During a plant diversity survey in Chentang valley located on the southern slopes of the Himalayan range, an unrecorded specimen from the genus Pedicularis, not documented in the Flora of China, was discovered. Based on a comprehensive literature review and detailed morphological comparison, the plant was identified as a new record of Pedicularis tamurensis T. Yamaz in China, with a new Chinese name, Chen Tang Ma Xian Hao, accordingly proposed. Prior to this finding, the species was only known to exist in Nepal, but has now been identified in Chentang Town, Dingjie County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This newly documented species grows under (Abies fabri (Mast.) Craib) forests at altitudes of approximately 2 900 m. While similar to Pedicularis fletcheri P. C. Tsoong, the species can be distinguished based on the following characteristics: leaves opposite, lamina pinnatisect, densely hairy on both surfaces; inflorescence racemose; flowers white, galea sickle-shaped and curved, tapering to beak in middle, apex 2-lobed, and labium inferius completely enveloping galea. This paper describes the morphological traits and distribution of P. tamurensis in detail, with color images provided for easy identification. This new discovery advances our knowledge of domestic Pedicularis and plant diversity in China.
This study aimed to establish a scientific basis for the utilization of litter from greening tree species to enhance the content and composition characteristics of urban soils. As such, litter from eight common greening tree species, including Salix babylonica L., Acer pictum subsp. mono (Maxim.) H. Ohashi, Ginkgo biloba L., Sophora japonica L. var. japonica f. pendula Hort., Pinus tabuliformis Carrière, Juniperus formosana Hayata, Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco, and Picea asperata Mast., was collected. The litter was then mixed with the disturbed surface soil from urban areas of Yan’an City at a 2% ratio (litter/soil, dry weight) and incubated for 120 d under conditions simulating natural soil density and moisture levels. Subsequently, changes in soil organic carbon, its components, and carbon pool indices were analyzed, along with their relationships with the chemical properties of the litter. Results revealed significant increases in soil organic carbon content with the addition of most litters, except for A. pictum subsp. mono and J. formosana, as well as significantly increased stable component content from other species except A. pictum subsp. mono, G. biloba, and J. formosana, with nearly all types of litter also markedly enhancing the moderately and highly activated components. In addition, treatment with S. babylonica, P. orientalis, P. asperata, and P. tabuliformis litter significantly increased the carbon pool index of the soil, with nearly all types of litter significantly increasing the lability index and carbon pool management indices of soil, but only P. orientalis litter treatment significantly increasing the carbon recalcitrant index. Correlation analysis identified negative associations between the levels of litter N and amino acids and both the content and components of soil organic carbon, as well as positive correlations between litter total phenols, soluble sugars, and C to N, C to P, and N to P ratios with the soil content of highly/slightly activated and stable carbons. Additionally, the content of litter organic acids, P, C, terpenes, phenols, and the C to N ratio exhibited positive relationships with moderately activated carbons in soil. To enhance the content, activity, and stability of organic carbon in urban soil, P. orientalis litter may be the preferred soil amendment, followed by litter from S. babylonica, P. asperata, and P. tabuliformis.
This study investigated the adaptive responses of Crataegus songarica K. Koch to varying altitudes (1100-1700 m) in Guozigou, Yili, Xinjiang, China, focusing on leaf functional traits and anatomical structure. Results showed that: (1) An increase in altitude led to a reduction in leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, specific leaf area, and chlorophyll content, but an increase in the leaf length to width ratio, specific leaf weight, and leaf dry matter content, with specific leaf weight showing the strongest plasticity. (2) Higher altitudes were associated with increasing leaf thickness, palisade tissue thickness, and upper and lower epidermis thickness, but decreasing central vein thickness and protrusion, with central vein protrusion showing the strongest plasticity. (3) Leaf area was positively correlated with leaf length, length-width ratio, and specific leaf area, while leaf thickness was positively correlated with upper and lower epidermis thickness and central vein protrusion. Overall, our findings indicated that Crataegus songarica adapts to high-altitude conditions by enhancing leaf thickness and dry matter content for better stress tolerance and by diminishing leaf area and chlorophyll content to mitigate leaf damage from intense sunlight. Conversely, at lower altitudes, the plant increases leaf area and chlorophyll content to facilitate organic matter accumulation.
