing adventitious roots in P. subaequalis was challenging, with high concentrations of auxins causing browning and death of shoots. The addition of 0.2 mg∙L–1 NAA to 1/2MS medium resulted in a 60% rooting rate. Acclimatization and transplantation: Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized and transplanted into a mixed substrate of peat moss and perlite (3:1, v/v) with a survival rate exceeding 90% after 30 days. 

 CONCLUSION: This study successfully established a tissue culture and rapid propagation system for P. subaequalis, significantly improving its survival rate and proliferation coefficient. The optimized protocols, including the use of WPM medium for lateral bud germination, a combination of 1.5 mg∙L–1 6-BA and 0.003 mg∙L–1 TDZ for proliferation, and 0.2 mg∙L–1 NAA for root induction, provide a reliable method for the large-scale propagation of this endangered species. This system not only contributes to the conservation of P. subaequalis but also facilitates its utilization in landscaping and timber production. Future research could focus on exploring the regeneration capacity of different color morphs and geographical populations of P. subaequalis to further enhance its conservation and sustainable use.