The geographical patterns of plant functional traits and their environmental drivers remain central questions in plant population ecology. Leaf functional traits can directly affect the physiological and biochemical processes of plants, reflecting resource acquisition strategies and adaptation mechanisms. In this paper, we measured 17 functional traits of 18 populations of the national key protected wild plant Davidia involucrata Baillon across its natural distribution range in China, and analyzed the geographical patterns of leaf functional traits and their adaptation mechanisms to heterogeneous environments. At the local scale, the coefficients of variation of leaf traits ranged from 1.48% to 24.81%. The variation degree in the leaf carbon phosphorus ratio was the largest, while the variation degree of leaf organic carbon content was the smallest. With increasing longitude and latitude, leaf area, thickness, and serration number decreased significantly. With increasing altitude, leaf thickness, dry matter content, area, and phosphorus content increased significantly, while leaf shape became wider and rounder. Leaf serration enhanced the adaptability of D. involucrata leaves to cold. Significant leaf trait-geography correlations were mediated by climatic and/or soil factors. Environmental factors explained 79.90% of the variation in D. involucrata leaf traits, with variation of leaf traits mainly driven by geographical variables, climatic factors, and soil factors. Annual precipitation and soil nitrogen content were the strongest explanatory factors for leaf trait variation, with increasing precipitation or decreasing soil nitrogen leading to smaller and thinner leaves. In general, the functional traits of D. involucrata leaves showed a clear pattern at the species distribution scale, with precipitation and soil nitrogen content playing an important role in the formation of geographical patterns.
To investigate species associations within the Camellia flavida Hung T. Chang associated community under natural conditions and their impact on community stability, survey data collected from 10 quadrats (600 m2) in Nonggang Nature Reserve over 10 years (2011–2021) were analyzed. Variance ratio (VR), Chi-square ($\chi^2 $) test, Spearman rank correlation, and M. Godron stability analysis were employed to assess the interspecific correlation and community structure stability of C. flavida and its accompanying species at different levels. Results indicated that: (1) Dominant species in the tree layer did not exhibit negative associations, while those in the shrub layer displayed significantly positive associations. Over time, the overall interspecific associations of the tree layer shifted towards positive associations, and the positive interactions in the shrub layer notably increased. (2) The $\chi^2 $ and Spearman rank correlation tests indicated that most species pairs in the community were not significantly correlated, reflecting weak associations among various species pairs. However, C. flavida exhibited significantly positive correlations with dominant species, such as Ficus oligodon Miq. in the tree layer and Orophea polycarpa A. Candolle in the shrub layer, and significantly negative correlations with F. hispida L. f. in the tree layer and Antidesma japonicum Siebold & Zucc in the shrub layer. (3) The community associated with C. flavida demonstrated high stability, with the characteristics and stability of the community positively contributing to the conservation of C. flavida. In conclusion, specific dominant trees and shrubs significantly affect the distribution of C. flavida within its community, which has maintained relative stability over the last decade, facilitating the growth of the C. flavida population. Ongoing protection of its natural habitats and sustained long-term community monitoring are recommended.
This study focused on the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River wetlands in Henan Province, analyzing the ecological niche and interspecific associations among 19 dominant herbaceous plant species in the area to provide a basis for the ecological restoration and scientific management of these wetlands. Results showed that a total of 116 herbaceous plant species were surveyed in the area, with significant differences in ecological niches observed among the 19 dominant herbaceous plant species. Overall, there was a significant positive correlation in interspecific associations in the wetlands, identifying two pairs of species that exhibited AC values≥0.4 in both the middle and lower reaches. The interspecific associations among dominant species were weak, indicating strong species independence. These findings suggest that the wetland plant communities in the Yellow River region are undergoing positive succession, but the process is unstable and still in the early stages. Regarding ecological restoration, it is recommended to prioritize pioneer plants with high ecological niche breadth and strong adaptability, such as Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. and Cyperus rotundus L., to accelerate the succession process.
Whole-genome genetic analysis, somatic variation detection, and fruit quality evaluation were performed on different ‘Changshanhuyou’ (Citrus × aurantium L.). specimens. Results showed that Changshanhuyou clustered with the original sour orange cultivars used in Aurantii Fructus production, such as Huangpi (C. aurantium L. ‘Huangpi’), Daidai (C. aurantium L. ‘Daidai’), Chuluan (C. aurantium L. ‘Chuluan’), and Tangcheng (C. aurantium L. ‘Tangcheng’), exhibiting 76.99%–91.06% genetic similarity with sour orange (C. aurantium L.). Fruit quality fluctuated and somatic mutations increased with age of the Changshanhuyou trees. Fruit quality was not influenced by the use of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.) as the rootstock, but higher somatic mutations were detected in the grafted trees. The mutated genes were mainly involved in senescence repair and stress defense. In conclusion, this study confirmed that Changshanhuyou is a domesticated form of sour orange, demonstrating stable fruit quality and genetic material within its optimal production period. This work provides a theoretical basis for the promotion of Changshanhuyou and grafting.
Brassica napus L., the predominant variant of rapeseed cultivated in China, undergoes a series of complex metabolic and regulatory processes during flower bud development, especially the early developmental stages preceding microspore maturation, which significantly impacts fertility. Based on phenotypic and histological observations, flower bud sizes ranging from 1 mm to 3 mm in B. napus were found to correspond to the 5th–9th stages of angiosperm stamen development. Using high-throughput high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) sequencing technology, proteomics analysis was conducted on these flower buds. In total, 13 444 proteins were identified, including 613 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Functional analysis of the DEPs revealed a significant up-regulation in cell wall building, lipid metabolism, and cell transport-related proteins, crucial for cell development and pollen formation during the early stage of flower bud development. The expression of nucleic acid-related proteins markedly changed, consistent with rapid cell division and growth during this period. However, no significant changes were found in the expression of proteins related to the ABCDE development model, suggesting these proteins may have other functions beyond inducing flower bud differentiation. This study systematically studied the differences in tissue morphology and protein expression during the early stages of bud development in B. napus, paving the way for further research on the metabolism and regulation of flower bud development.
Medicinal plants constitute an important component of international trade under the auspices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Based on the CITES trade database, this study explored the spatiotemporal patterns of CITES-listed medicinal plant exports from China using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results showed that between 1981 and 2021, China traded 257 species of medicinal plants, with a total volume of 170 million live plants and 100 000 tons of plant derivatives. The Chinese medicinal plant export records were primarily concentrated in Japan (32%), South Korea (10%), and the United States (9%), with a gradual expansion to other countries and regions. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a gradual shift from wild to cultivated medicinal plants following the implementation of CITES trade regulations in China. This study highlights the importance of focusing on live plants as a significant category within the medicinal plant trade, and suggests that specific species, such as Gastrodia elata Blume, Panax quinquefolius L., Cymbidium ensifolium (L.) Sw., and Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw., warrant closer surveillance in trade.
Populus euphratica Oliv., an established species in the Tarim Desert Area, was used to investigate variations in osmoregulatory substances and antioxidant enzyme activities of three typical heteromorphic leaves along the groundwater depth (GWD) gradient as well as differences in their adaptive strategies to drought stress. Results showed that: (1) with the increase in GWD, the relative water content, leaf water potential, soluble protein (SP) content, and peroxidase (POD) activity of the three heteromorphic leaves of P. euphratica showed a decreasing trend, while the water saturation deficit, free proline (Pro) content, soluble sugar (SS) content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content showed an increasing trend, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) maintained high and stable activity. (2) The Pro and SS contents in lanceolate leaves showed a highly significant positive correlation with GWD, the SS and SP contents in oval leaves showed a significant positive correlation with GWD, and the SS content in serrated broad-oval leaves showed a highly significant positive correlation with GWD. (3) The lanceolate leaves maintained cellular osmotic potential through the synergistic action of Pro and SS to cope with water stress, oval leaves enhanced drought resistance through osmotic adjustment (SP, Pro, SS), and serrated broad-oval leaves maintained cellular expansion pressure with SS and Pro, while eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS) through POD and SOD, which synergistically adapted to increasingly arid desert environments.
This study investigated copper-resistant Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl in the restoration of a copper-polluted mining area through pot simulation experiments. Six treatment concentrations were established (50, 150, 300, 600, 900, and 1 200 mg/kg), with no copper addition used as the control (CK). After 60 d of treatment, biomass accumulation, chlorophyll content, physiological and biochemical indexes of C. camphora, and copper ion accumulation and transfer were measured. The impact of different copper concentrations on growth, physiological, and biochemical responses in C. camphora, as well as the patterns of copper accumulation and distribution in various tissues, were explored to evaluate copper tolerance in this species. Results showed that C. camphora growth under copper stress was enhanced at low copper concentrations (150 mg/kg) and inhibited at high copper concentrations. Physiological indicators, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), free proline, and soluble sugar, did not significantly increase under 900 mg/kg copper treatment. glutathione reductase (GR) decreased gradually with the increase of copper concentration, while malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) contents increased gradually with the increase of copper concentration. Copper was predominantly accumulated in the roots, minimizing toxicity to above-ground tissues, with organ copper content in the order root > leaf > stem. The copper transfer rate (IF) from root to leaf (leaf/root) decreased from 0.078 in the control to 0.007 in the 1 200 mg/kg copper treatment group, while the copper transfer rate (IF) from root to stem (Stem/Root) decreased from 0.06 in the control to 0.005 in the 1 200 mg/kg copper treatment group. Based on growth performance, physiological responses, and copper ion accumulation and transfer, C. camphora exhibited good copper tolerance, withstanding up to 900 mg/kg, highlighting its potential for planting in copper-contaminated soils.
In the post-genomic era, both plant genetic transformation and genome editing have emerged as critical tools for gene function research. Plant genetic transformation has evolved from methods requiring tissue culture to new approaches that bypass tissue culture entirely. Furthermore, gene editing technology has advanced from initial techniques of targeted gene segment modification and repair to more sophisticated strategies, such as precise nucleotide substitution and targeted insertion, deletion, and segment editing at specific sites without the need for cutting. Recent advancements in both plant genetic transformation and genome editing have significantly accelerated the field of plant biotechnology. In the present paper, we review recent progress on plant genetic transformation and genome editing technologies, as well as their applications in medicinal plants, providing insights into gene function analysis and molecular breeding strategies for medicinal plants.
Delay of germination 1 (DOG1) is a master regulator of seed dormancy and cooperates with abscisic acid (ABA) to delay seed germination. The core ABA signaling pathway and DOG1 pathway converge in protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C). DOG1 requires PP2C to regulate seed dormancy and enhances ABA signaling by binding to ABA HYPERSENSITIVE GERMINATION 1/3 (AHG1/AHG3). DOG1 suppresses AHG1 activity to increase ABA sensitivity and induce seed dormancy. In recent years, significant progress has been made in research on the regulation of seed dormancy and germination by DOG1. In this review, we summarize research achievements in this field, including the role of DOG1 in seed maturation, dormancy, and germination, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of DOG1 expression, and the regulation and action mechanism of DOG1 on seed dormancy and germination. We also highlight scientific issues that need to be further investigated in this field.
The Key Management List of Invasive Alien Species (KMLIAS) was officially published on 1 January 2023, serving as an important reference for the prevention and control of IAS in China. To enhance the scientific rigor and objectivity of future revisions of the IAS list and strengthen the management capacity of IAS in China, we compiled and reviewed all existing IAS lists in China, conducted a comparative analysis to identify similarities and differences between the KMLIAS and other lists, and examined the impact and distribution of 33 invasive alien plants included in the KMLIAS. Analysis revealed a high degree of overlap in plant species between the KMLIAS and the List of Invasive Alien Species in China (all four editions) and List of Invasive Alien Species under National Key Management (first edition). The 33 invasive alien plants were found to be widely distributed, posing considerable harm to ecology, agriculture, forestry, human and animal health. However, issues such as taxonomic disputes and lack of assessment remain contentious. We propose several considerations and suggestions to improve the accuracy and objectivity of future list revisions and strengthen IAS control and management.
